When your Mac’s applications become unresponsive, the usual Command + Q might not always do the trick. For those stubborn apps that refuse to close, macOS offers two powerful tools to resolve the issue: Force Quit and Activity Monitor. Here’s how to use these features to shut down persistent apps effectively.
Using Force Quit to Close Applications
Force Quit is a quick and direct method to close frozen applications on your Mac. Here’s how to access and use it:
- Access Force Quit:
- Press Option + Command + Escape simultaneously. This will bring up the Force Quit Applications window, which lists all currently active applications.
- Select the Application:
- From the list, select the application that is not responding.
- Force Quit the Application:
- Click on the “Force Quit” button to immediately close the selected application.
Using Activity Monitor to Manage Processes
Activity Monitor provides a more detailed view of all the processes running on your Mac, much like the Task Manager in Windows. It’s particularly useful for handling background processes and apps that do not appear in the Force Quit menu.
- Open Activity Monitor:
- Open the Finder, go to the Applications folder, then open the Utilities folder and launch Activity Monitor.
- Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + U when in Finder to open the Utilities folder directly.
- Identify the Process:
- In Activity Monitor, look for the unresponsive app or process under the “Process Name” column.
- Force Quit the Process:
- Select the process you want to end, click the octagonal stop sign symbol at the top of the window, and choose “Force Quit” from the dropdown menu to terminate the process.
Why Choose Activity Monitor Over Force Quit?
While Force Quit is suitable for quickly closing visible applications, Activity Monitor is necessary for dealing with hidden or background processes that aren’t listed in the Force Quit window. Activity Monitor allows you to view and manage all running processes, providing insights into resource usage such as CPU, memory, energy, disk, and network usage.
Tips for Managing Frozen Apps
- Check for Updates: Regularly update your applications and macOS to minimize the chances of apps becoming unresponsive.
- Monitor System Resources: Use Activity Monitor to keep an eye on apps that frequently use a high amount of resources to identify potential issues before they cause problems.
- Restart Regularly: Periodically restarting your Mac can help clear out temporary files and free up system resources, potentially preventing apps from freezing.
By familiarizing yourself with both Force Quit and Activity Monitor, you can take control of managing applications and processes on your Mac, ensuring smoother and more stable operation even when faced with software hiccups.
