{"id":99271,"date":"2026-06-19T00:11:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T07:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/?p=99271"},"modified":"2026-06-21T22:15:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:15:46","slug":"how-to-force-quit-apps-on-a-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/how-to-force-quit-apps-on-a-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"How to force quit on Mac when an app freezes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

To force quit on Mac, press Option<\/strong> + Command<\/strong> + Esc<\/strong>, select the frozen app in the window, then click Force Quit<\/strong>. You can also click the Apple menu and choose Force Quit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If that doesn\u2019t work, you can try Activity Monitor, relaunching Finder, or restarting your Mac. Keep in mind that force quitting can cause you to lose unsaved work, so it\u2019s best used only when an app is frozen or not responding.<\/p>\n

Below, we\u2019ll cover different ways to force quit apps on a Mac, what to do if Force Quit isn\u2019t working, and how to stop apps from freezing so often.<\/p>\n

5 ways to force quit an app on Mac<\/h2>\n

If the usual quit option isn\u2019t working for an app, there are a few other ways you can close it. It\u2019s best to try the quickest keyboard option first, then try the more direct system tools if the app is still frozen.<\/p>\n

1. Use the Force Quit Mac shortcut<\/h3>\n

The easiest way to force quit an app is to press Option<\/strong> + Command<\/strong> + Esc<\/strong>. This opens the Force Quit Applications window that lists the apps currently running on your Mac.<\/p>\n

Look for the app marked “Not Responding,” select it, and click Force Quit<\/strong>. Keep in mind that force quitting an app will cause you to lose any unsaved changes or work.<\/p>\n

2. Force quit from the Apple menu<\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t want to use the keyboard shortcut, you can open the same Force Quit window from the Apple menu:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.<\/li>\n
  2. Select Force Quit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  3. Choose the frozen app.<\/li>\n
  4. Click Force Quit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    3. Force quit from the Dock<\/h3>\n

    You can also force quit an app directly from the Dock. Right-click (or Control-click) the app\u2019s icon. If the normal Quit command isn\u2019t working, hold down the Option<\/strong> key while the menu is open. The Quit command should change to Force Quit. Click it to close the app.<\/p>\n

    4. Force quit with Activity Monitor<\/h3>\n

    You can use Activity Monitor to troubleshoot problems with apps<\/a> and force quit them when needed. It\u2019s especially useful if the app doesn\u2019t appear in the Force Quit window or if a specific background task is causing the issue.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Open Activity Monitor by going to Finder<\/strong> > Applications<\/strong> > Utilities<\/strong>.\n