Are you new to MAC and trying to find the equivalent of Ctrl+Alt+Delete on a MAC to end a program? Usually when your PC is frozen and you want to end a program, you do a Ctrl+Alt+Delete. If you are someone who is used to working in the Windows operating system and have recently switched over to the MAC operating system, you may be searching to find the equivalent to Ctrl+Alt+Delete on a MAC. The MAC operating system does have its own standard version of the Ctrl+Alt+Delete on a MAC for opening the Task Manager, but it is, of course, different from Windows.
Differences Between the Task Manager in Windows and MAC
Whatis the equivalent of 'Alt-Insert' in IntelliJ for Mac OS X? Many Mac keyboards does not have insert keys, and even when connecting a PC keyboard, the insert key is not functioning. Windows in Parallels Desktop virtual machine is asking to press Ctrl+Alt+Del to log on: However it doesn't work when I press these buttons. On most Mac keyboards the Delete key works as Backspace in Windows. To make it work as Windows Delete key you need to press Function (Fn)+Delete. Please press Function+Control+Option.
In Windows, when you open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete, you can see a lot of features and information. But, in MAC, when you go to the Task Manager, these features are split into different apps. In MAC, you have to use the shortcut Command+Option+Esc to close misbehaving applications.
Function of Command+Option+Esc and Force Quit Option
To force quit misbehaving applications in Windows, you use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete option, but instead of the Ctrl+Alt+Delete, on a MAC the equivalent to it is Command+Option+Esc. This option is very useful when you are in full screen mode playing games or watching videos. By pressing Command+Option+Esc, you can open the Force Quit dialog box. This option works when your MAC is not responding due to some “hung up” application. In some cases, if this shortcut is also not working, then you need to force the machine to shutdown and restart.
The Force Quit window can also be opened by going to the menu bar in your screen and selecting the “Force Quit” option. Once you have the window open, you can scroll down from the list of programs displayed to select the program you need to forcefully close.
Features of the Activity Monitor
Force Quit window will display only the hung up applications. It does not display CPU or memory usage details, resource usage information and a lot of other statistics like the Task Manager does on Windows when you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. On a MAC, you have to press Command+Space to view such information. It will open up spotlight search where you need to type “Activity Monitor”. Now press the OK button. It will open the Activity Monitor window. Here, you can see the list of programs and other related processes that are running on your computer. Information such as memory, CPU usage, network tab, disk etc. will be displayed here. You can also close the applications that are running currently from here by selecting the corresponding programs and closing it by clicking “X” sign and then click Quit. If the application is not responding, you have to force quit it.
Dealing with Startup Programs
To manage startup programs in Windows we use Ctrl+Alt+Delete. But, instead of the Ctrl+Alt+Delete, on a MAC its equivalent is the “System Preferences” option in the Apple menu. Next, go to the option “Users and Groups” and select the user you want to manage. The applications that are checked under that user will be started at the launch of the system. If you wish to add more applications to your startup programs list, you can drag and drop the application to this screen.
Conclusion
It may be slightly difficult for a user who is used to Windows, but using the above alternatives you can find the equivalent to Ctrl+Alt+Delete on a MAC to manage your work and save time.
Having problems typing “Control-Alt-Delete” (also sometimes abbreviated as “Ctrl+Alt+Del”) in your Windows virtual machine on your Mac®? This article has everything you need to know about entering this important Windows shortcut.
See also: How to press Alt Key on Mac and other Windows shortcuts
Since I have already admitted one character flaw on this blog (font addiction), I might as well fess up about another: key combos. Unlike fonts—which I can’t get enough of—key combos are something that I just don’t use much at all. While they are speedy, they’re cumbersome, often require two hands, and for me, are hard to remember. I would much rather use a button on the Ribbon or choose a menu item than use a key combo.
So I’m rather fortunate that an extremely common key combo used in Windows, “Control-Alt-Delete,” has a menu alternative in Parallels Desktop® for Mac.
Sidebar: Why is “Control-Alt-Delete” so important in Windows?
“Control-Alt-Delete” is the ultimate non-hackable Windows control. (At least Microsoft hopes so and put in a great deal engineering work to make this true.) “Control-Alt-Delete” is used to get the log-on screen so that you can be sure you’re not being spoofed and your password is not being stolen. “Control-Alt-Delete” is also used to kill off an application that has hung or is otherwise running amok. There is no direct analog to “Control-Alt-Delete” on the Mac.
If you use a virtual machine in the Window view, just click on the reveal triangle in the window’s title bar to show the very useful status icons. (See Figure 1.)
(Figure 1.)
Then whenever you need “Control-Alt-Delete” in a Windows VM, click on the little keyboard status icon to see the many menu item equivalents of key combos. Since it’s so commonly used in Windows, “Control-Alt-Delete” is at the top of the menu. (See Figure 2.) No finger gymnastics needed.
(Figure 2.)
You don’t use Window View? If you use Coherence View, then just use the || menu in the Mac menu bar, as shown in Figure 3.
(Figure 3.)
You don’t use Window or Coherence view? If you use Full Screen view, then do the same thing as in Coherence after first moving your mouse cursor to the top edge of the screen in order to make the Mac menu bar appear, as shown in Figure 4.
(Figure 4.)
Use Picture-in-Picture view? Access to the keyboard menu is just the same as in Coherence.
Of course, if you are a finger gymnast, you can always enter “Control-Alt-Delete” with the same three-finger salute as PC users.
I hope this helps Mac users when they need to type “Control-Alt-Delete.”