If you've ever encountered an unresponsive program in Windows (and who hasn't?), you’ve undoubtedly used the Ctrl-Alt-Delete key combination to force the program to quit. Unlike PCs, however, macOS doesn't use the typical Ctrl-Alt-Delete key combination to Force Quit frozen programs. If an application hangs up on you on your new Mac, just follow these simple steps:
1. Press Command-Option-Esc on the keyboard to open the Force Quit Applications window.
2. Select the program you wish to terminate and click Force Quit.
3. Click the Apple logo in the top left corner, select Force Quit from the drop-down menu as an alternate method.
Ready to sell your Mac? Check out our How to Reset a MacBook tutorial, and our MacBook Pro 2019 rumor roundup page for more info.
PC to Mac Guide: How to Make the Switch
- How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts in OS X
- Eject USB Devices in OS X
- How to Use Gestures to Navigate OS X
- How to Right Click in OS X
- Install Apps in OS X
- How to Find Files and Folders in OS X
- Take Screenshots in OS X
- Make Desktop Shortcuts in Mac OS X
- How to Browse Your Applications in OS X
- How to Force Close Frozen Applications in OS X
- Quit Applications in OS X
- How to Use Full Screen Apps in OS X
- Use Spotlight to Find Files in OS X
- Create an Apple ID
- Move Your PC files to a Mac
- How to set up Mail and Calendar accounts on OS X
- Use OS X El Capitan's Split Screen Mode
- Increase the Text Size on Mac