How to Force Quit on Mac?

Are you experiencing a freezing application on your Mac device? Does a wait cursor appear to let you know that one of your apps has crashed? Looking for a way to force close the unresponsive problematic app? Usually, you know which application is not responding because it will hang and you will not be able to use it. If you identify which application is not responding, use any of the following methods to force the application to close.

In the following article, you will be able to find out how to Force Quit using:

• Apple Menu
• Dock
• Keyboard Shortcut
• Activity Monitor

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Force Quit from the Apple Menu

This is the method recommended by Apple.

1. In the upper left corner of the screen, click the Apple logo.
2. A list will appear from which you should select the Force Quit option.
3. At this point, the Force Quit Application window will appear, while presenting a list of applications currently open on your Mac device. A (Not Responding) message is likely to appear next to the problem app. In that case, select the unresponsive application and click Force Quit.
4. At this point, a window will appear asking if you really want to force quit, to do so press the Force Quit button again. As a result, Mac will force quit the unresponsive program.

Force Quit from the Dock

If the method above did not fix the problem and the application that is not working properly is still active, force-quit using the Dock at the bottom of the screen.

1. In the Dock, locate the application that is causing the problem. Use the right mouse button or press the control key while clicking the mouse or trackpad.
2. Press and hold the Option key and the popup from the Dock will display Force Quit and the unresponsive application will be closed automatically.

Force Quit with Keyboard Shortcut

If macOS is frozen completely and you can’t even move the mouse cursor, you can open the Force Quit window with the keyboard as shown below:

1. At the same time, press the OPTION, command, and ESC key.
2. Now the Force Quit Application window appears. Select an unresponsive app and press Force Quit.
3. A system window will pop up asking if you really want to force quit the application, confirm the operation with the Force Quit button. As a result, the Mac will force the end smoothly.

Force Quit with Activity Monitor

If all of the above has failed, try forcing quit with the Activity Monitor.

1. Locate the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the screen. The Spotlight Search window will be displayed.
2. At this point, type Activity Monitor in the search bar. Double-tap an application in the list to launch it.
3. Now, the Activity Monitor will be displayed which lists the active programs on your MAC device. In the Process Name column, locate and click the unresponsive application.
4. To close an unresponsive application, click the loupe icon marked with an X in the upper left corner of the window.

One of the options above should help you to force quit a non-functioning application. If, on the other hand, you’ve tried all the methods presented and the application still does not respond, restart your Mac device.