Force closing an app on a Mac using Force Quit
When an app stops responding or freezes, you can force it to close without restarting your Mac. The fastest way is to use Force Quit, which you access through the keyboard shortcut Command + Option + Esc. This opens a window showing every app currently running, and you can select the frozen one and click "Force Quit" to shut it down immediately.
The Force Quit window lists each open app with its current status. If an app is frozen or not responding, it will show "(not responding)" next to its name. Click that app once to select it, then click the "Force Quit" button in the bottom right corner. The app will close within a few seconds, and you can reopen it normally afterward.
This method works for any app, whether it's a built-in program like Mail or Safari, or a third-party app you downloaded. Force Quit does not affect other open apps or unsaved work in other programs — it closes only the one you select.
Key Takeaways
- Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit window, then select the frozen app and click "Force Quit".
- Apps marked "(not responding)" are the ones that have stopped working and need to be force closed.
- Force Quit closes only the selected app and does not affect other programs or your Mac's overall performance.
- If an app freezes repeatedly, restart your Mac after force closing it to clear temporary files that may be causing the problem.
- You can also force close an app by right-clicking its icon in the Dock and selecting "Force Quit" from the menu.
Using the Dock to force close an app
If you can see the app's icon in the Dock at the bottom of your screen, you can force close it from there without opening the Force Quit window. Right-click (or Control-click) on the app's icon in the Dock, and a menu will appear with several options including "Force Quit" at the bottom.
Click "Force Quit" and the app will close immediately. This method is faster if you already know which app is frozen and can see its Dock icon. The Dock method and the Command + Option + Esc method do the same thing — they both force close the app — so use whichever is quickest for you in that moment.
What to do if an app won't close even with Force Quit
In rare cases, an app may not respond to Force Quit. If you press Command + Option + Esc and the app still appears in the list after you click "Force Quit," wait 10 to 15 seconds and try again. Sometimes the system needs a moment to process the command.
If the app still will not close after a second attempt, restart your Mac. Hold down the power button for 10 seconds until your Mac shuts down, then press it again to turn it back on. A restart clears the app from memory completely and usually solves the problem. You will lose any unsaved work in that app, but other open programs will not be affected if you save them first.
Why apps freeze and how to prevent it
Apps freeze when they run out of memory, encounter a software bug, or lose connection to the system. A single frozen app does not mean your Mac is broken — it means that one program encountered a problem. Force closing it and reopening it usually solves the issue for that session.
If an app freezes repeatedly, the problem is usually with that specific app rather than your Mac. Try these steps: restart your Mac, update the app to the latest version (check the App Store or the developer's website), and if the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall the app. Restarting your Mac clears temporary files that apps use, and updating fixes bugs that developers have already patched.
Keep your Mac's operating system updated as well. Go to System Settings, click "General," then "Software Update" to check for macOS updates. These updates often include fixes for system-level problems that can cause apps to freeze.
The difference between Force Quit and normal closing
When you close an app normally — by clicking the red close button in the top left corner or pressing Command + W — the app has a chance to save your work and shut down cleanly. Force Quit skips this process and closes the app immediately, which means any unsaved work in that app will be lost.
Use normal closing whenever the app is responding. Use Force Quit only when the app is frozen or not responding to clicks. If you force close an app that was working fine, you may lose recent changes you made in that app, but the rest of your Mac and other open apps are not affected.
Checking Activity Monitor for stuck processes
If Force Quit does not show the app you are looking for, or if you want more detailed information about what is running on your Mac, you can use Activity Monitor. Open it by pressing Command + Space, typing "Activity Monitor," and pressing Enter.
Activity Monitor shows every process running on your Mac, including background processes that do not appear in the Dock. Click the "CPU" or "Memory" column header to sort by how much power each process is using. A frozen app often shows high CPU usage or is not responding. Select it and click the stop-sign icon in the top left corner to force close it.
Activity Monitor gives you more control than Force Quit, but Force Quit is usually faster for everyday use. Use Activity Monitor when you need to see what is actually running on your Mac or when an app does not appear in the Force Quit window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will force closing an app delete my files?
Force closing an app will not delete your files. It will only close the app and cause you to lose any unsaved work within that app. Your documents, photos, and other files stored on your Mac remain untouched. If you had unsaved changes in that app, those changes will be lost, but the files themselves are safe.
Can I force close multiple apps at once?
The Force Quit window shows all open apps, and you can select only one at a time to close. If you need to close several frozen apps, open Force Quit, close the first one, then open Force Quit again and close the next one. Restarting your Mac is faster if many apps are frozen at the same time.
What if the keyboard shortcut Command + Option + Esc does not work?
If the keyboard shortcut does not open Force Quit, try using the Dock method instead: right-click the app's icon and select "Force Quit." If neither method works, your Mac may be completely frozen, and you will need to restart it by holding the power button for 10 seconds.
Does force closing an app slow down my Mac?
Force closing an app does not slow down your Mac. In fact, closing a frozen app that is using a lot of memory can free up resources and make your Mac run faster. The only downside is losing unsaved work in that specific app.
Should I restart my Mac after force closing an app?
You do not have to restart after force closing an app once. However, if an app freezes repeatedly, restarting your Mac clears temporary files and often solves the problem. A restart takes a few minutes and is worth doing if the same app keeps freezing.