When an app stops responding, force quit is your fastest way out
When a Mac app freezes or stops responding, you do not have to restart your computer. You can force quit the app in seconds using the keyboard shortcut Command + Option + Esc, which opens the Force Quit window. Select the frozen app from the list and click "Force Quit" — the app will close immediately, and you can reopen it or move on to something else.
This works for any app that is not responding, whether it is a built-in app like Mail or a third-party program. The app will close without saving any unsaved work in that window, so you may lose recent changes, but the rest of your Mac keeps running normally.
Key Takeaways
- Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit window, select the frozen app, and click "Force Quit" to close it immediately.
- Force quitting an app does not restart your Mac or affect other open programs — only the selected app closes.
- You will lose any unsaved work in that app, so force quit is a last resort after waiting a few seconds for the app to respond.
- If an app freezes repeatedly, restarting your Mac or reinstalling the app may solve the underlying problem.
- Activity Monitor is an alternative method if the Force Quit window does not appear or does not work.
Using the keyboard shortcut (fastest method)
The quickest way to force quit is the keyboard shortcut. Press Command + Option + Esc at the same time. A window titled "Force Quit Applications" will appear within a second or two, showing a list of all open apps.
Look for the app that is frozen or not responding — it will often have the word "not responding" next to its name in the list. Click on that app name to select it, then click the "Force Quit" button in the bottom right of the window. The app will close immediately.
After the app closes, the Force Quit window stays open. You can close it by clicking the red button in the top left corner, or press Command + W to close it.
Using Activity Monitor if the keyboard shortcut does not work
If the Force Quit window does not appear or does not respond, you can use Activity Monitor instead. Open Activity Monitor by pressing Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type "Activity Monitor", and press Enter.
In the Activity Monitor window, look for the app you want to close. You can search for it using the search box in the top right. Click on the app name to select it, then click the X button in the top left of the window (next to the search box). A dialog will ask you to confirm — click "Force Quit" to close the app.
Activity Monitor shows you how much memory and processing power each app is using, which can help you spot apps that are consuming too many resources and causing slowdowns.
What happens when you force quit an app
Force quitting closes the app immediately without saving any unsaved work. If you were editing a document or composing an email when the app froze, that work will be lost. Some apps have recovery features that can restore your work the next time you open them, but this is not may provide.
Force quitting does not affect any other open apps or your Mac itself. Your other programs keep running, and your files remain safe. Only the app you selected is closed.
After force quitting, you can reopen the app normally. If it opens without problems, the freeze was likely a temporary glitch. If the same app freezes again within a few hours or days, the problem may be with the app itself or how it interacts with your Mac.
When to force quit versus waiting
Before you force quit, wait 5 to 10 seconds to see if the app responds. Sometimes an app appears frozen but is actually processing something in the background — giving it a few extra seconds can let it finish and become responsive again. If you see a spinning wheel or progress bar, waiting is usually the right choice.
Force quit if the app has been unresponsive for more than 10 seconds, if clicking buttons or typing has no effect, or if the Force Quit window shows "not responding" next to the app name. You can also force quit if you simply want to close an app quickly without going through the normal menu.
Preventing apps from freezing repeatedly
If an app freezes often, try restarting your Mac first. Restart by clicking the Apple menu in the top left, selecting "Restart", and waiting for your Mac to shut down and start up again. This clears temporary files and resets how apps interact with your system.
If the app still freezes after a restart, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. Drag the app to the Trash, empty the Trash, then download a fresh copy from the App Store or the app's website. Reinstalling can fix corrupted files that cause freezing.
You can also check if the app has updates available. Open the App Store, click "Updates" at the top, and look for the app in the list. If an update is available, click "Update" next to it. Developers release updates to fix bugs that cause freezing and other problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will force quitting an app damage my Mac or other programs?
No. Force quitting closes only the app you select and does not affect your Mac or other open programs. Your files and system remain safe. The only loss is unsaved work in that specific app.
What if force quit does not work and the app is still open?
This is rare, but if it happens, restart your Mac. Click the Apple menu, select "Restart", and your Mac will shut down and start up again, closing all apps. If a single app keeps resisting force quit, it may have a serious problem and should be uninstalled and reinstalled.
Can I force quit multiple apps at once?
The Force Quit window lets you select and close one app at a time. If you need to close several apps, repeat the Command + Option + Esc process for each one. Activity Monitor lets you select multiple apps by holding Command and clicking each name, then clicking the X button to close them all at once.
Will I lose files if I force quit an app?
You will lose any unsaved work in that app — text you typed, edits you made, anything not yet saved to disk. Files you saved before the freeze remain safe. Some apps auto-save or have recovery features that restore your work when you reopen them, but do not count on this.
Is force quit the same as restarting my Mac?
No. Force quit closes one app while your Mac keeps running. Restarting shuts down your entire Mac and starts it up again, closing all apps. Force quit is much faster and should be your first choice when a single app freezes.