When using a Mac, it’s important to know how to properly close or quit apps to ensure they are not running in the background, consuming system resources. There are several ways to close apps on Mac devices and we will cover each method in detail.
How to Close Apps On Mac
To close apps on Mac, you can force quit the application and use the ‘Killall’ terminal and Monitor activity function. Additionally, you can use third-party apps to solve this issue.
1. Force Quit
To force quit an app on a Mac, you can use the following methods:
Using the Apple menu:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select “Force Quit.”
- Choose the app that’s not responding.
- Click “Force Quit”
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Using Keyboard Shortcuts:
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- Press Command + Q to quit the app.
- Press Option (or Alt), Command, and Esc (Escape) together to force quit an unresponsive app.
Remember that force quitting an app can cause data loss or unsaved changes, so use this method only when necessary. If you encounter issues with force quitting, try restarting your Mac or contacting Apple Support for further assistance.
2. Using the ‘Killall’ Terminal
- Open the Terminal.
- Type the following command:
killall [application name](for example, if you want to force quit the “Preview” app, typekillall Preview)
Important Note: Only use this command when the Force Quit option doesn’t work. Don’t go randomly using the killall command on anything that’s running because you could cause problems with your OS or lose data.
3. Use Third Party-Apps
If the above methods don’t work, you can also use third-party apps to enable the red cross button to quit apps. However, they may require additional configuration.
Here are the third-party apps that you can use to quit apps on MacOS.
RedQuits:
- Download and install RedQuits on your Mac.
- Open System Preferences.
- Click on “Security & Privacy“ > “Accessibility.”
- Now, Click the lock icon in the bottom left corner and enter your password.
- Enable RedQuits by checking the box next to it.
- Open the RedQuits app from the Dock or Launchpad.
- Configure the settings according to your preferences, such as enabling RedQuits to start automatically at login and selecting the “Quit only when one window is left for the app” option.
- Open the app you want to quit. Then, click on the red cross button on an app’s window to close the app.
AppQuit:
- Download and install AppQuit on your Mac.
- Open the AppQuit app from the Dock or Launchpad.
- Now, select the app you want to quit from the list.
- Click the “Quit” button to quit the app
By following these simple steps, you can easily quit apps on your MacOS.
4. Using Activity Monitor
If an app is unresponsive, you can use the Activity Monitor to force quit it. To access the Activity Monitor, go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor, select the app, and click on the “X” icon in the top left corner, then choose “Force Quit”
In conclusion, knowing how to properly close apps on your Mac is essential for maintaining system performance and managing resources. By using the methods outlined above in this blog, you can effectively quit apps and ensure they are not running in the background unnecessarily.
