How to Close Background Apps on Mac in 2026 [5 Quick Ways]

Part 1. How to Check Which Apps Are Running in the Background on Mac

Identifying which apps are running in the background helps users understand what's consuming system resources. Mac provides many built-in tools to view active processes. Each serves a different purpose depending on the level of detail needed.

Related topic:

How to Force Quit an App on Mac (Quick Guide for All Models)

Method 1: Use the Dock (Easiest and Fastest Method)

The Dock is the quickest way to spot background apps. If an app icon has a small dot underneath it, that means it’s still running even if no window is open. This method is ideal for beginners who want a simple visual way to monitor apps.

• Look at the Dock at the bottom (or side) of your screen.
• Find apps with a small dot under the icon.
• If there is a dot, the app is running in the background.
• Right-click (or Control-click) the app to see options like "Quit" or "Show All Windows."

Tip:

Some apps stay in the Dock even when not running, so always check for the dot.

Method 2: Use Activity Monitor (Recommended)

Activity Monitor is the most powerful built-in tool for viewing and managing background processes. It shows CPU, memory, energy usage, and disk activity, helping you identify resource-heavy apps. This is particularly useful for identifying non-app processes that the Dock won't show you.

• In Finder, go to "Applications", then select "Utilities."
• Find and open "Activity Monitor," then press "Enter."
• Click on the "CPU" or "Memory" tab.

• Use the search bar in the top-right corner to find a specific background application.

Tip:

This method helps you find hidden background processes that you can’t see in the Dock.

Related topic:

How to Open Task Manager on Mac: Quick Shortcut, Force Quit & Equivalent

Method 3: Check Login Items & Background Tasks (Prevent Future Issues)

Some apps automatically launch when your Mac starts. These background tasks can slow down performance without you realizing it. Managing login items helps prevent unnecessary apps from running.

Steps:

• Click the Apple Menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings."
• Select "General" in the sidebar, then click "Login Items & Extensions."
• Under "Open at Login," select an app and click the minus (–) button.

• Turn off any apps under “Allow in the Background” that you do not need to keep running constantly.

Tip:

Disabling unnecessary startup apps can make your Mac faster.

Related topic:

How to Stop Apps from Opening on Startup in Mac (In & Not in Login Items)

Part 2. How to Close Background Apps on Mac (Most Popular Methods)

Once users know which apps consume system resources, the next step is to close them properly. Mac offers many ways to quit background apps, ranging from simple Dock interactions to advanced system utilities.

1. Quit Mac Background Apps from Dock (Easiest Way)

The simplest way to close an app that you no longer need is through the Dock. This sends a standard termination signal to the app, allowing it to save your work and close gracefully. It is the safest method for regular maintenance and should be your first choice for closing non-essential tools.

• Identify the app in the Dock with the indicator dot.
• Right-click (or Control-click) the app icon.
• Select "Quit" or “Force Quit” from the pop-up menu.
• Wait a few seconds for the dot to disappear to confirm the app has fully closed.

2. Use Shortcuts to Quit Multiple Apps Quickly

Keyboard shortcuts can save time, especially when you’re multitasking or working with multiple applications. Instead of manually closing each app, you can cycle through them and quit quickly. This method is particularly useful for power users who want to improve workflow efficiency.

• Press and hold the Command (⌘) key.
• Press the "Tab" key to open the App Switcher.
• Continue tapping "Tab" (while holding Command) to highlight the app you want to close.
• Once the app is highlighted, press the "Q" key to quit it immediately.
• Repeat for other apps or release the Command key to exit the switcher.

3. Use the "Force Quit Applications" Window

Sometimes apps become unresponsive and refuse to close through normal methods. In such cases, the Force Quit window is essential. It allows you to immediately terminate frozen apps and restore system stability. This method is safe for most apps and is commonly used when your Mac slows down or becomes unresponsive.

• Press Option + Command + Escape simultaneously.
• A window titled "Force Quit Applications" will appear.
• Select the unresponsive application from the list.
• Click the "Force Quit" button in the bottom-right corner.

• Confirm the action in the pop-up dialogue box.

