If you have a computer made by Apple, like a MacBook, you might be wondering how to close the programs or apps you’re using completely. Don’t worry; I’m here to help! There are a couple of different ways you can close apps on a MacBook, and I’ll tell you all about them. This will help your computer work its best!
Do I Need to Quit Apps on My Mac?
Now, you might be asking, “Do I really need to quit apps on my MacBook?” Well, it’s not always necessary. If you’re worried about apps taking up too much of your computer’s energy and slowing it down, macOS, which is the operating system of your MacBook, has special features. These features make sure apps don’t use too much energy when they are minimized or not being used. So, usually, everything works fine unless the app itself has some problems.
If you are using a MacBook, and you’re not near a charger, you might want to save as much battery as possible. One way to do this is by quitting apps when you’re done using them. By doing this, you’re helping your MacBook’s battery last longer. This is true for other laptops, smartphones, and tablets, too — the less you have running, the less battery you use.
Here’s a little tip: if you click on the battery icon at the top of your screen, it will tell you which apps are using a lot of energy. If you see any apps you’re not using, you can close them to save some battery!
So, do you always need to close your apps? Not really! If your MacBook is working fine and you’re not worried about the battery, you can leave them running in the background. But if you want to save battery, especially when you’re on the go, closing those apps can be a good idea!
Closing apps on your MacBook isn’t hard at all! If you follow this guide, you’ll know exactly what to do to keep your computer happy and running smoothly. Remember, it’s all about what works best for you and your MacBook, so feel free to try different things and see what you like best!
What Happens When You Click the Red (X) Button on a Mac?
Okay, so you know when you’re using an app on your MacBook, and you click the red (X) button in the corner, thinking it will close the app? But then you notice that it’s still there, running on your dock. What’s going on?
If you’ve used a Windows computer before, this might seem a bit weird! On Windows, when you press the (X) button, it closes not just the window, but the whole app or program. That’s because, in Windows, the window is the app!
On a MacBook, it’s a little different. A window on a Mac is more like a piece of paper you’re writing on, rather than the whole notebook. So, when you click the red (X) button, you put away the piece of paper, but the notebook is still there! If you move your cursor to the top of your screen or look at your dock, you’ll see that the app is still open.
So, if you want to know how to completely close apps on a MacBook Air, you’ll have to do more than just click the red (X) button. That button just puts away the paper you were writing on but leaves the notebook open in the background.
But here’s a little twist! Some apps are different. Like, if you click the red (X) button on the system preferences window, it does close the whole app, no extra steps needed!
Oh, and you might notice that on some newer MacBooks, the button doesn’t have an (X) on it anymore—just a red dot. But it does the same thing, so no worries!
Knowing the difference between closing a window and closing an app is important. It helps you manage your MacBook better and makes sure you’re really closing things when you want to. So, next time you click that red button, remember: it’s just tucking away your paper, not putting away the whole notebook!
Learning to Close Apps on a MacBook: Every Way You Can Do It!
If you’ve got a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro and you’re wondering how to close apps that are running, don’t worry! The steps below will help you with both types of MacBooks.
1. Using the Menu Bar to Quit an App
One super easy way to close apps on a MacBook is by moving your mouse to the very top of your screen. See the app’s name next to the little Apple logo? Click on it!
Once you click on the app’s name, a menu will drop down. Scroll to the bottom and click on “Quit _____”. That’s it! The app will be closed, and you don’t have to do anything else!
2. Quick Keyboard Shortcut
Keyboard shortcuts are like magic buttons that make things faster on your computer. If you know a few of them, they can make your computer time so much fun! Want to close an app using your keyboard? It’s super easy.
Press cmd (⌘) + Q, and the app you are using will close right away. Just make sure you’re in the right app so you don’t close something you didn’t mean to!
If you want to close a lot of apps fast, press cmd (⌘) + tab to switch between apps, then cmd (⌘) + Q to close the one you’re on. It’s so quick, you won’t even have to think about it!
3. Using the Dock to Quit Apps
The dock at the bottom of your screen is another cool way to close apps. Hover your mouse over the app’s icon on your dock. Right-click (or double-tap with a trackpad) to see a menu, and from there, choose to quit the app. Easy-peasy!
4. How to Force Quit on Mac
You’ve learned some neat ways to close apps on your MacBook, but what if they don’t work because an app is frozen? Don’t worry; you can force quit it. Apple has its own guide, but I’ll make it simple for you! You just need to press a special combination of keys.
Press cmd (⌘) + option + escape, and a Force Quit window will pop up. Or, click on the Apple icon on the top menu bar, and then click on Force Quit in the drop-down menu.
You’ll see a list of apps in the Force Quit window. Pick the one you want to close, click Force Quit, and you’re done!
Wrapping It Up
There are different ways to close apps on a MacBook, and it’s all about finding what you like best! Try the steps I shared and see which one you prefer!
- Menu Bar Magic: Click on the app’s name at the top and then click “Quit”.
- Shortcut Wonders: Press cmd (⌘) + Q to quickly close an app.
- Dock Trick: Right-click on an app in the dock and choose to quit.
- Force Quit for Frozen Apps: Use cmd (⌘) + option + escape when an app won’t close the normal way.
Explore and see what works best for you and your MacBook!
