Why Mac apps keep running after you close the window
You closed the window, but the app is still there: in the Dock, in the app switcher, using memory. That is how macOS is designed, not a fault.
Why it happens
The Mac has kept apps and windows separate since the first Macintosh in 1984. An app can be open with no windows at all. Its menu bar is still there, ready for File → New. Closing a window closes one document; quitting the app is a separate step.
That made sense when you mostly opened documents one after another. Today, closing the last window looks exactly like you are finished, and it catches people out every day, especially anyone who has used Windows.
How to tell which apps are still running
- The Dock: a running app has a small dot under its icon. If you don’t see dots, turn on System Settings → Desktop & Dock → “Show indicators for open applications”.
- The app switcher: hold ⌘ and press Tab. Every app shown is running.
- Activity Monitor, in Applications → Utilities, shows what each app is using.
Does it matter?
Often not much. macOS is good at managing memory, and an idle app costs little. But some apps keep working in the background, larger apps hold on to a lot of memory, and a long row of open apps makes the Dock and the app switcher harder to use. If you never meant to leave them running, they are clutter.
What you can do
Quit apps when you finish with them: ⌘Q, or right-click the Dock icon and choose Quit. See every way to quit an app. Or let it happen by itself.
Make it automatic with Exeunt
Exeunt is a small menu bar app that does one thing: when you close an app’s last window, it quits the app. You keep closing windows the way you already do, with the red button or ⌘W.
- Your work is safe. Exeunt never closes a window and never force-quits. It asks the app to quit the same way ⌘Q does, so an app with unsaved changes shows its usual save dialog.
- You choose the exceptions. Mail, Messages and music apps are useful with no window open. Add them to the never-quit list with one click from the menu bar.
- System apps are protected. Finder, the Dock, System Settings, Control Centre and Notification Centre are never quit.
It runs on macOS 13 or later, on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Free for 14 days with no account, then a one-time $5.
By buying, you agree to the Terms.
Questions
Why does my Mac app stay open after I close it?
Closing a window on a Mac closes only that window. The app keeps running until you quit it, which is how macOS has always worked.
How do I see which apps are running on my Mac?
Look for a dot under icons in the Dock, or hold Command and press Tab to see the app switcher. Activity Monitor shows them all in detail.
Do apps left running slow down a Mac?
Usually only a little, because macOS manages memory well. Apps that keep working in the background, or very large ones, can make a difference.