Although it does not happen often, we can find an application that is unresponsive or crashes on the Mac. Also, force quitting an app is a simple fix for many problems like Mac keeps restarting or apps keep crashing. Luckily, macOS allows you to have multiple ways to force quit an app on Mac, and we’ve detailed all the possible ways.
Knowing many ways to force quit on a Mac can be helpful, Especially, if the application behaves stubbornly, rendering your mouse or keyboard unusable. You can always use an alternative method and close the problematic app forever. So let’s get going.
Things to know before you force quit apps on Mac
There is a slight difference between quitting smoking and being forced to quit. When you press the Close button on an app, the app doesn’t always exit completely. It just gets pushed to the background and can even open from the most recently used window.
However, Force Quit is like shutting down and then restarting the app. It not only kills the application but also kills all related processes running in the background. That means it can lose data if the work is not saved. So it’s probably safe to assume that force quitting an app on Mac is a last resort when an app is stuck or unresponsive.
How to force quit on a Mac
Note: Regardless of the Mac or MacBook model you use, these solutions are common to most versions of macOS.
1. Force Quit on Mac Directly from the Dock
You can use the Dock to close apps on your MacBook or force quit. First, locate the stuck or hanging app icon. Then right click on the application icon while holding the Option key on your keyboard. Select Force Quit from the menu that opens.
2. From the Force Quit Menu
One of the most common and familiar ways to force quit an application on a Mac. And its best benefit is that you can terminate multiple applications at once.
Now, there are two ways to activate the Force Quit window,
- Go to Apple Menu → Select Force Quit from the drop-down menu.
- Press the Command + Option + Escape key from your keyboard.
Once the Force Quit window is open, select the app or multiple apps and click Force Quit.
Note: You can also click Finder and press Relaunch to check if Finder is stuck or interrupting. After Finder relaunches, try using the apps on your Mac.
3. Use Activity Monitor to Force Quit Mac Programs
Activity Monitor is a powerful utility that allows you to monitor and control the processes of all your running applications. It gives you resource-specific insights like which apps and processes take up the most memory and CPU. Besides, this is also a great way to Force quit stuck apps.
To do so, open Spotlight, i.e. press the Command + Space keys. Then type Activity Monitor and press Return to open the Activity Monitor app. Or you can go to Finder → Applications → Utilities → Activity Manager.
Now, from the Activity Monitor window, select the app you want to force quit and press the ‘x’ button at the top. Select Force Quit in the confirmation pop-up to stop all processes related to the specific application.
4. Keyboard Shortcut to Force Quit Any App on Mac
If your cursor or mouse is unresponsive to apps, this four-key force-escape command on Mac is the best option for you. It takes down the currently active app immediately.
To force quit a frozen application, simply press the keyboard shortcut Command + Option + Shift + Escape on your keyboard. It will immediately close the application.
Note: If even this doesn’t work, press the Control + Option + Command + Power button. This force quits all apps and shuts down the system.
5. Using the Terminal command
If you’re comfortable with the Terminal app, you can use it to force quit a stubborn app on your Mac. However, the only thing you need to care about is entering the correct application name. For example, you will need to enter the app name as WhatsApp and not whatsapp.
Step 1: Open Terminal from Spotlight, Launch Pad or Applications → Utilities.
Step 2: Type the following command and press Return Key:
sudo killall “
Step 3: Enter your device password and press Return.
If everything is fine, the Mac will force quit the application. However, you may get a “No matching procedure found” error if there is a typo or the device can’t find the process.
What if I can’t force quit apps on my Mac
It is very unlikely that one of the methods mentioned above will not work. However, in rare cases, you should force restart your Mac. And if apps continue to hang, even after restarting, you can either start your Mac in Safe Mode or check out this guide to force quit on a working Mac again.
The last resort though is to contact the app developer or Apple support and get help from an authorized employee.
Quick tips to avoid app freezing on Mac
It is said, prevention is better than cure; Here are some tricks to minimize the chance of apps freezing on your Mac:
- Keep your macOS and apps up to date.
- Close unnecessary applications and processes running in the background.
- Monitor system resources and free up space on your Mac.
- Avoid installing incompatible or unreliable software.
FAQ about Force Quit Apps on Mac
1. When should you force quit an application?
Forced quitting shouldn’t be the norm. You should only use this option when the app stops responding, crashes or runs slowly, and the normal methods of closing apps don’t work.
2. How is Force Quit different from normal application closing?
Forced quitting is a more aggressive approach. It forces termination of the application, even if it becomes unresponsive, while closing the application normally allows the application to exit gently and save any unsaved data.
3. Can force quit harm my Mac?
It doesn’t really affect your Mac, although you may lose unsaved data. However, if you have to force quit the app multiple times, it’s a sign of some potential problem with the app or your Mac; then you should take the matter seriously.
Quit stubborn apps on Mac
Knowing how to force quit apps on a Mac is a valuable skill. It can help you deal with unresponsive apps while keeping frustration at bay. And by familiarizing yourself with these methods, you can regain control over unresponsive apps.
Most importantly, it will ensure a smoother and more efficient experience. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, feel free to contact us in the comments section.
Categories: How to
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