Ultimate Guide: How to Stop Finder Action on Mac

If you’re a Mac user, you’re likely familiar with Finder, the default file management application. While Finder is a powerful tool for organizing and manipulating files, sometimes you may accidentally initiate a Finder action that you wish to stop. Whether it’s a large file transfer, copying multiple files, or any other task, there are simple steps you can take to halt the action and regain control. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of stopping Finder actions on your Mac, ensuring a smoother file management experience.

Part 1: Reasons for Mac Finder Not Responding

High CPU Usage: Mac Finder may become unresponsive if it is overwhelmed by other processes or applications consuming a significant amount of CPU resources.

Large File or Folder: Opening or interacting with a large file or folder in Finder can cause it to freeze or become slow, especially if the file/folder contains numerous items or is located on a network drive.

Outdated Software: Using an outdated version of macOS or an older version of Finder can lead to compatibility issues and potential responsiveness problems.

Insufficient System Resources: If your Mac is running low on available memory (RAM) or disk space, it can impact the performance of Finder and result in unresponsiveness.

Software Conflicts: Certain third-party applications or system extensions can interfere with the functioning of Finder, causing it to freeze or become unresponsive.

Corrupted Preferences or Cache Files: If the preferences or cache files associated with Finder become corrupted, it can lead to stability issues and unresponsiveness

Hardware Issues: In rare cases, hardware problems such as a failing hard drive or faulty memory modules can impact the performance of Finder and lead to unresponsiveness.

System Overload: If you have too many applications or processes running simultaneously on your Mac, it can strain system resources and affect the responsiveness of Finder.

Network Issues: If you are accessing files or folders located on a network drive, issues with the network connection or server can result in Finder not responding.

User Account Problems: Problems with your user account, such as file permission issues or conflicts with system settings, can cause Finder to become unresponsive.

It’s important to note that the specific cause of Finder not responding can vary depending on the individual system configuration and usage patterns. Troubleshooting steps such as restarting Finder, updating software, checking system resources, and identifying potential conflicts can help resolve the issue.

Part 2: How to Stop Finder Action on Mac

Discover the easy steps to stop Finder actions on your Mac and regain control. Say goodbye to unwanted file management tasks today!

Step 1: Accessing the Activity Monitor

The first step is to open the Activity Monitor, a built-in utility on your Mac that allows you to monitor and manage running processes. To access it, follow these steps:

Go to the “Applications” folder in Finder.
Open the “Utilities” folder.
Locate and launch “Activity Monitor.”

Step 2: Identifying the Finder Process

Once you have the Activity Monitor open, you will see a list of processes running on your Mac. Look for the process labeled “Finder” and select it.

Step 3: Stopping the Finder Action

After selecting the Finder process, you will notice a “Quit” button at the top-left corner of the Activity Monitor window. Click on this button to stop the Finder process and halt any ongoing actions.

Step 4: Confirming the Action Stoppage

A confirmation prompt will appear, asking if you want to quit the Finder process. Click on “Force Quit” to confirm the action stoppage. Please note that forced quitting the Finder may cause any unsaved work within Finder to be lost, so make sure you have saved any necessary changes before proceeding.

Step 5: Relaunching Finder

To resume normal functionality, you need to relaunch Finder. To do this, follow these steps:

Go to the “Apple” menu located at the top-left corner of your screen.
Select “Force Quit” from the drop-down menu.
In the Force Quit Applications window, locate “Finder” and select it.
Click on the “Relaunch” button to restart Finder.

Part 3: Force quit Finder using the Apple menu

To force quit Finder on a Mac using the Apple menu, you can follow these steps:

Click on the “Apple” logo located at the top-left corner of the screen. This will open the Apple menu.
In the drop-down menu, select the “Force Quit…” option. You can also use the keyboard shortcut “Option + Command + Esc” to directly access the Force Quit Applications window.
The Force Quit Applications window will appear, displaying a list of currently running applications and processes.
Locate and select “Finder” from the list of applications.
Click on the “Force Quit” button at the bottom-right corner of the window.
A confirmation dialog box will appear, asking if you want to force quit Finder. Click on the “Force Quit” button to proceed.
Finder will now be forced to quit, terminating its processes.

After force quitting Finder, macOS will automatically relaunch it, restoring its functionality. This can be useful if Finder becomes unresponsive or is experiencing issues that require a forced termination.

Part 4: Force quit Finder with Activity Monitor

To force quit Finder using Activity Monitor on a Mac, you can follow these steps:

Open Finder and go to the “Applications” folder, then open the “Utilities” folder.
Launch “Activity Monitor” from the Utilities folder. You can also use Spotlight search by pressing “Command + Space” and typing “Activity Monitor”.
In the Activity Monitor window, you’ll see a list of processes running on your Mac.
Type “Finder” in the search box at the top-right corner of the window to quickly locate the Finder process.
Select the Finder process in the list by clicking on it.
Click on the “X” button at the top-left corner of the window, which represents the “Quit Process” option.
A confirmation dialog box will appear, asking if you want to quit the Finder process. Click on the “Force Quit” button to proceed.
Finder will now be forced to quit, terminating its processes.

After force quitting Finder, macOS will automatically relaunch it, restoring its functionality. This method can be helpful if Finder becomes unresponsive or you need to forcefully stop its processes for troubleshooting purposes.

Part 5: Stop Finder action with Terminal

To stop Finder action using Terminal on a Mac, you can follow these steps:

Open Finder and go to the “Applications” folder, then open the “Utilities” folder.
Launch “Terminal” from the Utilities folder. You can also use Spotlight search by pressing “Command + Space” and typing “Terminal”.
In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter: killall Finder
The command will terminate all instances of the Finder process.
After executing the command, the Finder will restart automatically.

By using the Terminal to stop Finder actions, you can quickly force quit and restart the Finder process. This can be useful if Finder becomes unresponsive or if you want to stop a specific action that may be causing issues.

Part 6: Relaunch Finder from the Dock

To relaunch Finder from the Dock on a Mac, you can follow these steps:

If you don’t see the Dock on your screen, move your cursor to the bottom (or side) of the screen to make it appear.
Locate the Finder icon on the Dock. It’s typically a blue and white smiley face icon.
Click and hold the Finder icon on the Dock for a few seconds. This will open a contextual menu.
In the contextual menu, select the “Relaunch” option. This will quit and restart the Finder application.
After selecting the “Relaunch” option, the Finder will close and then reopen, restoring its functionality.

Relaunching Finder from the Dock can help resolve minor issues or glitches with the Finder application. It’s a simple and convenient method to restart Finder without needing to use any additional tools or commands.

Conclusion

Stopping a Finder action on your Mac is a straightforward process that can be accomplished using the Activity Monitor utility. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can regain control over Finder and prevent any unwanted or time-consuming actions. Remember to exercise caution when forced to quit Finder, as it may result in the loss of unsaved work. With these simple techniques, you can effectively manage and control your file management tasks on Mac, ensuring a more efficient and hassle-free experience.