Say goodbye to the nostalgia of Windows shortcuts! Alternative solution for Alt F4 on Mac system

People who have been using Windows for a long time have long been accustomed to various shortcut keys, such as window switching (Windows arrow keys) and lock screen (Windows L). However, after switching to a Mac, these muscle memories will fail and need to be re-learned.

Many people are used to using Alt F4 to close windows or apps, but they cannot find the Alt key on their Mac keyboard. don’t worry! This article will introduce the alternative shortcut keys for Alt F4 under Mac system to achieve the same functions.

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Understand the equivalent commands of Alt F4 in macOS

On Windows keyboards, the Alt key is usually used as a modifier key, executing various shortcuts and commands.

On Macs, while Control and Option keys can be used in some cases, the main modifier is usually the Command key—which will serve as a modifier for our Alt F4 shortcut key for today’s Mac version.

So, what is Alt F4 on Mac? There are two separate commands that can perform similar operations to this command:

• Command W: Close the active window or tab page.
• Command Q: Exit the entire application, which is most similar to Alt F4.

These shortcuts help manage application windows in their respective ways. Command W will close the current tab or window without tab in the browser, while Command Q will exit the entire application. For example, if you open a Safari browser with multiple tabs, the Q command will completely close it without manually clicking multiple buttons.

Tip: If you use a large number of applications as often as I do, you may open many applications at the same time, causing the system to overload or slow down. I used to ignore the health of my Mac for the sake of work convenience until I started using QuitAll.

QuitAll helps me see everything currently open—the main app and all its background processes—and lets me exit the required app immediately with just a click of a button. Its functionality is fully accessible through the menu bar, and it also displays the amount of CPU resources consumed by each application. Whether I want to exit one or more apps, I can click the exit button next to the app name, or select and deselect the app and click "Exit All".

Please read also:

• How to change the keyboard language on your Mac
• Hashtag on Mac
• Mac function keys
• How to enter an inverted question mark on Mac

Force quit the application using Command Option Esc

If you have a problem and want to know why Alt F4 doesn't work and you can't use both commands, you can use Command Option Esc to open the Force Exit window. You'll notice this is similar to Ctrl Alt Delete on Windows, which allows you to force exit unresponsive applications when your computer freezes or doesn't work properly.

To open and use the "Force Exit" window:

1. Press Command Option Esc.
2. Select the application to close by clicking an application or holding down the Command key while selecting multiple applications from the list.
3. Click "Force Exit".

Personal experience: My friends never use shortcut keys, they always use only the trackpad. I think he missed a lot. To simplify my workflow and make repetitive operations easier, I've become accustomed to using keyboard shortcuts on my Mac, but I always feel that the basics of shortcuts my computer provides aren't enough for me. Instead, BetterTouchTool does wonders in customizing and creating shortcut keys that don't exist in various default systems.

I can create triggers and shortcuts for touchbars, trackpads, magic mouse, keyboard and even regular mouse, and even create drawings or mouse gestures, which will help me perform originally complex operations in the simplest and familiar way I can think of. If you still miss old Windows shortcuts, you can create shortcuts that are closer to them.

How to use Alt F4 on Mac? No longer a problem!

Mac can close tabs, windows, and applications using Command Q and Command W shortcuts, allowing you to manage your screen immediately without leaving your keyboard. If you prefer to fully view open applications on your computer and exit them immediately, QuitAll offers a convenient menu bar solution. Want to create your own triggers and shortcuts for other uses on your Mac? BetterTouchTool allows you to program shortcut keys for keyboard, touch bar, mouse, etc. These two apps and over 250 other apps are accessible via the 7-day free trial of Setapp, a subscription service for iOS and macOS applications.

FAQ

What is the difference between Command W and Command Q?

The difference between Command W and Command Q is that the former closes the current window or tab page, while the latter exits the entire application.

What is the equivalent key for F4 on Mac?

The equivalent key of F4 on Mac depends on the context. To close a window or tab, use Command W. To exit the application, use Command Q. You can also customize shortcuts using tools like BetterTouchTool to create personalized equivalent keys.

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