Apps - Close in Windows 8

How to Close Modern Apps in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

information   Information
You will notice that modern apps from the Store in Windows 8 do not have the traditional close button as desktop apps.

By default in Windows 8, when you leave a opened app by switching to another screen, Windows 8 will either suspend or send an app to the background depending if the app is designed to run in the background (ex: email app) or not. If not, the app gets suspended. When an app is supended, think of it as being placed in standby mode. The app will not use any system resources if suspended. A suspended app will still sit in memory (RAM) until that memory is needed by something else in Windows 8 and is then closed automatically to free the memory. While the app is sitting in memory, it will allow the app to be loaded faster the next time you open it since it's already in memory.

If you would still like to manually close the app, then tutorial will show you how to completely close modern apps in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.1 Update.





OPTION ONE

To Close Modern Apps from Switch List Bar



Note   Note
In Windows 8, this will completely close the app.

In Windows 8.1, this will only suspend the app.

In Windows 8.1 Update (April 8th 2014), this will only suspend the app.


1. Open the Switch List bar, and do step 2 or 3 below.​
2. Right click or press and hold on an open app in switcher that you would like to completely close, and click/tap on Close.​
OR
3. Left click or press and hold on an open app in switcher that you would like to completely close, drag it to the right about half an inch until it snaps open to the left side of the display a bit, then drag the app to the bottom of the screen, wait 2 seconds until the app flips over to only show it's tile icon, and release.​
Close-1.jpg






OPTION TWO

To Completely Close a Modern App from within the App itself


1. Do either step 2 or 3 below.​
2. On a Non Touchscreen Display
A) Press the ALT + F4 keys.​
OR
B) In Windows 8, Windows RT, or Windows 8.1, move the pointer to the top border of the screen in the app until the pointer turns into the hand icon. hand.jpg
C) In Windows 8 or Windows RT, left click and hold, drag the hand pointer to the bottom of the screen until you see the app shrink and moves with animation down to the bottom of the screen, and release.​
D) In Windows 8.1, left click and hold, drag the hand pointer to the bottom of the screen until you see the app shrink and moves with animation down to the bottom of the screen, wait 2 seconds until the app flips over to only show it's tile icon, and release.​
OR
E) In Windows 8.1 Update (April 8th 2014), move the pointer to the top border of the screen in the app, left click and hold to see the app shrink, drag the shrunken app with animation down to the bottom of the screen, wait 2 seconds until the app flips over to only show it's tile icon, and release.​
Note   Note
If you have Clicklock turned on in your mouse settings, then a modern app will not close by dragging it to the bottom with your mouse or touchpad.

3. On a Touchscreen Display
A) Tap and hold on the top border of the screen in the app.​
B) In Windows 8, drag the app to the bottom of the screen until you see the app shrink and moves with animation down to the bottom of the screen, and release.​
C) In Windows 8.1, drag the app to the bottom of the screen until you see the app shrink and moves with animation down to the bottom of the screen, wait 2 seconds until the app flips over to only show it's tile icon, and release.​
D) In Windows 8.1 Update (April 8th 2014), drag the shrunken app with animation down to the bottom of the screen, wait 2 seconds until the app flips over to only show it's tile icon, and release.​





OPTION THREE

To Close a Modern App from App's Title Bar



Note   Note
The Windows 8.1 Update to be released on April 8th 2014 via Windows Update, will allow you to be able to also close an app from it's title bar now.

This option will only suspend the app, and not completely close it.

This will not work in previous versions of Windows 8 and 8.1. It will only work in Windows 8.1 Update when released.


1. While the app is open, do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.​
2. Press the Alt + Space keys, and either click/tap on Close or press the C key. (see screenshot below step 4)​
OR
3. Move the pointer to the top edge of the app to have the app's title bar slide open, and click/tap on the X at the top right corner. (see screenshot below)​
App_Title_Bar-1.jpg
OR
4. Move the pointer to the top edge of the app to have the app's title bar slide open, click/tap on the app's icon at the top left corner, and click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)​
App_Title_Bar-2.jpg





OPTION FOUR

To Close All Modern Apps at Once by Deleting App Switching History



Note   Note
When you delete the recent apps history, it will completely close all recently opened apps listed in the Switch List bar except PC settings, and remove them from memory.


1. For how to to delete the recent app switching history for the "Switch List" bar, see:​
Delete_History-2.jpg
Windows_8.1_PC_settings-2.jpg





OPTION FIVE

To Close Modern Apps in Task Manager


1. Open Task Manger in "More details" view.​
2. Click/tap on the Processes tab, click/tap on the app (ex: Weather) you want to close, and click/tap on End task. (see screenshots below)​
Close_Apps_in_Task_Manager-1.jpg
Close_Apps_in_Task_Manager-2.jpg






OPTION SIX

To Close Modern Apps by restarting the PC


NOTE: This should be used as a last option if the others above will not close the app.
1. Restart the PC to completely close all currently opened apps.​



That's it,
Shawn


 

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Last edited:
Alternatively if you want to close app while inside it, You could click its top and pull it down.

This is also solution if you are working on touch device and for some reason you want to close instead of suspending.
 

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Alternatively if you want to close app while inside it, You could click its top and pull it down.

This is also solution if you are working on touch device and for some reason you want to close instead of suspending.

It must be a touchscreen feature. When I do it on the desktop, I only have the option to drag the app to be snapped to the left or right of the screen.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
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    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
It must be a touchscreen feature. When I do it on the desktop, I only have the option to drag the app to be snapped to the left or right of the screen.

I am doing it on non-touch screen device.

Animation will not show until you reach almost bottom. Just pull it all the way down.

For example I just did it on non-touch screen Metro IE.
 

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Ah, I just wasn't dragging it downward enough. LOL

Thank you. Added as Option Two.

:doh:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
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    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
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    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Looks like we go back to the old days where everything was done with keyboard shortcuts. That seems to be easier than navigating thru the Win8 maze. I have to start making a list.
 

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great tutorial shawn
 

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Thanks Brink

It's ridiculous that I have to read a tutorial, just to find out how to turn something off!

Nonetheless, thanks Brink. :)
 

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LOL, you're welcome guys. :)
 

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    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
another way to get the open apps sidebar to show is to move your pointer to the top left corner this will pop out the bar with the open apps on it ,then its a right click on your chosen app then select close, (when using a mouse)
 
Last edited:

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Thank you Julian. Added. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
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    PC/Desktop
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    Custom self built
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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Apparently Alt+F4 within the app works too :)

Historically Alt+F4 closes the last opened window. So that is what it does in an application. However, when you are on the Desktop, it brings up the closing options.

2012-03-04_1547.png
 

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Hello Kostas, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It does for me, unless the app is still running something (ex: playing music/video) in the background. Sometimes it may take a moment for the app to be removed from Task Manager after closing the app though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello Kostas, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It does for me, unless the app is still running something (ex: playing music/video) in the background. Sometimes it may take a moment for the app to be removed from Task Manager after closing the app though.

For example I opened my mail and after pressing alt + f4 the app closes but never dissapeared from task manager ... I don't know why.

But anyway, the option one described in this tutorial works perfectly for me.

Screenshot (10).pngScreenshot (11).png
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8
Right, the Mail app seems to never go away. I will just uninstall it. Maybe that helps.

Update: That fixed it. Got rid of the bugger.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
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