Why closing a window does not quit the app on a Mac, and Alt F4's Mac version

On a Mac, the red button closes a window and the app keeps running. Command W versus Command Q, the Mac's Alt F4, and how to tell which apps are still open.

Guide · Updated 22 October 2026

Why does a Mac app keep running after I close its window?

On a Mac, an app and its windows are separate things. The app owns the menu bar; windows are documents it has open. Closing the last window leaves the app open with no windows, ready to make a new one at once. That is why the menu bar still shows its name.

Some single window apps, such as System Settings and Calculator, do quit when you close their window.

What is Alt F4 on a Mac?

ToPress
Close the front window⌘ W
Close every window of the app⌥ ⌘ W
Quit the app⌘ Q
Quit a frozen app⌥ ⌘ Esc

How do I see which apps are still running?

Look for a small dot under icons in the Dock. If you see none, turn on Show indicators for open applications in System Settings, Desktop & Dock. The app switcher, ⌘ Tab, also lists every running app.

Do apps open their windows again when I relaunch them?

That depends on Close windows when quitting an application, also in Desktop & Dock. With it on, an app you quit opens fresh next time. With it off, it brings back the windows you had.

To close many windows at once, see how to close all windows. If an app shows nothing when you click it, read No Available Windows.

Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1: both setting names were read from Desktop & Dock in System Settings.

Questions

What is Alt F4 on a Mac?

Command Q quits the app; Command W closes the front window.

Why is an app still running after I closed it on Mac?

Closing a window does not quit the app. Press Command Q to quit it.

How do I close all windows of an app?

Press Option Command W in most apps.

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