How can I close an app in Windows 8?

Microsoft wants to change the users Windows experience by having any open apps remain open until shutdown. Therefore, they have removed the file menu, close, minimize, and resize options in apps designed for Windows 8 and replaced them with the Windows 8 App commands. The App commands bar appears on the bottom portion of the screen (as shown in the below picture) when you swipe up or down from either edge or right-click in the app.

Although the App commands will give you additional options for the open app, it may still not give you the option to close the app. If you want to close the app follow any of the below suggestions.

1. Move your mouse to the very top of the app, which should change the mouse cursor to a hand, then click-and-drag or swipe that app to the bottom of the screen. Once you let go of the app it will close.
2. Move your mouse to the top-left corner of the screen and then move down to show all open apps, right-click the open app you want to close and choose Close.
3. Press the Windows key + Tab to show open apps, right-click on the app you wish to close and click Close.
4. Press Alt + F4 on the keyboard to close the app or any open program.

App commands

In Windows 8, the commands available for an open app are now hidden while the app is open. When you swipeup or down from either edge or right-click while the app is open the App commands (App bar) is shown at the bottom of the screen, as seen in the below picture. This bar is similar to the File menu you may find in previous versions of Windows. The App commands available in the bar will vary depending on the type of app currently open.