If you have been using your Mac for a while, you might have encountered an application crash where the application stops responding and won’t close. This can be frustrating especially when you need to use your computer to perform another task. For instance, you might need to force stop an application to free up system resources to run another application or task. If you are experiencing this issue, do not worry because in this blog post you will learn how to force stop an application on Mac.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Force Stopping an Application on Mac
While Mac operating systems are often lauded for their user-friendly interface, some tasks can be confusing for beginners. Force stopping an application on Mac can be a challenge when you do not know the right steps. If an application stops responding, you will not be able to quit it normally, even if you click on the application’s red "X" icon to close it. This can be frustrating, but the good news is there are different methods you can use to force stop an application on Mac.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before you start following the methods below, there are a few things you should prepare for.
- Make sure you have saved all your work before force stopping the application because some unsaved changes may be lost when you force stop an application.
- You must have administrative privileges to force stop an application on Mac, so make sure you are logged in as an administrator or have an administrator account.
- You should have a basic understanding of how to use your Mac computer.
Method 1: Using Activity Monitor
Activity Monitor is an application on Mac that helps you monitor the performance of your computer and all running processes. It also allows you to force quit applications that are not responding. Here are the steps you need to follow to force stop an application on Mac using the activity monitor:
- Launch the Activity Monitor application from the Spotlight search or from the Applications folder on your Mac.
- Once the Activity Monitor is open, you will see a list of all the processes running on your Mac. Find the application you want to force quit from the list and select it. You can use the search box on the top right corner to search for the application.
- Click on the "X" icon located on the top left corner of the Activity Monitor window. This will open a popup menu prompting you to force quit the application. Click on the "Force Quit" button on the popup menu.
- A confirmation message will appear to confirm whether you want to force quit the selected application. Click on the "Force Quit" button to confirm your action.
Pros:
- Activity Monitor is a built-in application on Mac and is readily available.
- You can view the performance of your Mac while using activity monitor.
Cons:
- If you force quit the wrong process, you might end up losing unsaved data.
- If you are not careful, you might accidentally force quit a system process that may affect system stability.
Method 2: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Mac computers have keyboard shortcuts that allow you to perform different actions quickly and easily. The keyboard shortcut to force stop an application on Mac is the combination of the Command, Option, and Esc keys. Here are the steps you need to follow to use keyboard shortcuts to force stop an application on Mac:
- Press the Command, Option, and Esc keys on your Mac keyboard simultaneously.
- A force quit window will appear, displaying a list of all the applications currently running on your Mac.
- Select the application that you want to force stop from the list and click on the "Force Quit" button.
- A confirmation message will appear asking whether you are sure you want to force quit the application. Click on the "Force Quit" button to confirm your action.
Pros:
- It is a quick and easy method to use.
- You can access it from anywhere on your Mac, regardless of which application you are using.
Cons:
- If you accidentally press the wrong keys, you might end up closing the wrong application.
- You might lose unsaved data when you force quit applications using keyboard shortcuts.
Method 3: Using Terminal
Terminal is a powerful application on Mac that allows you to use text commands to perform different tasks. You can use Terminal to force stop an application on Mac if other methods fail. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Open Terminal from the Spotlight search or from the Applications > Utilities folder.
- Type in the following command "ps -ax | grep [application name]" without the quotes. Replace [application name] with the name of the application you want to force quit. Press Enter.
- You will get a list of running processes with the [application name]. Look for the process ID (PID) of the application you want to force quit.
- Type in the command "kill [PID]" without the quotes. Replace [PID] with the process ID of the application you want to force quit. Press Enter.
- A message will appear confirming that the process has been terminated.
Pros:
- You can force quit applications that do not respond to other methods.
- You can use Terminal to perform other tasks on your Mac as well.
Cons:
- Using Terminal requires some technical knowledge; therefore, it is not recommended for beginners.
- If you use the wrong command, you might end up closing the wrong process.
Why Can’t I Force Stop an Application on Mac?
There are several reasons why you might not be able to force stop an application on Mac. Here are some of the reasons and how to fix them:
1. Application is Not Responding
If you try to force stop an application that is not responding, it might not close. To fix this, you can try using one of the methods above to force close the application.
2. Permissions
If you are not logged in as an administrator or do not have administrative privileges, you might not be able to force quit an application. Ensure that you are logged in as an administrator or have an administrator account.
3. Other issues
There might be other issues causing the application to not force quit. In this case, you can try restarting your Mac and try again. If the issue persists, you may need to contact a professional technician for assistance.
Additional Tips
If the force quitting problem persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling the application. Ensure that you are using the latest version compatible with your operating system.
5 FAQs about Force Stop on Mac
Q1: How can I stop an application from restarting automatically?
A: You can prevent an application from automatically starting by going to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items. Select the application you want to prevent from automatically starting and click on the minus button to remove it from the list.
Q2: Do I lose unsaved work when I force stop an application?
A: Yes, forcing an application to close might cause you to lose unsaved work. Save your work before using any of the methods to force stop an application.
Q3: Can I force stop all applications at once?
A: No, you cannot force stop all applications at once. You have to force stop each application separately.
Q4: What should I do if I force quit the wrong application by mistake?
A: If you force quit the wrong application, you can relaunch it again from the Applications folder or Dock.
Q5: Can I force stop a system process?
A: Yes, you can force stop a system process. However, we do not recommend it because it might cause your system to become unstable. Be careful when using Terminal to stop system processes.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, force stopping an application on Mac can be an easy task if you know the steps to follow. In this blog post, we have discussed three methods you can use to force stop an application on Mac, including using Activity Monitor, keyboard shortcuts, and using Terminal. Additionally, we have listed some common reasons why you might not be able to force stop an application on Mac and how to fix them. Use these tips and methods next time an application stops responding on your Mac.