MacBooks are known for their reliability and ease of use. However, even the best machines can experience problems from time to time. One common issue is apps that become unresponsive or frozen. If you’re facing this problem, there are a few things you can do to learn how to close apps on Macbook.
To close apps on a Macbook, press Command-Q while an app is selected to force quit, or press Command-Option-Esc to open the Force Quit menu where you can select apps to quit. You can also click-and-hold an app icon in the Dock and then click the X icon that appears to force the app to quit swiftly.
In this article, we’ll show you how to close apps on MacBook. Keep reading for more.
Key Takeaways
- Closing unused apps frees up RAM and improves Mac performance
- Check the Dock or use Mission Control to view open apps
- Click and hold an app icon in the Dock then click the X to force quit
- Use Command-Option-Esc to open the Force Quit menu to close apps
- Option-Command-Esc will force quit all open apps at once
Why It Matters to Close Unused Apps
Having too many apps running simultaneously can significantly bog down your Macbook’s performance and slow things down. This degradation in speed and responsiveness happens because open apps take up your Mac’s limited RAM (random access memory).
Over time, having many unused apps open in the background will consume more and more of your RAM capacity.
Here’s an in-depth look:
RAM Affects Your Mac’s Speed
RAM (Random Access Memory) is your Mac’s short-term memory that stores data the system needs right now for fast access. RAM allows currently running apps to store and retrieve information rapidly without having to access the hard drive. The more available RAM your Mac has, the faster apps and system processes can run.
This is because a higher RAM capacity means more information can be stored temporarily for lightning-fast access. With insufficient RAM, your Mac will start using slower virtual memory on the hard drive, which bogs everything down. Having enough free RAM is essential for your Mac to operate at optimal speed.
Open Apps Consume Precious RAM
Each application you open up takes a bite out of your available RAM. Even when open apps are not in active use, they still occupy a portion of RAM with their data and processes. The more apps you have open at once, even unused ones just running in the background, the more your total usable RAM gets consumed. Every open app eats into your limited RAM capacity.
Having too many apps open simultaneously, whether you are actively using them or not, will fill up your memory and start bogging down your Mac’s performance as less RAM is available for the apps you are trying to use.
Quitting Apps Frees Up RAM for Active Ones
By closing down applications that are open but not currently in use, all the RAM those inactive apps were occupying gets freed up. When you force quit unused apps, you essentially “release” that RAM they were consuming back into the available pool.
Now with more free RAM, your active apps and system processes can better utilize that memory and access it rapidly. Quitting unused apps essentially allows the working apps more breathing room to utilize RAM, which speeds everything up. The available RAM pool gets larger.
The bottom line – closing unused apps gives your Macbook more free RAM to work with so it can operate faster.
How to Close Apps on Macbook: Viewing All Your Open Apps
Before closing apps, it helps to get a bird’s eye view of which ones are open. Here are two ways to see all your open apps:
Check the Dock
The Dock along the bottom shows you apps that are currently running. Any apps with a tiny dot below them are open.
Use Mission Control
Mission Control instantly displays all your open apps and windows. Just swipe up on the trackpad with three fingers or press F3.
Checking the Dock or using Mission Control makes it easy to view apps and determine which ones to close first.
Quitting Apps Right from the Dock
The Dock gives you the fastest route to closing apps:
Click and Hold the App’s Icon
Click and hold an app icon in the Dock until it starts bouncing. Don’t let go of the click.
Wait for the X to Pop Up
Keep holding the icon down. After a couple seconds, a small X will appear in the top left corner.
Click the X to Force Quit
Release the mouse button and click the X. This will immediately force the app to quit.
With this method, you don’t have to open apps first before closing them.
How to Close Apps on Macbook: Force Quitting Unresponsive Apps
When an app freezes up or won’t close normally, use the Force Quit option:
Keyboard Shortcut to Force Quit
Press Command-Option-Esc to open the Force Quit Applications dialog.
Select the Troublesome App
In the window, select the app you want to force to quit.
Click the Force Quit Button
Click Force Quit to make the app close right away.
Force Quit is especially handy for stubborn frozen or non-responding apps.
Quitting All Open Apps at Once
To quit every single running app simultaneously, use this shortcut:
Press Option-Command-Esc
Press and hold Option + Command, then tap Esc once.
Click Force Quit
A dialog will appear asking to relaunch or force quit apps. Click force quit.
Wait for Apps to Close
This will immediately force quit every app open on your Macbook all at once.
Use this when you need to completely reset your app environment.
