In most cases, if a Mac application is frozen and stuck in a loop, you can quickly tell because you will be notified and advised to quit the app. What If an App Won’t Force Quit? If a frozen app does not have a Force Quit option and your macOS is unresponsive, here are some steps to follow: Click on the Apple menu and click Restart. Way 2: Use Terminal to Force Quit Apps that Won't Quit Open a new Terminal window and enter the command: top -o cpu. Then a list of all running applications and processes will. Then open a new Terminal session, type: kill PID. FOr example, if iTunes won't quit and its PID is 1234, type: kill. How to Fix App Issues on a Mac. Then click Force Quit. Select the app you want to force close, then click Force Quit. Disk Utility can take a long time to run, especially on larger hard drives. Please make sure you won't need your computer for at least 1 hour before beginning this step.
Back up your library
Before following any of these steps, it's a good idea to create a backup of your photo library, even if you use iCloud Photos. You can use Time Machine, use a third-party backup solution, or copy the library to an external drive. By default, your photo library is stored in the Pictures folder within your home folder.
Make sure that your software is up to date
Photos is part of the Mac operating system. You can avoid or fix many issues by running the most up-to-date version of macOS. Learn more about updating the software on your Mac.
If you use RAW images in Photos, learn more about the digital camera RAW formats supported by iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
If you have trouble migrating an existing iPhoto or Aperture library to Photos
You might see an alert message when you first open Photos or migrate an existing iPhoto or Aperture library. Learn what to do if Photos can’t copy or create a library.
If the Media Browser isn't showing your photos and videos
Use the Media Browser to make images from your photo library available in other apps, like Pages and iMovie. The Media Browser shows only the contents of the Photos library designated as the System Photo Library. If you have more than one Photos library—and the one you're using isn't set as the System Photo Library—the Media Browser won't show its contents.
Follow these steps to designate the current library as the System Photo Library:
- Choose Photos > Preferences.
- Click the General button at the top of the Preferences window.
- Click Use as System Photo Library.
If you're having other issues with Photos
If you're experiencing other issues—like missing or blank photo thumbnails, unexpected behavior, or if Photos won’t open—try to see if it's an issue with your library by following these steps.
Create a new Photos library and see if your issues persist:
- Quit Photos.
- Press and hold the Option key while you open Photos.
- In the dialog that appears, click Create New.
- Give your new library a name, then click OK. Note whether Photos opens successfully with this new library.
Mac Won't Open Any Apps
To return to your main Photos library, quit Photos. Then open it again while holding the Option key, select your main library, and click Choose Library.
Alternatively, you can open Photos in another user account on your Mac and note whether Photos opens successfully.
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If Photos opens with the new library, or in a different user account, it might mean that there's an issue with your library. Follow the steps to use the Photos library repair tool on your main Photos library.
Fixing Apps That Won't Open
Learn more
App Won T Quit Mac
- Learn how to create and order print products like books or calendars in Photos with Project Extensions.
- Get help with iCloud Photos.