When an app freezes on your Mac, you do not have to restart right away. macOS gives you several built-in ways to close a stuck app, from the quick Force Quit shortcut to Activity Monitor for stubborn processes. Start with a normal quit, then move to stronger options until the app closes.
Try a Normal Quit First
Press Command-Q while the app is active.
Use the app menu if the window still responds. Choose App Name, then Quit App, such as Safari, then Quit Safari.
Give the app a moment to close.
A normal quit lets the app save changes and clean up before it closes.
Use the Force Quit Shortcut
The fastest Mac force quit method is the built-in keyboard shortcut.
- 1.Press Option-Command-Esc.
- 2.Select the unresponsive app in the Force Quit window.
- 3.Click Force Quit.
Fix the Shortcut When It Does Nothing
The most common cause is using the wrong key combination, especially after switching from Windows.
Press Option-Command-Esc, not Ctrl-Alt-Delete. The Mac shortcut opens the Force Quit window directly.
On Mac models with Touch Bar, press Esc on the left side of the Touch Bar while holding Option and Command.
Open Force Quit from the Apple Menu
Use the menu bar when clicking is easier than reaching for the keyboard.
Choose Apple menu, then Force Quit. Select the frozen app in the Force Quit window, then click Force Quit.
If this method fails, use the Dock shortcut when the app icon appears there.
Close It from the Dock
This works when the frozen app is already visible in the Dock.
- 1.Find the app icon in the Dock.
- 2.Control-click the app icon.
- 3.Choose Force Quit.
Relaunch Finder When the Desktop Freezes
Finder is different because it is always open. When the desktop, file windows, or Finder itself stops responding, relaunch it instead of closing it like a regular app.
Press Option-Command-Esc, or choose Apple menu, then Force Quit. Select Finder, then click Relaunch.
Use Activity Monitor for Stubborn Apps
This fixes apps and processes that do not close from the standard Force Quit window.
Open Activity Monitor.
Select the app or process under Process Name.
Click the Stop button in the upper-left corner of the Activity Monitor window.
Choose Quit first.
If the app does not quit safely, repeat the same path and choose Force Quit.
Restart When the Whole Mac Is Stuck
The most common cause is that the problem has moved beyond one app and macOS is no longer responding normally.
Choose Apple menu, then Restart when the menu still opens. Restarting is the next move when an app will not force quit or the Mac remains unstable.
If the Mac will not restart or respond, press and hold the power button for up to 10 seconds until the Mac turns off. On Mac laptops with Touch ID, press and hold the Touch ID button instead, then press and release the power button to turn the Mac back on.
Forced shutdown loses unsaved changes when a file has not been saved, so use it only when the Mac is unresponsive.
Control Force Quit by Voice
Turn on Voice Control from Apple menu, System Settings, Accessibility, then Voice Control.
Say Show names or Show numbers to label items on screen.
Use voice commands to choose Apple menu, Force Quit, select the app, and click Force Quit.
For managed Macs, an administrator using Apple Remote Desktop can quit apps on client Macs when Remote Management includes permission to open and quit apps.
In Terminal, Control-C stops most foreground commands running inside Terminal; it is not the standard way to force quit a regular Mac app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will force quitting an app delete my files?
Force quitting may discard unsaved changes in that app. Files already saved to your Mac remain in place.
What is the Mac version of Ctrl-Alt-Delete?
Use Option-Command-Esc. It opens the Mac Force Quit window so you can select an app and click Force Quit.
Why does Finder show Relaunch instead of Force Quit?
Finder is always open on macOS. Relaunch restarts the desktop and file browsing without treating Finder like a normal app.
Should I use Activity Monitor or Force Quit first?
Use the Force Quit window first for regular frozen apps. Use Activity Monitor when the app or process does not close from the standard Force Quit window.
