5 Ways to Force Quit Apps on Mac
You open an app on your MacBook and the app gets stuck and becomes unresponsive. Because the app is unresponsive and no longer functioning, you can’t get work done. While it doesn’t happen always, apps on MacBooks do freeze and you see a colorful rotating disc-like icon. Here are different ways to force quit apps on Mac so you relaunch and get back to work.
Note:Whenever you force quit an app or force restart your MacBook, you will lose any and all unsaved work. It’s better to wait sometime to see if the app begins functioning again. If not, you have little choice but to proceed with forced quitting the unresponsive app.
Table of Contents
1. From Dock
If an app has frozen or has become unresponsive, here is the first method to force quit the app.
1. Right-clickon the open app in the dock.
2.Now click onForce Quit. And the app will be killed.
2. From Apple Menu
The second method to force quit an app on Mac is via the Apple menu. Let’s take a look at the steps to do so.
1.When the app is frozen, click on theApple logoin the menu bar.
2.Now click onForce Quit . For example, I’ll force quit Spotify, hence click on Force Quit Spotify in the screenshot below.
3. Keyboard Shortcuts
If you are someone who uses keyboard shortcuts a lot, you will love this method. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can also force quit unresponsive apps on your Mac. Let’s take a look at the steps to do so.
1.Presscmd + option + escsimultaneously on your keyboard.
2.A small pop-up window will open now on the screen.Select the appthat is frozen or unresponsive.
3.Now click onForce Quitbutton. And the app will get completely closed.
4. Using Activity Monitor
Activity Monitor is an in-built but useful app. It is used to monitor various apps and processes. The best part is that you can also use Activity Monitor to force quit an unresponsive app on MacBooks.
1.Presscmd + spaceon your keyboard simultaneously to open the Spotlight search.
2.TypeActivity Monitorand wait for the results. Now click on theActivity Monitorto open it.
3.Click onCPUto make sure it is selected before you proceed further.
4.Click on theunresponsive appto select it.
5.Click on theX icon (Stop)button
6.Now click onForce Quitand the app will be closed for good.
5. Force Restart Your Mac
If you are still having trouble with the unresponsive app on your Mac, I would suggest you force restart your MacBook. A force restart will kill all the running apps, so there’s a chance of losing any unsaved data. So be aware of that before proceeding to the steps.
- Press and hold the power buttonof your Mac for about 10 seconds. Your Mac will automatically kill all apps and shut down.
Tip:If your Mac has Touch ID, then hold that button for about 10 seconds.
2.Once your Mac shuts down, wait for a few seconds and then gently press thepower buttonto turn it back on.
Here’s a bonus tip for you guys on how to close/quit an app from the app switcher.
1.Presscmd + tabsimultaneously on your keyboard to open the app switcher.
2.Now leave thetabkey but continue holding thecmdkey on your keyboard.
3.Now navigate to the app which you want to close by pressing thetabkey (one or multiple times depending upon how many apps you’ve opened) while holding down on thecmdkey.
4.When you have selected the unresponsive app, press theQkey while you are holding thecmdkey. This will quickly force close the app from the app switcher itself. For example, I’m closing Spotify here.
Say Goodbye to Unresponsive Apps on macOS
Instead of cursing or reacting, it is better to respond to unresponsive apps on your MacBook. The real problem is the loss of data in case you are working inside an app that suddenly stops working. you may build a habit of saving work from time to time to avoid such issues if you continue to face unresponsive apps on your MacBook. This is more common in older computers. Maybe it is time to upgrade to a newer model.
Are you having trouble opening iCloud in a browser on Mac? Here areways to fix iCloud when it no longer opening in your browser on Mac.
Subham Raj
Subham is a tech enthusiast and a has knack for writing, he also has a deep love for filmmaking. He is currently working as a full-time Technical writer at TechWiser and his roots are from Samastipur, Bihar.
