As a long-time Windows user, you might be familiar with the Control-Alt-Delete key combination’s power to prioritize and kill unresponsive apps. However, if you’ve recently switched to Mac, you might wonder if an equivalent shortcut exists. The good news is, yes, it does!
The Mac keyboard is slightly different from the typical Windows keyboard, but that doesn’t mean you can’t “force quit” troublesome apps. Instead of Control-Alt-Delete, you can press Command-Option-Escape. Doing so will bring up a small window that helps you force quit applications on your Mac.
For instance, if you’re using the VLC media player, and it’s hanging or not responding, all you need to do is press Command-Option-Escape. From the small window that appears, select VLC and then select “Force Quit” and confirm that you want to quit the application. Doing so will stop the unresponsive app and remove any unsaved work you might have had on it.
It’s essential to note that the Command-Option-Escape shortcut is not the same as Control-Alt-Delete on Windows, but it serves a similar purpose. It’s a quick way to deal with unresponsive apps on your Mac.
So, the next time you encounter an unresponsive app on your Mac, don’t panic. Instead, use Command-Option-Escape to end the process. It’s a quick first-aid that can save you time and frustration.