Are you struggling with an application that refuses to close? What if forcefully quitting the app doesn't work? Numerous users have encountered the issue of force quit not working on Mac.

I have an application on my Mac that was working perfectly until recently, but for some reason, it won't quit or open, and it's displayed as "Not Responding." I've attempted to shut down the computer, but I can't because the app is listed as still running. I've also tried every suggested method I've read to force close it. See the post on Reddit for more details.

Fortunately, there are several methods you can employ to resolve the "Force Quit not working on Mac" issue.

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Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Fix Force Quit Not Working Using Activity Monitor Select Applications, go to Utilities, and open Activity Monitor to navigate to the CPU header...Full steps
Fix 2. Disable Launch Agents to Resolve Force Quit Not Working Disable launch agents to fix the Force Quit Not Working error on MacBook Pro/Air...Full steps
Fix 3. Use Terminal to Ensure Force Quit Functions Properly Open Terminal on your Mac and type 'killall [application name]'. Press Enter to correct the error...Full steps
Fix 4. Restart Your Mac to Restore Force Quit Functionality Click the Apple icon and select Restart from the dropdown menu to restart your Mac...Full steps
Fix 5. Reinstall/Update Problematic Apps to Fix Force Quit Issue Go to the Apple logo, choose App Store from the dropdown, and click the Update button...Full steps

Why Does Force Quit Not Work on Mac?

There are several reasons that can account for why force quitting isn't working on macOS. Firstly, being familiar with the force quit Mac shortcuts that allow you to forcibly close an application is crucial.

How to force quit on Mac? To do this, you should simultaneously press the "Command + Option + Escape" keys. If you don't press these keys together, the dialog box that enables you to force quit won't appear.

Another possible reason could be an issue with the keyboard itself. If the keyboard is damaged or experiencing a malfunction, the keys might not function as they should. Additionally, the accumulation of dirt and dust over time can also contribute to the problem.

If the keyboard is not a factor and you're still unable to force quit, there could be another cause. Application errors or system glitches might be preventing you from force quitting the app. You should restart the system to check if the problem is resolved.

Solution 1: Fix Force Quit Not Working with Activity Monitor

Using the Activity Monitor (Task Manager on Mac) is one of the simplest solutions to fix the force quit not working issue. The Activity Monitor allows users to examine the performance of various processes on your system.

However, you can also use it to forcibly terminate these processes. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Select "Applications".

Step 2. Go to "Utilities".

Step 3. Open the "Activity Monitor."

Open Activity Monitor

Step 4. Go to the CPU section. Here, you'll need to search for the app that you want to close.

Step 5. Select the app and click "X" to close it.

Force Quit app using Activity Monitor

Step 6. Click on "Force Quit" when a window appears.

Force Quit App

Solution 2: Disable Launch Agents to Resolve Force Quit Not Functioning

Disabling the launch agents is another approach to resolve the force quit not working issue on MacBook Pro/Air. To proceed with this solution, it's crucial to comprehend what launch agents are. Launch Agents are applications or scripts that handle various system processes automatically.

To disable Launch Agents, you can utilize trusted security applications. Most of these tools provide an option to forcibly terminate launch agents that you don't wish to run. This is an excellent alternative when the standard force quit method typically fails to work.

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Fix 3: Use Terminal to Ensure Force Quit Functions Correctly

If Activity Monitor doesn't assist in resolving the error, you can utilize the Mac Terminal. To do this, you'll need to employ a specific command, which will allow you to easily terminate unresponsive applications.

Check out the steps you need to follow:

Step 1. Open "Terminal" on your Mac.

Step 2. Type killall [application name].

Force Quit using Terminal

Step 3. Press "Enter".

Another alternative method is to use the Process Identifier (PID) of the app through the Terminal. Here are the steps to do so:

Step 1. Open "Terminal".

Step 2. Type ps -ax.

Terminate Selective Programs

Step 3. A list of applications will appear on the screen, along with their respective process IDs.

Step 4. Write down the PID of the process you want to remove.

Step 5. Open "Terminal" again.

Step 6. Type kill [PID].

Solution 4: Restart Your Mac to Restore Force Quit Functionality

Perhaps, the simplest resolution to the force quit error is to restart your MacBook Pro/Air. Generally, restarting the system rectifies temporary issues and enables the device to start anew. To do this, click on the Apple icon and select the "Restart" option from the dropdown menu.

However, if the screen is unresponsive and you can't perform a soft reset, there's an alternative method. To do this, press and hold the "Power" button. Release the button once the Apple logo appears on the screen. Then, give the device a few seconds to restart the system.

Important: Forcefully quitting an application by restarting your system can result in data loss. Particularly when forcefully closing unresponsive office documents, you risk losing all unsaved changes, which can significantly hinder your work progress.

In that scenario, choosing professional data recovery software is highly recommended. The Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is an exceptional tool that facilitates the swift restoration of lost or deleted data. It enables users to recover various file types, including audio, video, photos, and documents.

