App Keeps Crashing or Quits Unexpectedly on Mac? How to Fix It

An app on your Mac keeps quitting unexpectedly, freezes constantly, or won’t open at all — sometimes with a “quit unexpectedly” report window.

Why: This is usually a problem with the app itself: an outdated version, a bug, a conflict with your macOS version, or damaged app files. Apple’s approach is to rule out the simple causes first, then reinstall the app if it’s still misbehaving.

Fix 1: Quit, reopen, and restart

Start with the basics — they clear most one-off glitches.

1. If the app is open but stuck, force it to quit: press Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + Esc, select the app, and click Force Quit. (Full steps: force quit a frozen app.)
2. Open the app again and see whether it behaves.
3. If it keeps misbehaving, restart your Mac from the **Apple menu **. A restart clears temporary states that can trip an app up.

Fix 2: Update the app and macOS

Crashes are very often fixed by an update — especially after you’ve upgraded macOS.

1. If you got the app from the App Store, open the App Store, click your name (or Updates), and install any update for the app.
2. If you got it elsewhere, check the developer’s website for the latest version.
3. Update macOS too: Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update. Some apps crash until both the app and macOS are current.

Fix 3: Delete the app and reinstall it

If the app still crashes, its files may be damaged. Reinstalling a clean copy usually fixes it.

1. Delete the app. Drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash (or, for an App Store app, open Launchpad, hold the icon until it jiggles, and click its delete button). Note that you might lose data stored inside the app, so save or export anything important first.
2. Empty the Trash.
3. Reinstall the app — re-download it from the App Store, or from the developer’s official website if you didn’t get it from the App Store.

Fix 4: Contact the developer

If a fresh install still crashes, the issue is on the app’s side and the developer can help best.

• Contact the app developer’s support with details: your Mac model, your macOS version, and exactly when it crashes.
• If you bought it recently from the App Store and it doesn’t work, you can also request a refund from Apple.

FAQ

Will reinstalling delete my documents? Reinstalling can remove data stored inside the app, but documents you saved to folders like Documents or iCloud Drive stay put. Back up app-specific data before deleting.

It crashes right when I open it. Make sure both the app and macOS are fully updated (Fix 2). An app built for an older or newer macOS than yours can crash on launch until it’s updated.

Only one app is affected — is my Mac okay? Most likely yes. When a single app crashes, the problem is almost always that app, not your whole system. If everything feels slow, see Mac running slow or showing the beachball.

Sources: Apple Support — If an app on your Mac stops responding, quits unexpectedly, or won’t open