Mac Guides
Beginner
1 min read 5 stepsJanuary 7, 2026Verified January 2026How to Open and Close Apps on Mac
Learn the basics of launching and quitting applications on macOS.
1
Open from the Dock
~15sClick any app icon on the Dock (the bar of icons at the bottom of the screen) to launch it.
2
Open from Launchpad
~15sClick the Launchpad icon (grid of squares) on the Dock to see all installed apps. Click one to open it.
3
Open with Spotlight
~15sPress ⌘+Space, type the app name, and press Enter — the fastest way to open anything.
4
Close a window
~15sClick the red circle (X) in the top-left corner of the window. Note: this closes the window but may not quit the app.
5
Quit an app completely
~15sPress ⌘+Q or right-click the app icon in the DockQuit. This fully closes the application.
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