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How to force quit a frozen app on a Mac

Press Command + Option + Escape, select the stuck app and click Force Quit. Anything unsaved in that app is lost.

How to do it

  1. Press Command + Option + Escape.

  2. Select the app that is stuck.

  3. Click Force Quit, then confirm.

Use it when the beachball will not go away. For an app that is merely slow, Command + Q is the normal quit and it still asks you to save.

Questions people ask

What if the whole Mac is frozen?

Hold the power button for about ten seconds until it turns off, then turn it back on. Only do this when the pointer won't move at all.

Should I force quit an app that's just slow?

Not first. Try Command + Q, which quits normally and asks you to save. Force quit is for an app that won't respond.

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