How to Force Quit Finder

Finder is macOS' equivalent of Windows Explorer for Windows. It is the backbone of the user interface (UI) and, typically, you would not want to quit it. However, just like its Windows alternative, Finder may also crash or become unresponsive. The best way to fix this issue is to either restart the computer or restart the Finder process alone. Needless to say, the latter option is quicker, and this post is meant to teach you how to force quit Finder when you notice that it is not responding:

Using the Apple Menu

Apple has prepared an easy-to-use button that serves this exact purpose. Open Finder, click on the Apple Menu icon, and then hold the 'Shift' button on your keyboard to show additional options. Finally, click on 'Force Quit Finder.'

Using the Terminal

If Finder is not responding at all, then the option above might not be available to you. In this case, you may need to use the Apple Terminal. Open it through the Dock menu, and then type the commandkillall Finder.

Using the Activity Monitor

If you do not want to tamper with Terminal commands, then you can also rely on the macOS Activity Monitor to provide you with the ability to force quit finder. Open the utility, and then find 'Finder' in the list of active processes. Select it, and then click on the 'X' icon in the top bar. Finally, confirm your choice.