How to Use the Mac Task Manager
If you are a new Mac user who is used to Windows, then you might be wondering how to find the Task Manager. Let us start by showing you the real name of Mac's equivalent of the Windows Task Manager. It is called the Activity Monitor, and its functionality is nearly identical to its Windows counterpart. It shows all running processes, as well as how much RAM and CPU cycles they consume. You can also discover network usage information and more details about the way your Mac's resources are being utilized.
How to Open the Activity Monitor?
Trying to use the Windows shortcut for the Task Manager will not work on Mac. You can access the Activity Monitor by pressing the button combination Command + Space to open Spotlight search. Type Activity Monitor and open the app. You can also do the same by going to Finder -> Applications and opening Activity Monitor.
Using the Activity Monitor
Typically, Windows users want to access the End Task feature that allows them to terminate unresponsive apps. The same can be done on your Mac. Here, the option is called Force Quit, and you can use it by selecting an app in the Activity Monitor and pressing the X button in the top-left corner. If the issue is common, see our guide on How to Troubleshoot Frozen Mac Apps.
Alternatively, you can do the same via Mac's Force Quit menu. You can access it by pressing Command + Option + Escape. You will see a list of apps accompanied by a button that says Force Quit.
