The mail app on a mac can take a while to close because of all the windows that appear when trying to quit the app. If you know this struggle, you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve done diligent research to find the quickest and simplest way to shut down the app.
To force quit mail on your Mac, press the Option, Command, and Esc (Escape) buttons all at once. This shortcut will immediately open the force quit option menu, where you can select the mail app, which will close it right away.
Remember, there are a few essential things to consider when using this trick. Will your draft emails be saved, and will the mail app disappear from your dock? Read on for some key things to remember when using this handy shortcut.
When should I force quit mail on a Mac?
Chances are that if you’re searching for an answer to this question, you’re looking for the fastest way to shut down the mail app. This is a common question because the mail app tends to open several windows all at once. So, when a user goes to quit it normally, it often requires one to go through each of these windows and click the appropriate options before the app closes.
If you’re in a rush or opened the mail app by accident, this can be frustrating and time-consuming. By pressing the Option, Command, and Esc (Escape) buttons, you can force quit the app, which means it will close with no questions asked.
Remember, when doing this, you are “forcing” the app to shut down regardless of any unsaved work. When you press the mail app in the force quit menu, one pop-up will appear, reminding you that unsaved work will be lost. You will have to accept this notification before the app will close. So, remember when you see this reminder to make sure your draft emails are saved properly. You can do this by simply going into your draft email folder and making sure what you’re looking for is in there safe and sound.
Another common question is whether or not force quitting the mail app will remove it from your dock entirely. The answer is no; it will stay in your dock when you force the app closed.
Are there other ways to force quit mail on a mac?
Yes, you have another option to force quit mail on your Mac; however, it’s just the long way of doing the shortcut we’ve discussed. A shortcut is simply a faster way to navigate a certain function which often uses one’s keyboard. The regular way to do this is to click the apple icon in the top left corner of your Mac. The dropdown that appears will have a “Force Quit…” option. Clicking this will open the window that appears when you press Option, Command, Esc. From there it’s the same protocol as with the shortcut.
How do I remove the mail application from my dock?
If you prefer logging into your email on a browser or perhaps you’ve downloaded the specific application from your email provider, then you may wish to delete the mail app altogether. This is a very simple process.
Simply right-click the mail icon in your dock. Going back one step, your dock is the menu bar of all the applications you have on your Mac which is typically located along the bottom of your screen unless you have moved it.
So, right-click the mail app and select “Options” which will have an arrow next to it. The arrow leads to another menu with an option to “Remove from Dock”. As soon as you click this, the mail app will disappear from your dock unless the app is open, in which case you may have to close a few windows or use our handy shortcut to force it shut.
How do I get the mail app back into my dock?
If you do the above steps and then decide you’d like to get your mail app back into your dock, it’s easy to do. There are several methods. First, you can search your Mac for it by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of your screen. This will open a bar with the words “Spotlight Search”. Type “Mail” into this bar, and the application should come up. If you open it, the mail app will return to your dock.
You can make sure it stays in your dock by right-clicking it the same way you removed it from your dock. Then click options and select “Keep in Dock”.
Alternatively, you can click the Finder icon on the left side of your dock. This will open a window with various options. Find the one entitled “Applications,” which should be on the left-hand side of the window. If you scroll down through the options, you will find the mail app and can click on it which will return it to your dock.
Can I force quit other apps using this shortcut?
Yes. This shortcut works for nearly all apps. Remember, the same rules apply with other apps in that if you have unsaved changes, force quitting the app means those changes will be lost. We recommend using extra caution when force quitting applications such as Word and Excel as you may have forgotten certain changes you made in another window. Force quit will shut down all open windows.
Final Thoughts
The force quit shortcut can be incredibly helpful when it comes to quitting applications efficiently. Additionally, if an app isn’t responding or is showing the “rainbow wheel” for ages, you can use the force quit function. If the app is having technical difficulties, then there will be a note next to the app in the force quit menu saying, “not responding”. The best thing to do in this case is to force quit it.
We hope this cleared up all your force quitting questions!
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