Quitting Apps Via the Apple Menu
You can also quit apps from the Apple menu in your menu bar:
Click the Apple Icon
Click the Apple icon in the top menu bar.
Select Force Quit
In the dropdown menu, choose Force Quit.
Pick the App to Close
The Force Quit window will open. Select the app to quit.
Use the Force Quit Button
Click Force Quit to force the selected app to close.
This method keeps the Force Quit menu open so you can close multiple apps efficiently.
| Method | How To | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| Dock | Click and hold app icon in Dock > Click X | Quick close for visible apps |
| Force Quit | Cmd + Opt + Esc > Select app > Force Quit | Close unresponsive apps |
| Option + Cmd + Esc | Press keys to force quit all apps | Reset all apps quickly |
| Activity Monitor | Open Activity Monitor > Select app > Click X | Advanced process/app control |
| Keyboard Shortcuts | Cmd + Q or Cmd + Tab | Rapidly switch/close apps |
| Touch Bar | Tap and hold app icon > Tap X | Close apps via Touch Bar |
| Restart | Apple Menu > Restart | Fresh reset of all apps |
Using Activity Monitor to Force Quit Apps
For advanced users, the Activity Monitor utility offers robust control:
Open the Activity Monitor
Open your Utilities folder and launch Activity Monitor.
Select the App to Close
In the window, select the app under the Process Name column you want to quit.
Click the X in the Corner
Click the X icon in the corner to force the selected app to quit.
Activity Monitor gives you granular power over all system processes.
Handy Keyboard Shortcuts for Closing Apps Fast
Keyboard shortcuts allow you to close apps quickly without using the trackpad:
- Command-Q Press Command-Q with an app highlighted to quit it instantly.
- Command-Option-Esc Opens the Force Quit window so you can select apps to close.
- Command-Tab Hold Command and press Tab to cycle through open apps and pick one to close.
Learning these shortcuts allows you to close apps swiftly.
How to Close Apps on Macbook: Closing Apps on Touch Bar Macbooks
On Macbooks with a Touch Bar, you can close apps directly from the Touch Bar:
- Tap and Hold the App Icon Tap and hold an app icon on the Touch Bar until the X appears.
- Tap the X Button Tap the X to instantly force the app to quit.
The Touch Bar provides quick access to closing apps.
Tips for Frozen or Unresponsive Apps
When an app freezes up, use these methods to force close it:
- Force Quit the App Press Command-Option-Esc, select the app, and Force Quit.
- Restart Your Mac Restarting closes all apps and gives you a fresh slate.
- Use Activity Monitor In Activity Monitor, select the stuck app and make it quit.
Don’t waste time trying to unfreeze a stubborn app. Use these tips to promptly force quit.
12 Best Practices for Closing Apps
Follow these app closing best practices for optimal efficiency:
- Quit apps you are not currently using to free up RAM
- Use keyboard shortcuts like Command-Q and Command-Option-Esc to close apps quickly
- Don’t hesitate to Force Quit unresponsive or frozen apps
- Restart your Mac regularly to completely reset all open apps
- Keep an eye on the Dock to see which apps are open
- Use Mission Control to get a bird’s eye view of open apps
- Click-and-hold an app icon in the Dock then click the X to force quit
- Quit apps from the Apple menu > Force Quit option
- Use Activity Monitor to see processes and force quit apps
- Learn gestures like swiping up with 3 fingers to access app management features
- Set automatic quit options for inactive apps to close after a period of time
- Don’t have too many apps open at once to avoid performance issues
Following these best practices will help you master closing apps swiftly on your Mac and optimize system performance.
FAQs
Is it bad to leave apps open?
Yes, unused open apps consume RAM and can slow down your Mac. Close them when not needed.
Do apps reopen after restarting?
No, apps do not reopen automatically when restarting your Mac.
Do app processes still run when closed?
Fully quitting an app will stop it from running or taking up resources.
When should I force quit an app?
You should force quit an app if it becomes unresponsive or frozen. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a bug in the app or a problem with your MacBook.
Does closing apps save battery on a Macbook?
Yes, shutting down unused apps can moderately improve battery life by freeing up processor usage.
Conclusion
In summary, of how to close apps on MacBooks, closing out apps is a critical skill for every user to know. By learning the most effective methods for app quitting, you can optimize your Mac’s speed and performance.
Refer to this guide anytime you need a refresher on the key shortcuts, utilities, and habits for closing apps swiftly. Follow this advice and you’ll become a pro at app management on your Macbook.
