TECHnically Speaking: How to Manage Running Apps on iOS

We are gonna file this one with “I thought everyone knew this”. Ya see, back in the day on iPhones, you could only run 1 app at a time. You couldn’t stream Pandora and look at Facebook. Every time you opened an app, it restarted. Annoying. Then along came iOS 4 with its wonderful multitasking. Magically you could run multiple apps like a freakin sorceress. That was almost 3 years ago but do YOU know how to access those running apps? No? You’re in luck!

Note: All steps apply to all iPhones, iPods and iPads

How to Access Running Apps

(read: quickly without going back to home and finding the app again.)

Step 1: Double click the home button.

Multiple iPhone Apps Running

 

Step 2 (if your app isn’t one of the last 4 running): Swipe left to scroll through all running apps. Click on the app you want.

These will always be in a “stack” (that’s a computer sciencey term to explain that the last one you used will be listed first). Cue the singing angels. All problems solved, right?

Well kinda. Did you keep scrolling to see ALL THOSE APPS? Yeah…that’s why your phone is slow as fuck. All those apps are running once you launch them. Now they are smart to not be “running” the application but those suckers are still remaining in memory, ticking your processor down. Let’s fix that!

You can kill an app just like the task manager on Windows or Force Quit on Mac (if you are unaware of how to do this, please let me know and I can write that up too)! Best part? Stupid simple.

How to Kill an App

Step 1: Repeat the steps from How to Access Running Apps.

Step 2:Press and hold one of the icons. They will start jigging in preparation of death.

20130422-122153.jpg

Step 3: Press the red minus to kill em. RIP.

But wait! There’s more!

While you have all your little apps lined up, try swiping right and see the music controls and app playing said music. There is also a control there to lock the orientation of the screen if you would like. It’s just like finding an hidden land on Super Mario, yes?

How to See iPhone Music Controls

So there ya go. Something so simple but hopefully it is an “ah ha!” moment for someone. Happy Apping!

5 thoughts on “TECHnically Speaking: How to Manage Running Apps on iOS

  • April 23, 2013 at 8:07 am
    Permalink

    Funny – I read this & thought “why is she using more than one application for running?”

    Because I have a one-track mind, and today, I’m running on that track.

    Reply
    • April 23, 2013 at 8:35 am
      Permalink

      Hahahahahaha. I’m a RunKeeper only kinda girl 🙂

      Reply
  • April 23, 2013 at 12:18 pm
    Permalink

    This made my day! Thank you! Hopefully my phone will be a tad bit faster now!

    Reply

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