How to force an app to close on your Mac

If an app stops responding and you can't close the app normally, follow these steps to force the app to close.

To close a Mac app normally, choose Quit from the app's menu in the menu bar, or press Command-Q. If the app won't close, follow these steps to force the app to close.

Force an app to close

How to force quit on Mac: Press Option-Command-Esc

  1. Do either of the following:
    • Press these three keys together: Option (or Alt), Command, Esc (Escape).*
    • Or choose Force Quit from the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen.
  2. A Force Quit window will open. Select the app you want to close, then click Force Quit.
    Force Quit Applications window

You can even force the Finder to close if it stops responding: select Finder in the Force Quit window, then click Relaunch.

How to force an app to close on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

 

If you can't force the app to close

Restart your Mac: choose Apple menu  > Restart.

If you can't restart because your Mac isn't responding, force your Mac to turn off:

  1. Press and hold the power button on your Mac for up to 10 seconds until your Mac turns off.
    Every Mac has a power button. On laptops that have Touch ID, press and hold Touch ID.
  2. Turn your Mac back on.

 

* Even computers that have a Touch Bar have an Esc key. It's located on the left-hand side of the Touch Bar.

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