Mac: how to close a frozen app (Force Quit)
When an app stops responding, you can close it without restarting your whole Mac. This is called Force Quit. It is safe, but unsaved work in that app will usually be lost.
First, be patient
Give the app a minute. Apps sometimes appear frozen while they are busy saving or loading. Try clicking once on the desktop, then back on the app.
Force Quit from the keyboard
- Press Option, Command and Esc together.
- A small window called Force Quit Applications opens.
- Click the app that says it is not responding. It often shows in red.
- Click Force Quit, then confirm.
Force Quit from the Dock
Right-click or hold Control and click the app's icon in the Dock. Hold down the Option key and the menu changes from Quit to Force Quit. Choose that.
Force Quit from the Apple menu
Click the Apple menu in the top left and choose Force Quit. Choose the app from the list.
After the app closes
Open it again. Many apps such as Pages and Numbers offer to recover your last saved version. If the app freezes every time, restart your Mac and check Software Update in System Settings, General.
If the whole Mac is frozen
If the screen will not move at all, hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until it switches off. Wait a moment, then start it again. Use this only as a last resort, as unsaved work may be lost.
Prevent it happening again
- Save your work often.
- Keep apps and macOS updated.
- Avoid having too many large apps open at once.
When to get more help
Contact us if the same app keeps freezing, if Force Quit does not work, or if the whole Mac freezes every day. It could mean a faulty app, low storage or a hardware fault.