How to force quit a frozen app on a Mac

2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

When an app stops responding and shows the spinning coloured wheel, you can close just that app without restarting the Mac. Unsaved changes in the frozen app are usually lost, so wait a minute first in case it recovers.

The pictures below are diagrams of the keys to press.

Step by step

1. Press Option + Command + Esc

   The Force Quit Applications window opens on top of everything else. This is the Mac version of Ctrl + Alt + Delete.

   Done

2. Select the frozen app

   A frozen app is marked "not responding" in the list.

   Done

3. Click Force Quit

   Confirm when asked. The app closes immediately.

   Done

4. Open the app again

   Many apps, including Pages, Word and most browsers, offer to restore what you were working on.

   Done

Good to know

Another way: click the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose Force Quit.

If Finder itself is stuck, select Finder in the Force Quit window and click Relaunch.

If the pointer does not move and nothing reacts, hold the power button, or the Touch ID button, for about ten seconds until the Mac switches off. Wait a few seconds and turn it on again.

If the same app freezes often, update it and check that the disk is not full.

In short: Option + Command + Esc, pick the app, Force Quit.