When one Mac app freezes, macOS can shut down that app without restarting the whole computer. The rest of the Mac may still be fine even if one window shows the spinning beach ball.
This guide applies to recent macOS versions.
Does This Affect You?
Use Force Quit when an app will not respond to clicks, menus, or normal Quit. Be aware that unsaved work in that app may be lost.
Use the Force Quit Applications Window
- Press Command + Option + Escape.
- Select the frozen app. It may show Not Responding.
- Click Force Quit.
- Confirm if macOS asks.
- Wait a few seconds for the app to close.
Force Quit from the Dock
- Find the app icon in the Dock.
- Hold Option.
- Right-click or Control-click the app icon.
- Choose Force Quit.
Other Force Quit Methods
Activity Monitor
Open Activity Monitor, select the app, click the X/stop button, and choose Force Quit. Activity Monitor also shows whether the app is consuming unusual CPU or memory.
Front App Shortcut
Bring the frozen app to the front and hold Command + Option + Shift + Escape for a few seconds to force quit the active app.
Force Restart as Last Resort
If the whole Mac is locked and nothing responds, hold the power button for about 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This closes every app and may lose unsaved work.
Auto Save May Help
Apple apps such as Pages, Numbers, and TextEdit often recover recent document state. Third-party apps vary, so check their recovery behavior.
Sources
- Apple Support: If an app freezes or fails to respond on your Mac
- Apple Support: Use Activity Monitor on your Mac
- Apple Support: Mac keyboard shortcuts