Stop a runaway process safely

Steps

1. 01Step 1 of 5

   Step 1. Find it

   Press ⌘6 for Processes. The busiest app is already at the top. To find something by name, press ⌘F and type its name, a PID, an owner or part of its path.

   Processes

   Apps & helpersAll processesProcess treeProjectsSearch or jump to…⌘KPauseRecord

   LiveRows sampled 10:42:18

   Lumen Edit leads CPU in this sample.

   GPU time sampled 10:42:14 · every 5sNetwork sampled 10:42:13 · Includes local and VPN traffic

   Top CPU / core

   212.4%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   100% = one core

   Top GPU time

   46.2%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   not device GPU %

   Top memory

   6.8GB

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   can overlap shared pages

   Unavailable

   3processes

   no memory or disk reading

   shown as —, never as zero

   My processesPinnedName, PID, owner, or path

   Columns & Views312 workloads from 486 processes

   Mac CPU charts are 0–100% of the whole Mac. CPU / core uses 100% for one core. GPU time is not device GPU %. Network columns include local and VPN traffic. — means no reading. * is a partial total.

   NameCPU / coreGPU timeMemoryDisk readDisk writeReceived/sSent/sProcesses

   LLumen Edit212.4%46.2%6.8 GB6.2 MB/s12.2 MB/s0 B/s0 B/s6

   KKite Browser38.6%6.1%4.2 GB36 KB/s84 KB/s1.4 MB/s86 KB/s23

   FForge IDE24.9%1.2%3.1 GB1.4 MB/s820 KB/s12 KB/s4 KB/s14

   HHarbor18.2%0.0%5.6 GB210 KB/s430 KB/s220 KB/s180 KB/s9

   WindowServer11.4%14.8%1.2 GB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   RRoundtable9.8%8.4%920 MB0 B/s24 KB/s310 KB/s290 KB/s5

   NNorthwind Sync6.1%0.0%410 MB3.9 MB/s700 KB/s64 KB/s1.1 MB/s3

   kernel_task4.2%—2.4 GB——0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTessel Design3.7%2.6%1.9 GB0 B/s0 B/s2 KB/s1 KB/s4

   mds_stores2.9%—380 MB940 KB/s260 KB/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTempo Player1.8%0.4%340 MB0 B/s0 B/s96 KB/s2 KB/s2

   BBrightline Mail1.1%0.0%520 MB2 KB/s6 KB/s6 KB/s3 KB/s3

   QQuill Notes0.6%0.0%290 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s2

   Finder0.4%0.0%210 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Control Center0.3%0.1%148 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Dock0.3%0.0%112 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   coreaudiod0.2%—46 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   launchd0.2%—28 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   bluetoothd0.1%—34 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   loginwindow0.1%0.0%71 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Select a workload to understand its resource use.Memory uses physical footprint where available, with resident memory as a fallback. App helpers share their containing app or nearest app ancestor.

2. 02Step 2 of 5

   Step 2. Select its row

   Click the row. The inspector beside the table fills in, with the actions at the bottom. You can also right-click the row for the same actions.

   Processes

   Apps & helpersAll processesProcess treeProjectsSearch or jump to…⌘KPauseRecord

   LiveRows sampled 10:42:18

   Lumen Edit leads CPU in this sample.

   GPU time sampled 10:42:14 · every 5sNetwork sampled 10:42:13 · Includes local and VPN traffic

   Top CPU / core

   212.4%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   100% = one core

   Top GPU time

   46.2%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   not device GPU %

   Top memory

   6.8GB

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   can overlap shared pages

   Unavailable

   3processes

   no memory or disk reading

   shown as —, never as zero

   My processesPinnedName, PID, owner, or path

   Columns & Views312 workloads from 486 processes

   Mac CPU charts are 0–100% of the whole Mac. CPU / core uses 100% for one core. GPU time is not device GPU %. Network columns include local and VPN traffic. — means no reading. * is a partial total.

