Open, close, switch apps

Open and close apps

To open an app, tap its icon on the home screen, or swipe up from the bottom of your home screen, then tap the app.

You don't need to close apps. Android manages the memory and battery that apps use, so you don't need to worry about leaving apps open.

To close one app, drag up from the bottom of the screen, hold, then let go. In your recent apps, swipe up on the app.

To close all apps, drag up from the bottom of the screen, hold, then let go. In your recent apps, swipe right until you see the start of the list, then touch Clear all.

Switch between open apps

  1. Drag up from the bottom of the home screen, hold, then let go.

  2. In your list of recent apps:

    • Swipe left or right to see more apps.
    • Touch any app screen to return to it.
Tips
  • To switch between apps, swipe left or right at the very bottom of the screen.
  • Use two apps at once with split screen.

Get help using an app

To search this help, tap at the top of this page, and type keywords (like “add contact”).

If you don’t see what you’re looking for, check for app-specific help:

  1. Open the app.
  2. Tap menu icon or more options icon.
  3. Look for Help or Settings > Help.