Discover 7 effortless ways to close applications on your Macbook

Closing unused or frozen applications on your Macbook can enhance its performance. There are various simple methods to quickly shut down applications on your Macbook that not everyone is aware of. Let's explore them with Mytour right away!

The interface of Mac applications always features a menu bar at the top of the screen, allowing users to control the functions of the application. By using this menu bar, users can swiftly close slow or frozen applications with just a few simple steps.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the Apple icon (the iconic bitten apple) in the top-left corner of your screen.

Step 2: Choose the Force Quit feature in the dropdown menu to navigate to the new window called Force Quit Applications.

Step 3: Select an application you want to close immediately > Click on the Force Quit button in the bottom corner to complete the process.

Note: In the Force Quit Applications dialog, all running applications will be listed. Unresponsive applications (running slow, frozen, or not responding) will display the Not Responding button.

Active applications on MacOS are displayed as icons on the Dock. In case an application is frozen or responding slowly, users can forcefully exit the application through the Dock. Closing applications on a Macbook via the application icon on the Dock is incredibly simple and can be applied by any user.

Detailed steps to follow:

Step 1: Press and hold the Option key + Right-click on the icon of the application displayed on the Dock.
Step 2: When the context menu appears, click on Force Quit to close the application.

Activity Monitor is the native application in MacOS designed to monitor active applications on the device. Through Activity Monitor, users can track activity status (processes, performance, RAM usage) and selectively close applications as needed. The method of closing applications on a Macbook when frozen or unresponsive using Activity Monitor ensures optimal device performance.

Detailed steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch Activity Monitor on MacOS by pressing the Command + Space shortcut > Type Activity Monitor in the Spotlight window > Press Return/Enter.

Step 2: The Activity Monitor window will display running processes. Locate and select the application to close > Click on the X icon in the top-right corner > Press the Force a process command to successfully close the application.

Using shortcut keys is an incredibly swift method to force quit applications on a Macbook. With just a simple keystroke, you can close unresponsive applications in just 3 seconds without needing the mouse. However, the shortcut solution without using the mouse can only be executed when the MacOS screen interface is displaying the window of the application you want to close.

Detailed steps to follow:

Step 1: Open the Force Quit window by pressing the Command + Option (or Alt) + Esc shortcut.

Step 2: In the Force Quit Applications window, left-click on the application you want to close (applications that are frozen or unresponsive will show the Not Responding status) > Click the Force Quit button.

Note: In case the mouse is unresponsive, users can use the keyboard arrow keys for selection. Alternatively, if the screen interface displays the window of the application to be closed, simply hold down the Command + Option + Shift + Esc keys for a minimum of 3 seconds to completely close the application.

The Terminal application allows users to control activities on their MacOS device through a command-line prompt.

Detailed steps to follow:

Step 1: Open the Terminal application by clicking on the magnifying glass Search icon in the top-right corner of the screen > Enter the keyword “Terminal” > Select the Terminal item.

Step 2: In the Terminal window, type “top” and press Enter to display comprehensive information about all active applications on the Macbook device.

Step 3: In the COMMAND header column, scroll down to find the name of the application/program you want to close.

Step 4: At the position of the application you want to close, take note of the PID number corresponding to the application in the left column.

Step 5: Type “q” to exit the list of active applications and return to the initial Terminal window.

Step 6: Enter the command “kill XXXX” with XXXX being the PID number of the application to be closed to successfully terminate the application on Macbook.

Note: 

- If the application is still active after performing all steps, re-enter the Terminal window and type the command “sudo kill -9 XXXX” with XXX being the PID number of the application to be closed.
- Users can continue using their Macbook normally without the need for a restart after closing the non-responsive application.

Forcibly closing applications on a Macbook using the power button should only be applied in cases where all applications are unresponsive, and even the mouse and keyboard cannot be controlled. Or when users have attempted the above methods to close applications without success. In such situations, holding down the power button to shut down and restart the Macbook device can help resolve the issue.

Detailed steps to follow:

- Method 1: Press and hold the shortcut keys Control + Command + Power button. 
- Method 2: Press and hold the power button for 5-7 seconds. 

Note: This method may impact ongoing work processes on the machine. Therefore, users should consider before using this approach or ensure continuous backup of work to avoid potential loss of important data.

If the application icon is displayed on the toolbar, users can close the application with just a few simple steps.

Detailed steps to follow: 

Step 1: Move the mouse to the application icon on the toolbar > Press the Option key and right-click simultaneously on the icon to open the Force Quit dialog box.

Step 2: When the options menu appears, press the Force Quit button at the bottom of the table to close the background-running or frozen application on MacBook.

Above are the summarized and straightforward methods to close applications on Macbook. Keep these solutions handy, and you won't have to worry about slow or frozen applications. Best wishes for successful application and efficient resolution of any application issues on your Macbook.