How to Quit All Apps on macOS Desktop with a Single Click?

you can create a simple application using macOS automator that can be used to quit all open applications on macOS system using the following steps:-

How to Quit All Apps on macOS Desktop with a Single Click Using Automator

If you’re a macOS user, you’ve likely found yourself juggling multiple open applications—Safari, Mail, Pages, and more—cluttering your desktop and slowing your workflow. Closing them one by one can feel tedious, especially when you just want a clean slate. Fortunately, macOS has a built-in tool called Automator that lets you create a one-click solution to quit all running apps instantly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to set it up.

Step 1: Open Automator

First, launch Automator. You can find it by pressing Command + Space to bring up Spotlight Search, typing “Automator,” and hitting Enter. It’s a stock app on every Mac, so no downloads are needed.

Step 2: Create a New Application

Once Automator is open, you’ll see a prompt to choose a document type. Select “Application” and click “Choose.” This ensures your script runs as a standalone program, perfect for a single-click action.

Step 3: Build the Script

Now, let’s craft the logic to close all apps. In the Automator window, look at the sidebar on the left. Under the “Library” section, click “Utilities.” Then, in the next column, double-click “Run AppleScript.” This opens a script editor pane on the right.

Delete the default text in the script editor and paste the following code:

tell application "System Events"
    set appList to name of every process whose visible is true and name is not "Finder" and name is not "Automator"
    repeat with appName in appList
        try
            tell application appName to quit
        end try
    end repeat
end tell

Here’s what this does:

System Events grabs a list of all visible processes (open apps you can see).
whose visible is true filters out background processes.
name is not “Finder” and name is not “Automator” keeps Finder (your file explorer) and Automator itself from closing.
The repeat loop tells each app in the list to quit, and try ensures the script doesn’t crash if an app doesn’t respond.

Step 4: Save Your Application

Click File > Save in the menu bar. Name it something memorable like “Quit All Apps” and choose a location—Desktop works well for easy access. Make sure the “File Format” dropdown is set to “Application.” Hit Save, and you’ll see a new app icon appear with a little robot logo.

Step 5: Test It

Double-click your new “Quit All Apps” application. In a flash, every open app (except Finder) should close. If any app has unsaved work—like a Word document—it might prompt you to save first, depending on the app’s settings.

Step 6: Make It Even Quicker (Optional)

Want to launch it without hunting for the icon? Drag the app to your Dock for one-click access from anywhere. Alternatively, assign it a keyboard shortcut:

Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility.
Add your new app to the list by clicking the + button and granting permission.
Then, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts, click +, select your app, and type a key combo (like Command + Option + Q). Test it out!

NOTES

The video describes a process to create a simple application (very simple) using automator. this app can be used to close (Quit) the open applications by single click.

– How to Quit all open application on macOS desktop by single click ?
– How to close all open application on macOS desktop by single click ?
– Simple steps to create a simple application using automator to be used for closing all the open applications?

👉 I have uploaded this application here, where you can download it for free: – https://www.itech4mac.net/downloads.html

In the video, you will learn how to create your first application using automator application.

Also, you can watch how to create a dmg installer for any application: – https://youtu.be/IadcKngK3A4

How to Quit All Apps on macOS Desktop with a Single Click?