You can utilize the tool Data Recovery Wizard for Mac for various data loss scenarios, such as:

To easily comprehend the process of recovering lost/deleted data on your Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1. Scan for deleted files This is the first step in the process of recovering lost data. It involves using a specialized software or tool to search and identify any deleted files on your device. The software scans the hard drive or storage device and detects files that have been removed, but whose data still remains in the memory. This stage is crucial as it helps to locate the traces of the erased files, which can then be potentially restored.

Select the hard drive, external drive, or SSD where your important data and files were deleted, and click "Search for lost files."

Select a location and scan for deleted files on Mac

Step 2. The Mac data recovery software will perform quick and deep scans to locate as many deleted files as possible on the selected volume. Utilize the "Type" and "Path" options to filter out the desired files.

Filter and select the lost files

Step 3. Double-click the deleted files to preview them. Afterwards, click the "Recover" button to retrieve them.

Solution 5: Reinstall/Update Malfunctioning Apps to Correct Force Quit Issues

Finally, you can reinstall or update misbehaving apps to see if force quitting functions correctly. You can uninstall the apps and reinstall them from the App Store. However, it's crucial to note that merely moving the app to the Trash may not resolve the issue. You must also eliminate junk files, scripts, cache files, and so on.

You can update apps through the App Store or directly within the app. To update apps from the App Store, follow these steps:

Step 1. Click on the Apple logo.

Step 2. Select "App Store" from the dropdown menu; you'll find "Updates" there.

Open Apple Store

Step 3. Click the "Update" button to begin.

click Update

Another approach is to update the app directly from within the app. Open the app and navigate to the menu bar. Tap on the app's name and select the "Check for Updates" option.

Conclusion

"Force Quit not working" is a常见的Mac issue where users are unable to terminate an application and need to find alternative solutions. Several alternatives, such as using the Activity Monitor or the Terminal, can be employed in such situations.

However, if you experience data loss, seek assistance from professional data recovery software. The tool "Data Recovery Wizard for Mac" is a reliable and user-friendly software that facilitates swift data restoration. It is designed to be intuitive and supports the recovery of data from various Mac devices.

"Force Quit Not Working on Mac" FAQs

Gaining more knowledge about force quitting not working on a Mac is crucial. To explore this further, review the following questions and answers.

1. What to do if force quitting doesn't work?

If force quitting doesn't resolve the issue, the ideal solution is to restart your device. To do this, press and hold the "Power" button until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen. Make sure to release the button once the logo is visible.

2. How do I force quit an app that won't close? To force quit an app that won't close on your device, follow these steps: **For iOS Devices:** 1. Double-click the Home button (on devices with a physical Home button) or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on devices with Face ID). 2. Find the app you want to close in the multitasking view. 3. Swipe up on the app's preview or press and hold until it jiggles, then tap the "X" in the corner. 4. Tap "Force Close" or "Close All" to confirm. **For macOS:** 1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select "Force Quit." 2. Alternatively, press Command + Option + Escape on your keyboard. 3. A Force Quit Applications window will appear. Select the app you want to force quit. 4. Click "Force Quit" or hit the "Force Quit" button. **For Windows 10:** 1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard. 2. Choose "Task Manager" from the options that appear. 3. In the Task Manager, find the unresponsive app and click on it. 4. Click "End Task" to force the app to close. These actions should forcibly terminate the app and allow you to restart it or address any issues causing it not to close properly.

You can utilize the Activity Monitor to forcefully terminate an app that won't close. To do this, you'll need to navigate to the "CPU" tab and locate the application you wish to quit. Once you've identified it, click on the "X" that appears next to it.

3. How do you force quit on a Mac with a frozen keyboard? If your Mac's keyboard is frozen and you're unable to use it to force quit an application, you can try the following alternatives: 1. **Using Mission Control with a Mouse or Trackpad:** - Press and hold the `Control` key on your keyboard. - While holding `Control`, click on the app's window in the Dock. - From the context menu that appears, select "Force Quit." 2. **Using the Touch Bar (if available):** - If your Mac has a Touch Bar, swipe left or right to reveal the App Switcher. - Find the frozen app, then swipe up on its preview to force quit. 3. **Using Assistive Touch:** - Enable Assistive Touch if it's not already turned on: Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch, and turn on the switch. - Once enabled, click the Assistive Touch icon on the screen. - Navigate to "App Shortcuts" and then "Force Quit." 4. **Physical Keyboard Reset (硬件重置键盘):** - If none of the above work, you may need to perform a physical reset of your keyboard. This usually involves turning off your Mac, unplugging the power adapter (if it's a desktop), and removing any external keyboards. Wait for a minute, then plug everything back in and restart your Mac. Remember that force quitting apps regularly can cause data loss or other issues, so it's best to only do it when necessary.

If your keyboard becomes unresponsive on your Mac, you should click on the Apple logo in the top left corner and select "Force Quit" from the dropdown menu. A new window will appear, allowing you to choose and forcefully quit the problematic application.