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Quit app by defaut

As a fresh macOS user I have difficult time understanding the logic behind some OS features.


One that bothers me the most is that when you decide to quit an app or a program, if you click on the red x icon it only closes the window, doesn't quit an app.


To quit an app you have to press cmd+q, but is there a way to set that red x icon behaves as a quit command?


Thanks for the help!

MacBook

Posted on Sep 30, 2016 11:32 AM

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Posted on Sep 30, 2016 11:35 AM

You can also quit an app from the menu bar.


For instance, with Safari open, go to the Safari menu bar, click Safari > Quit Safari.


Also, if an app freezes, you can, "force quit" the app > Force an app to close on your Mac - Apple Support



You're correct. Just clicking the red button only closes the window, not the app.

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Question marked as Best reply

Sep 30, 2016 11:35 AM in response to slawo22

You can also quit an app from the menu bar.


For instance, with Safari open, go to the Safari menu bar, click Safari > Quit Safari.


Also, if an app freezes, you can, "force quit" the app > Force an app to close on your Mac - Apple Support



You're correct. Just clicking the red button only closes the window, not the app.

Sep 30, 2016 11:47 AM in response to slawo22

To quit an app you have to press cmd+q, but is there a way to set that red x icon behaves as a quit command?

The red x button will close the main application window. It will depend on the application, if it will continue to run without the window or not. The developers of the app are setting this behavior up. Some applications do not need a main application window and will continue to run, if you close the window; for example Mail will keep running or iTunes.


Other applications, like System preferences or Photos will quit, because there is nothing to be done when the window has been closed.

Oct 5, 2016 3:45 PM in response to dianeoforegon

Even Apple is confused when it comes to the red button:


Close windows

Click the red close button User uploaded file in the top-left corner of the window, or press Command-W.

When you click the close button in many apps, such as Photos or Notes, you quit the app. Other apps, such as Safari or Mail, remain open when you click the close button (only the window closes). To quit these apps, click the app’s name in the menu bar, then choose Quit [App]. For more information, see Quit apps. [Source: OS X El Capitan: Window basics ]


Quit an app

In the menu bar, when the app is active, choose App Name > Quit App. For example, choose Mail > Quit Mail.

Note: When you click the red close button in the top-left corner of an app’s window, the window closes, but the app remains open.


[Source: OS X El Capitan: Quit apps ]


It's all a wee bit confusing. I'm sure the red button used to be described as "Hiding" a window. Now it's "Closing" a window, which seems incorrect because it really acts the same way as "Minimising" a window using the orange button, but without the animation (if you left that turned on).


Third party programs, er apps, are a whole other kettle of fish subject to the whims of the developer.

Quit app by defaut

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