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Mac

Mac app frozen: force quit safely

Mac app frozen with the beach ball? How to force quit safely with Option-Command-Esc and what to do if your Mac freezes often.

Difficulty
Easy
Time
2-5 min
Steps
5
Updated

Sounds like this?

  • Spinning beach ball on one app
  • App won't close
  • Menu bar not responding

Step by step

  1. Wait 30-60 seconds. Some apps recover.
  2. Press Option + Command + Esc to open Force Quit, select the app, and click Force Quit.
  3. Or right-click (Control-click) the app's Dock icon, hold Option, and choose Force Quit.
  4. If the whole Mac is frozen, hold the power button about 10 seconds until it turns off, then turn it back on.
  5. Update the app and macOS. If one app freezes often, reinstall it.

Related error codes & messages

Quick answers

When should I stop and get professional help with "Mac app frozen: force quit safely"?

Stop and get help if: The whole Mac freezes several times a week. Freezes come with a restart message ('Your computer restarted because of a problem'). Boise Computer Care can diagnose it for a $60 fee; call 208-996-3508.

How long does this fix take and how hard is it?

Plan on 2-5 min. Difficulty: Easy.

Is it safe to try this myself?

Mostly, if you follow these precautions: Force quitting loses unsaved work in that app.

Which error messages or codes does this guide cover?

Application Not Responding, Your computer restarted because of a problem.

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