Mac Guides
Intermediate
1 min read 4 stepsFebruary 1, 2026Verified February 2026How to Force Quit Frozen Apps on Mac
When an app stops responding, force quit it to regain control of your Mac.
In this guide (4 steps):
1
Use the keyboard shortcut
~15sPress ⌘+⌥+Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window.
2
Select the frozen app
~15sIn the Force Quit window, click the unresponsive app (it may say "Not Responding").
3
Click Force Quit
~15sClick "Force Quit" and confirm. The app will close immediately.
4
Alternative method
~15sClick the Apple menuForce Quit. Or right-click the app in the Dock with Option heldForce Quit.
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