Why Use Force Quit on Mac?
Sometimes, apps on macOS stop responding, freeze, or slow down your system. Instead of waiting or restarting your Mac, you can use the Force Quit feature to instantly close unresponsive apps.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to force close on a Mac, including the best force quit Mac shortcut and alternative methods to close frozen applications.
How to Force Close in Mac – Quick Methods
1. Use the Force Quit Mac Shortcut (Cmd + Option + Esc)
The fastest way to close an app is by using this shortcut:
- Press
Cmd + Option + Escto open the Force Quit Applications window. - Select the unresponsive app from the list.
- Click “Force Quit”, then confirm.
📌 Tip: This method is similar to Ctrl + Alt + Del in Windows.
2. Force Quit via the Apple Menu
- Click the Apple logo () in the top-left corner.
- Select “Force Quit…” from the dropdown menu.
- Choose the frozen app and click “Force Quit”.
📌 Tip: If your mouse is unresponsive, try the keyboard shortcut instead.
3. Use Activity Monitor to Force Close Apps
For a more detailed view of running processes, use Activity Monitor:
- Open Activity Monitor (
Cmd + Space, then type Activity Monitor). - Find the app you want to close in the list.
- Click it, then press “X” (Quit Process) in the top bar.
- Click “Force Quit” to close it immediately.
📌 Tip: Activity Monitor also lets you monitor CPU, memory, and energy usage.
4. Force Quit Using the Terminal
If the methods above don’t work, use Terminal commands:
- Open Terminal (
Cmd + Space, then type Terminal). - Type
killall [App Name]and press Enter.- Example:
killall Safari(force quits Safari).
- Example:
- If the app doesn’t close, use
sudo kill -9 [PID](replace PID with the app’s process ID from Activity Monitor).
📌 Tip: The killall command works for most apps instantly.
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
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