The fastest way to close an app on a Mac
To close an app on your Mac, click the red circle button in the top-left corner of the app's window, or use the keyboard shortcut Command+Q while the app is active. Both methods do the same thing — they shut down the program completely. The red button is the easiest if you can see it; the keyboard shortcut is faster if your hands are already on the keys.
If an app is frozen or not responding, the red button and Command+Q may not work. In that case, you can force the app to close using Force Quit, which you'll read about in the next section. Most of the time, though, one of these two methods will close your app without any trouble.
Key Takeaways
- Click the red circle button in the top-left corner of any app window, or press Command+Q, to close the app normally.
- If an app freezes or stops responding, use Force Quit (Command+Option+Esc) to shut it down without waiting.
- Closing an app is different from minimizing it — a closed app stops running entirely, while a minimized app is still active in the background.
- You can also close an app by right-clicking its icon in the Dock and selecting "Quit" from the menu.
Using the red button versus Command+Q
The red circle button sits at the top-left of every app window, next to the yellow and green buttons. Clicking it closes the window and shuts down the app. This method works the same way on every Mac and is the most visible option if you're new to macOS.
Command+Q is faster once you're used to it. Hold down the Command key (the one with the ⌘ symbol) and press Q. The app closes immediately. This shortcut works in almost every Mac app, so learning it saves time if you close apps often.
Both methods give the app a moment to save any unsaved work before closing. If you have unsaved changes in a document, the app will usually ask you whether you want to save before it shuts down. You can then choose to save, discard, or cancel the close.
Force Quit when an app stops responding
Sometimes an app freezes or becomes unresponsive. The red button and Command+Q may not work in this situation. When that happens, use Force Quit to shut the app down immediately without waiting for it to respond.
To Force Quit, press Command+Option+Esc at the same time. A window will appear showing all open apps. Click the frozen app's name to select it, then click the "Force Quit" button at the bottom right. The app will close right away, even if it's not responding.
Be aware that Force Quit closes the app without saving any unsaved work. If you had a document open with changes you hadn't saved, those changes will be lost. Use Force Quit only when an app is truly frozen and won't respond to normal closing.
Closing an app from the Dock
The Dock is the row of app icons at the bottom of your screen (or the side, if you've moved it). You can close an app by right-clicking its icon in the Dock and selecting "Quit" from the menu that appears. This method works whether the app is frozen or responding normally.
If the app is frozen, right-click its Dock icon and look for an option that says "Force Quit" instead of "Quit." Click that to force the app closed. Not all apps show this option, so if you don't see it, use Command+Option+Esc instead.
The difference between closing and minimizing
Closing an app stops it from running. Minimizing an app hides its window but leaves the app running in the background. Many people confuse the two because both get the app off your screen.
The yellow button in the top-left corner of an app window minimizes it — the window disappears, but the app is still active. You'll see the app's icon in the Dock with a dot underneath it, showing it's still running. To bring it back, click its Dock icon.
If you want to actually stop the app from using your Mac's memory and processing power, you need to close it, not minimize it. Use the red button or Command+Q to close; use the yellow button only if you plan to use the app again soon and want quick access to it.
What happens when you close an app
When you close an app normally, it shuts down and stops using your Mac's resources. If the app had unsaved changes in any open documents, it will ask you to save before closing. You can choose to save the changes, discard them, or cancel the close and go back to the app.
After you close an app, it no longer appears in the Dock (unless you've pinned it there permanently). The app's icon will still be in your Applications folder, so you can open it again whenever you need it. Closing an app does not delete it from your Mac.
Some apps may take a few seconds to close, especially if they're saving data or finishing a task. This is normal. If an app takes more than 10 or 15 seconds to close, it may be frozen, and you should use Force Quit instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between closing an app and restarting my Mac?
Closing an app stops just that one program. Restarting your Mac shuts down everything and turns the computer off and back on. If one app is frozen, closing it is much faster than restarting. Restart your Mac only if multiple apps are frozen or your Mac is running slowly.
Will closing an app delete my files?
No. Closing an app does not delete any files. Your documents, photos, and other files stay on your Mac. The app itself also stays in your Applications folder. Closing just stops the program from running.
Why does my app ask to save when I close it?
If you made changes to a document in the app but didn't save them, the app will ask before closing. This gives you a chance to keep your work. Click "Save" to keep the changes, "Don't Save" to discard them, or "Cancel" to go back to the app without closing.
Can I close multiple apps at once?
You can close them one at a time using Command+Q in each app, but macOS doesn't have a built-in way to close all apps at once. If you want to close everything quickly, the fastest method is to restart your Mac, which closes all running apps and turns the computer off and back on.