02 / POWER · 5 min read
How to Force Quit Frozen Applications on Mac
When a Mac app freezes and the spinning wheel will not go away, here is how to close it with a shortcut, the Apple menu, the Dock or Activity Monitor.
To force quit a frozen app on Mac, press Command + Option + Escape to open the Force Quit Applications window, select the app, and click Force Quit. You can also click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner and choose Force Quit, or hold Option while you right-click the app's Dock icon.
The Shortcut: Command + Option + Escape
The fastest way to close a frozen app is Command + Option + Escape (⌘⌥⎋). It opens the Force Quit Applications window even when an app shows the spinning wheel.
- Press
Command + Option + Escape. - Select the frozen app. macOS often marks it with Not Responding in red.
- Click Force Quit and confirm.
Force Quit from the Apple Menu
If the shortcut does not work, use the menu bar:
- Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Click Force Quit....
- Select the frozen app and click Force Quit.
Tip: hold Shift while you open the Apple menu and it offers Force Quit for the app you are using right now, in a single click.
Force Quit from the Dock
A normal right-click on an app's Dock icon only gives you Quit, and a frozen app ignores it. Instead:
- Right-click (or Control-click) the app's icon in the Dock.
- Hold down the Option (⌥) key.
- Quit changes to Force Quit. Click it.
Using Activity Monitor
If an app is not listed in the Force Quit window, or your whole Mac feels slow, Activity Monitor shows everything that is running. Open Spotlight (⌘ Space), type Activity Monitor and press Return. Then:
- Click the CPU or Memory tab and click the column heading to put the busiest items at the top.
- Select the item that is causing trouble and click the Stop (X) button in the toolbar.
- Choose Force Quit.
Why Mac Apps Freeze
Apps usually freeze when the Mac is short on memory, when too many heavy apps run at once, or when an app gets stuck waiting for something. If it keeps happening, quit apps you are not using and restart your Mac now and then.
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Force quit closes the app at once and unsaved changes can be lost. If you can, wait about 30 seconds first, because the app may recover on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut to force quit an app on Mac?
Press Command + Option + Escape (⌘⌥⎋). The Force Quit Applications window opens, so you can pick the frozen app and close it.
Why do apps freeze and need a force quit on Mac?
Most often the Mac is short on memory or too many heavy apps are open at the same time. Sometimes one app simply gets stuck waiting for something. Closing apps you do not need helps.
What is the difference between Quit and Force Quit on Mac?
Quit (⌘Q) asks the app to close, so it can save your work first. Force Quit shuts it down at once without saving, so use it only when the app does not respond.
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