macOS |
The Mac's three-finger salute.
When a Mac app stops responding, press Option + Command + Esc to open the Force Quit window.
Select the app and click Force Quit.
macOS tidbits
Built-in Mac shortcuts, with recovery steps and cautions for everyday problems. Start with the unresponsive-app tip below. These instructions are for macOS, not iPhone or iPad.
All tidbits | 1 tip, newest first.
An app stopped responding. What should I try first?
Try a normal quit with Command + Q first. A normal quit gives the app a chance to save changes. Force Quit is the next step when the app will not respond, not a shortcut for saving work.
The full tip explains how to open Force Quit and choose the app. If the frozen app is Finder, Apple calls the action Relaunch. If Force Quit does not work, follow Apple's restart guidance rather than repeatedly forcing the same app.
Source: Apple: quit and Force Quit on Mac. Context checked November 5, 2026.
Step-by-step tip
This page helps you choose the right workflow. Open the full tip for its steps, platform notes and source.