When an app stops responding, force quit closes it without waiting
When a Mac process freezes or stops responding, you do not have to restart your entire computer. Force quit closes the stuck app when ready, leaving everything else running. The app will shut down even if it is not responding to normal commands, and you can reopen it afterward.
Your Mac provides three ways to force quit, ranging from fastest to most thorough. Each one works slightly differently depending on what is frozen and how much control you have at that moment.
Key Takeaways
- Command+Option+Esc opens the Force Quit window, where you select the frozen app and click Force Quit to close it when ready.
- Activity Monitor (in Applications > Utilities) shows every running process and lets you force quit apps that do not appear in the Force Quit window.
- If your Mac is completely unresponsive, hold the power button for ten seconds to force a shutdown, then restart normally.
- Force quitting an app closes only that program; your other work and open windows remain untouched.
- Unsaved work in the frozen app will be lost when you force quit, so save your other documents first if possible.
Using the Force Quit Window (fastest method)
The quickest way to force quit is through the Force Quit window. Press Command+Option+Esc at the same time. A window will appear showing all open applications.
Look for the app that is frozen or not responding — it will usually have the words "not responding" next to its name in red text. Click on it once to select it, then click the Force Quit button in the bottom right of the window. The app will close when ready.
After the app closes, you can open it again normally. If the same app keeps freezing, there may be a deeper problem — try restarting your Mac, or check the app developer's website for updates.
Using Activity Monitor for stubborn apps
Some apps do not appear in the Force Quit window, or the Force Quit window itself becomes unresponsive. In those cases, Activity Monitor gives you more control. Open it by pressing Command+Space, typing "Activity Monitor," and pressing Enter.
Activity Monitor shows every process running on your Mac. Look for the app name in the list — if you are not sure which one it is, click the CPU tab at the top to sort by what is using the most processing power. The frozen app is often near the top.
Click the app name once to select it, then click the X button in the top left corner of the Activity Monitor window. A dialog will ask you to confirm; click Force Quit. The app will close.
Force shutting down when nothing responds
If your entire Mac is frozen and you cannot open the Force Quit window or Activity Monitor, you will need to force the computer to shut down. Hold down the power button (on the top right of newer Macs, or the side on older models) for about ten seconds. The screen will go black and the Mac will turn off.
Wait a few seconds, then press the power button once to turn it back on normally. Your Mac will restart and run a quick check of its storage. This is safe to do — it is the same as pulling the power cord, but controlled.
If your Mac freezes regularly, a force shutdown should be a last resort. Repeated freezing often points to a software conflict, a full hard drive, or a hardware problem that a professional should check.
What happens to your work after force quit
When you force quit an app, any unsaved work in that app is lost. The app closes without saving, so documents you were editing will revert to the last saved version.
Other apps and windows stay open and unaffected. If you had five browser tabs, a text editor, and a spreadsheet open, force quitting one of them will not touch the others. This is why force quit is safe to use — it only closes the problem app.
Before force quitting, save your work in other open apps if you can. If the frozen app is the only thing preventing you from saving elsewhere, go ahead and force quit it; the other apps will be fine.
Preventing apps from freezing in the first place
Freezes often happen when an app is out of date, conflicting with another program, or running out of memory. Keep your Mac and all apps updated by going to System Settings > General > Software Update and installing any available updates.
If a particular app freezes repeatedly, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. Drag the app to the Trash, empty the Trash, then read a fresh copy from the App Store or the developer's website. This clears out any corrupted files that might be causing the problem.
If your Mac itself is slow or freezes often, check how much storage you have left. Go to System Settings > General > Storage. If you have less than 10 percent of your drive free, your Mac will struggle. Delete old files, empty the Trash, or move large files to an external drive.
When to restart your entire Mac instead
Force quit works when one app is frozen but the rest of your Mac is responsive. If multiple apps are freezing, your Mac is running very slowly, or you notice strange behavior across the board, a full restart is often the better choice.
Click the Apple menu in the top left, select Restart, and let your Mac shut down and turn back on. This clears temporary files, resets memory, and often fixes problems that force quit cannot. A restart takes a few minutes but solves more problems than force quitting a single app.
If your Mac freezes during restart, or if it freezes again within an hour of restarting, the problem may be hardware-related or caused by a recently installed app. In that case, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will force quit damage my Mac or the app?
No. Force quit closes the app the same way restarting does — it is a normal way to stop a program. The app itself will not be damaged. You may lose unsaved work in that app, but your Mac and other programs are unaffected.
What is the difference between force quit and restart?
Force quit closes only one app and leaves everything else running. Restart shuts down your entire Mac and turns it back on. Use force quit for a single frozen app; use restart if multiple things are frozen or your Mac is running very slowly.
Can I force quit an app while it is saving a file?
Yes, but you will lose any changes made after the last save. If the app is frozen and not responding, you have no choice — the file will not save anyway. If the app is still responsive, let it finish saving before force quitting.
Why does the same app keep freezing?
Repeated freezing usually means the app is out of date, conflicting with another program, or the app itself has a bug. Try updating the app through the App Store, restarting your Mac, or uninstalling and reinstalling the app. If it still freezes, contact the app developer or try a different app that does the same thing.
Is it safe to force quit while my Mac is plugged in?
Yes, force quit is safe whether your Mac is plugged in or running on battery. It does not affect your power settings or battery health. If your Mac is plugged in, it will continue to charge normally after you force quit an app.