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20: Force Quit an Application

Every now and then an application will freeze or lock up. When this happens you can no longer work with that application. Very rarely, you will not be able to access other applications, but it can happen. A big cue that an application has become unresponsive is when the cursor becomes a pinwheel and remains as such for a long period of time. The force quit command allows you to end an unresponsive program. You can then either restart that application or continue working with other applications.

WARNING

Ending an application with the force quit command will quit the application without saving. Any unsaved documents will be lost. Use the force quit command only as a last resort when you cannot access the standard quit.

To force quit an application

Select Force Quit from the Apple menu or press the keys Option, Command, Esc (at the same time).

You will then get a Force Quit window. Select the application you wish to force quit and click "Force Quit".

You will then have to confirm that you want to force quit the selected application.