How to force quit an app in macOS

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Here's how to deal with any frozen applications slowing you down

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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:

How to force quit applications

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.

And it's as easy as that. Be sure to check out our how to Reset a MacBook tutorial and our MacBook Air 2022 rumor roundup page for more info.

macOS Tips

David Eitelbach

David was a writer at Laptop Mag. His coverage spanned how-to guides, reviews, and product rankings. He reviewed Asus, Lenovo, and Gigabyte laptops; guided readers on how to do various things in Excel, and even how to force quit an app in macOS. Outside of Laptop Mag, his work has appeared on sites such as Tom's Guide and TechRadar.