How to Restart the App on iPad

To restart an app on an iPad, open the App Switcher, swipe up on the unresponsive app, and then open the app again. This force-quits the iPad app and starts a new session without requiring you to turn off the entire iPad.

When do you need to restart an app on an iPad?

Restart an iPad app when the app is open but no longer works normally. The App Switcher is the screen that displays recently used apps and lets you force-quit one that is stuck.

Common signs that an app needs to be restarted include:

• The screen is frozen or stuck on the same page.
• Buttons, menus, or gestures do not respond.
• A feature keeps loading but never finishes.
• New information does not appear after you refresh.
• The app shows a blank screen or stops playing sound or video.
• A temporary message remains after the underlying problem has ended.

Wait briefly before force-closing an app if it may be completing a task. If nothing changes and the controls remain unresponsive, use the App Switcher.

How do you force close an app on an iPad?

The steps for force-closing an app depend on whether the iPad has a physical Home button below the screen.

On an iPad without a Home button:

1. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
2. Pause near the middle of the screen until the App Switcher appears.
3. Swipe left or right to find the frozen app.
4. Swipe the app's preview upward until it disappears from the screen.

On an iPad with a Home button:

1. Press the Home button twice quickly to open the App Switcher.
2. Swipe left or right until you see the unresponsive app.
3. Swipe the app's preview upward until it disappears.

Removing the preview from the App Switcher force-quits the app. You do not need to close every other app. If the App Switcher does not appear, return to the Home Screen and try the gesture or double-press again.

How do you reopen an app on an iPad?

After force-closing the iPad app, wait a few seconds before reopening it. This gives the previous app session time to close.

1. Go to the iPad Home Screen.
2. Tap the app icon to launch the app again.
3. If the icon is not visible, swipe left through the Home Screen pages until you reach the App Library.
4. Find the app in the App Library, or use the search field there.
5. Tap the app icon and check whether the frozen screen or failed feature now works.

You can also swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen and enter the app's name in Search. If the app opens to the same page, try moving to another part of the app and then returning to the feature that failed.

What should you do if the iPad app still won't restart?

If force-closing and reopening the iPad app does not solve the problem, check whether the issue affects only that app. Open another app and test a basic action. If several apps are frozen, restarting the iPad itself is the more useful next step.

For a problem limited to one app:

1. Open the App Store.
2. Select your account picture.
3. Look for pending app updates and install an update for the affected app if one is available.
4. Open the app again after the update finishes.

Also check whether the iPad has a working internet connection if the failed feature needs online access. An app may open normally while pages, messages, or media inside it fail to load.

Avoid removing the app as an immediate troubleshooting step. Removing and reinstalling an app can affect information stored only on the device, and account access after reinstallation depends on the app. Make sure you know the correct sign-in method and understand where important information is stored before considering removal.

How do you restart the iPad itself?

Restart the entire iPad when the app remains unresponsive after force-closing, or when multiple apps and system controls are not working correctly.

For an iPad without a Home button:

1. Press and hold the top button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider, then wait for the iPad to turn off completely.
3. Press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.

For an iPad with a Home button:

1. Press and hold the top button until the power-off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider, then wait for the iPad to turn off.
3. Press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.

After the iPad starts, unlock it and reopen the affected app. If the screen is completely unresponsive and the power-off slider cannot be used, a forced device restart may be necessary. The button sequence varies by iPad design, so identify whether the device has a Home button before attempting it.

Does restarting an iPad app delete data or sign you out?

Does force-closing delete the app? No. Swiping an app away in the App Switcher closes it; it does not uninstall the app. However, work that had not been saved before the app froze may not be retained.

Will restarting the app sign you out? Usually the existing session remains, but sign-in behavior is controlled by the individual app. Be ready to sign in again if the app requests verification.

Should every app be force-closed regularly? No. Force-close an app when it is frozen, unresponsive, or not working correctly.

What if the app icon is missing? Search for the app from the Home Screen or look in the App Library. If no result appears, check the App Store to determine whether the app is currently installed.

Is restarting an app the same as restarting the iPad? No. Restarting an app closes and reopens one app. Restarting the iPad turns the whole device off and back on.