Do you encounter a frozen app on your Mac and can’t quit it normally? That spinning beach ball makes you crazy? Instead of just sitting and getting more frustrated, force quit an app that’s not responding. Thankfully, you’ve got options to close the unresponsive apps.
How to Quit apps/programs in Mac - latest macOS. How to Quit apps/programs in Mac - latest macOS.
We’ve prepared five Mac force quit ways, so you can pick the one that works best for you. Moreover, we’ll tell you how to prevent the programs from hanging and what to do if your whole Mac stops responding.
How to Force Quit Mac Applications
Force quit from the Apple menu
Here’s how to force quit an app from the Apple menu:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select Force Quit.
- Choose the app that’s not responding.
- Click on the Force Quit button.
Force quit from the Dock
If you wonder how to force quit an app on Mac using the Dock, check out these simple steps:
- To open the dock menu, right-click on the application icon you want to shut down or click on the item and hold.
- Hold an Option (Alt) button, so the Quit menu changes to Force Quit.
- Click Force Quit.
As simple as that!
Force quit using the keyboard shortcut
Alternatively, you can use a force quit Mac shortcut to close an unresponsive app. Do the following:
- Press and hold the following keys: Command + Option + Esc.
- Select the program you want to quit from the dialogue box.
- Click Force Quit.
This method of force quit command Mac is especially useful if your mouse cursor is lagging a bit.
Force quit using the Terminal
If you prefer a command line method to solve the problems, you can quit an unresponsive app via Terminal. Here’s what you should do:
- Launch the Terminal.
- Type the following command: killall [application name]. For example, if Safari isn’t responding, type killall Safari.
- Click Enter. Your application will be shut down immediately.
Note that the killall command works at the system level and the auto-save option doesn’t work. Be careful not to lose your unsaved data.
A better way to force quit apps — CleanMyMac X
A smart maintenance app like CleanMyMac X has a problem of force quit on Mac covered. You can easily force quit program on your Mac with an Optimization utility. It has a special Hung Applications tool that allows to identify and fix the unresponsive app right away.
A direct access saves you time and allows to fix a frozen app in a matter of seconds. CleanMyMac also takes care of other performance issues, so if you want to get alerts when something goes wrong on your Mac, download CleanMyMac X for free and give it a try.
Fixing an app that hangs frequently: Short tips
You may notice that a particular app freezes quite often. It is natural to assume that there is something wrong with that application. But don’t worry, there are a few things you can do to fix the hanging app.
First of all, update an app to the latest version. App developers are constantly working on improvements, trying to deliver the best experience to users. The latest update may resolve all problems with the freezing app.
The next step is to clear the app’s cache, especially if you use it frequently. If there’s not enough free storage, a program won’t run smoothly. Once you delete the cache files, an app may start working normally.
You may also try to delete an app and reinstall it. Usually it resolves the problem of a frozen app.
What to do when your Mac freezes
Typically it’s just an app that hangs, but on rare occasions the Mac may freeze entirely and become completely unresponsive to anything. This is often accompanied by fans that work quite loudly, demonstrating a fully frozen Mac. To solve the problem, you need to shut down your computer and boot it again.
Here’s how to force reboot your Mac:
- Hold down the Power button until your Mac shuts down completely. This may take about 5 seconds.
- Wait a few seconds and then hit the Power button again to boot the Mac.
As you may presume, this method is not perfect. Any unsaved information may be lost due to the sudden shutdown. However, sometimes it’s the only way to make your computer running.
That’s it. We hope this guide has helped you to force close Mac app that’s not responding. Keep in mind, with regular maintenance, your computer will be at tip-top shape, running at its best. And software like CleanMyMac X can help you keep an eye on your Mac. It can reset and delete apps, free up RAM, clean up the system, take care of the startup programs that slow down your computer, and speed up your Mac with its maintenance scripts. And that’s what will help you avoid problems with frozen apps on your Mac.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned!
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While working on Mac, if an application starts acting weird, you need to close it. But what if you can’t close the app, then the next solution is to forced shutdown the program on a Mac. This method is needed to be known by the Mac users as it can get handy. In this article, we solve this issue for you as we have stated five methods on how to force quit applications on Mac.
How To Close Mac Apps
Methods to force quit an application on Mac
Mac is a clean operating system with wonderful features, but sometimes, it can act strangely. This might be due to the fact of some error or outdated operating system. Remember to keep your system updated, and the disk storage decluttered. As it directly impacts the performance on Mac and issues like application refuses to close occurs.
1. Using Menu Bar
When you find yourself in this situation, the first thing to do, open the Menu bar. It is the given feature to force quit an application on Mac.
Here you will see the Force Quit option in the drop-down menu. Click on it, and this shows you the list of all the running applications.
Select the application you want to force close on Mac. Now click on the Force Quit button.
2. Using Dock Panel
To learn how to force quit an application on Mac using Dock, follow the option steps given below. Another secure method is to use the mouse together with your keyboard. Press the Alt key on your keyboard. When you see your application icon on the Dock, use the mouse to right-click on it.
Here you will see the Force Quit option appearing in the options visible. Click on it to force quit an application on Mac.
Note: If you right click on the app icon on Dock without pressing the Alt key, the option only shows Quit option.
3. Using Activity Monitor
Activity monitor is the best bet when you want to learn how to quit a program on Mac. It shows all the running applications and comes with an option to quit. To open Activity Monitor, go to Launchpad.
Now to force quit a program on Mac you need to click on the CPU tab on Activity Monitor.
Here you will see the names of the applications, select the one which is hanging. Locate the cross icon on the top left, click on it.
You will see the prompt message appearing on the screen – “Are you sure you want to quit this process? “
Click on Force Quit option.
4. Using Terminal
If all of the above steps did not help, then you still can force shut down the application via the command line.
To learn how to close the application on Mac using Terminal, follow the steps given below:
1. Open Spotlight from the Menu Bar.
2. Now type Terminal and open it.
3. Launch Terminal.
Command Quit On Mac
4. Start the forced shutdown of the program on Mac by typing this command-killall “Name of application”.
Note: This command is case sensitive, so please enter the name of the application as it is. For example Killall FaceTime
5. Click Enter.
Force Quit Installer On Mac
6. Use TuneupMyMac
TuneupMyMac is a Mac cleaner tool that helps clear app cache which refreshes the app. This means when the app launches the next time, you can use it as new. It is one of the finest tools for Mac to clean the junk files interrupting the regular operation of closing applications. Once you install TuneupMyMac, it will thoroughly scan your Mac. It can remove junk files, unwanted log-in items or system files which are most likely to be causing trouble.
TuneupMyMac can also be used to uninstall an application on Mac completely. So, So if you looking for a way to refresh app or close any app try using TuneUpMyMac. This one click mac optimizer will do wonders.
Conclusion
So if you find yourself stuck with the application, use any of the above methods to force quit an app on Mac. Declutter the disk storage with TuneupMyMac, as it is a great application to clean your Mac and help it to run all functions smoothly. It is one of the methods to use when all others fail to force shut down an application on Mac.
We hope that this method helps you understand how to force quit an application on Mac. We would like to know your views on this post to make it more useful. Your suggestions and comments are welcome in the comment section below. Share the information with your friends and others by sharing the article on social media.
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