4. Close Background Apps Using Activity Monitor (Best for Resource Hogs)

When a background process is invisible to the Dock and the Force Quit window, Activity Monitor is your best friend. It allows you to target specific sub-processes or system tasks that are chewing through your RAM. This level of control is vital for power users who want to maintain peak performance during intensive tasks like 8K video editing or 3D rendering.

Steps:

• Open Activity Monitor via Spotlight or the Utilities folder.
• Find the resource-heavy process in the list under the CPU tab.
• Click on the process to highlight it.
• Click the "X" button in the top toolbar of the Activity Monitor window.
• Choose "Quit" for a standard close, or "Force Quit" if the process is stuck.

5. Disable Login Items & Startup Apps and High-CPU Resources Automatically

Manually closing apps works, but preventing them from launching in the first place is even better. Many apps automatically run at startup, consuming CPU and memory in the background. Managing startup items ensures a faster boot time and smoother performance overall.

A powerful solution for this is Tenorshare Cleamio, which offers a built-in Mac Status Center. It allows you to monitor CPU and memory usage, detect resource-heavy apps, and manage startup programs efficiently. You can also close background apps and clear junk files with just one click making it an all-in-one optimization tool.

• Click the Cleamio icon in the top-right corner to open the Mac Status Center.

• Then select “CPU” or “Memory” module and click “Details” to see all high-CPU-usage apps running in the background on your Mac.

• Choose the apps you do not need to start with, then click "Remove" or "Remove All" to disable them. This will stop them from opening automatically when your Mac starts.

Part 3. Bonus: How to Kill Running Processes in Mac Terminal

For advanced users and developers, the Terminal offers the most direct way to kill a background process Mac. If you are comfortable with the command line, you can kill a task in Mac by using the Process ID (PID) or the process name. This method is incredibly powerful and bypasses all GUI limitations.

• Open Terminal (found in “Applications,” then “Utilities”).
• Type “top” or “ps aux” to see a list of running processes and their PIDs.

• Note the PID of the process you want to terminate.
• Type “kill [PID]” (e.g., kill 1234) to send a standard terminate signal.
• If the process refuses to close, use “kill -9 [PID]” to force it shut.
• Alternatively, type pkill [ProcessName] in Terminal, such as pkill Safari, to close every running instance of that app by name.

People Also Ask about Background Apps on Mac

Q1: Why do apps still run after I close the window on Mac?

Unlike Windows, clicking the red "X" on a Mac app usually only closes the window, not the application itself. This allows you to reopen windows instantly. To fully close an app, you must use the Command + Q shortcut or select "Quit" from the app's menu.

Q2: How to stop background music apps for Mac / specific apps?

Music apps may keep playing even when hidden. You can stop them using the keyboard media keys or by opening the app and pressing stop. If it doesn’t close, use Force Quit.

Q3: Is it safe to force quit background apps?

Yes, it is generally safe. However, you may lose any unsaved work. Only use Force Quit when an app is frozen or not responding.

Q4: What is the difference between closing and quitting an app on Mac?

"Closing" (clicking the red button) removes the visual window but keeps the app loaded in RAM for quick access. "Quitting" (Command + Q) removes the app from memory entirely, freeing up resources for other tasks.

Q5: Does closing background apps improve Mac speed and battery?

Yes. Background processes consume memory and CPU, slowing down the Mac over time. Too many open apps affect speed and performance. Quitting unused apps helps maintain smooth operation and extends battery life.

Q6: How to kill a background process on Mac without Activity Monitor?

You can use the Terminal commands like kill or pkill, or use the Force Quit Applications shortcut (Option + Command + Escape). Third-party tools like Tenorshare Cleamio also offer a GUI-based way to manage processes without digging into system utilities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning how to close background apps on Mac is important for keeping your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air fast. You can check and manage apps using the Dock, Activity Monitor, or Terminal. For a more streamlined approach, we recommend Tenorshare Cleamio. This tool helps monitor performance, remove startup apps, and clean your system in one click. Using it regularly can improve speed, reduce lag, and extend your Mac’s overall lifespan.

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