   NameCPU / coreGPU timeMemoryDisk readDisk writeReceived/sSent/sProcesses

   LLumen Edit212.4%46.2%6.8 GB6.2 MB/s12.2 MB/s0 B/s0 B/s6

   KKite Browser38.6%6.1%4.2 GB36 KB/s84 KB/s1.4 MB/s86 KB/s23

   FForge IDE24.9%1.2%3.1 GB1.4 MB/s820 KB/s12 KB/s4 KB/s14

   HHarbor18.2%0.0%5.6 GB210 KB/s430 KB/s220 KB/s180 KB/s9

   WindowServer11.4%14.8%1.2 GB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   RRoundtable9.8%8.4%920 MB0 B/s24 KB/s310 KB/s290 KB/s5

   NNorthwind Sync6.1%0.0%410 MB3.9 MB/s700 KB/s64 KB/s1.1 MB/s3

   kernel_task4.2%—2.4 GB——0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTessel Design3.7%2.6%1.9 GB0 B/s0 B/s2 KB/s1 KB/s4

   mds_stores2.9%—380 MB940 KB/s260 KB/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTempo Player1.8%0.4%340 MB0 B/s0 B/s96 KB/s2 KB/s2

   BBrightline Mail1.1%0.0%520 MB2 KB/s6 KB/s6 KB/s3 KB/s3

   QQuill Notes0.6%0.0%290 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s2

   Finder0.4%0.0%210 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Control Center0.3%0.1%148 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Dock0.3%0.0%112 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   coreaudiod0.2%—46 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   launchd0.2%—28 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   bluetoothd0.1%—34 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   loginwindow0.1%0.0%71 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   L

   Lumen Edit6 processes · sam

   212.4%CPU / core

   CPU / core100% = one core · 60 s

   250%

   Memoryfootprint · 60 s6.8 GB

   8 GB

   60 s agonow

   Ownersam

   Parentlaunchd (1)

   Threads148

   CPU cores occupied2.12

   Physical footprint6.8 GB

   Resident memory7.4 GB

   Member processes · 6Sorted by CPU

   Lumen ExportPID 6347 · 148.6% · 2.9 GB

   Lumen RendererPID 4831 · 38.2% · 1.6 GB

   Lumen EditPID 4812 · 14.7% · 1.2 GB

   Lumen Media ReaderPID 4840 · 8.3% · 640 MB

   Lumen GPU HelperPID 4826 · 2.4% · 310 MB

   Lumen AutosavePID 4853 · 0.2% · 150 MB

   Inspect Application…View History

   PinPauseQuit…Force Quit…

3. 03Step 3 of 5

   Step 3. Choose how firmly to stop it

   • Quit… asks the app to close, the same as choosing Quit in its own menu. It can save its work first.
   • Force Quit… ends it at once. Unsaved work in that app is lost.
   • Pause → Pause… freezes it where it is. It stops using the processor but keeps its memory. Resume… in the same menu lets it carry on.

   Processes

   Apps & helpersAll processesProcess treeProjectsSearch or jump to…⌘KPauseRecord

   LiveRows sampled 10:42:18

   Lumen Edit leads CPU in this sample.

   GPU time sampled 10:42:14 · every 5sNetwork sampled 10:42:13 · Includes local and VPN traffic

   Top CPU / core

   212.4%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   100% = one core

   Top GPU time

   46.2%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   not device GPU %

   Top memory

   6.8GB

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   can overlap shared pages

   Unavailable

   3processes

   no memory or disk reading

   shown as —, never as zero

   My processesPinnedName, PID, owner, or path

   Columns & Views312 workloads from 486 processes

   Mac CPU charts are 0–100% of the whole Mac. CPU / core uses 100% for one core. GPU time is not device GPU %. Network columns include local and VPN traffic. — means no reading. * is a partial total.

   NameCPU / coreGPU timeMemoryDisk readDisk writeReceived/sSent/sProcesses

   LLumen Edit212.4%46.2%6.8 GB6.2 MB/s12.2 MB/s0 B/s0 B/s6

   KKite Browser38.6%6.1%4.2 GB36 KB/s84 KB/s1.4 MB/s86 KB/s23

   FForge IDE24.9%1.2%3.1 GB1.4 MB/s820 KB/s12 KB/s4 KB/s14

   HHarbor18.2%0.0%5.6 GB210 KB/s430 KB/s220 KB/s180 KB/s9

   WindowServer11.4%14.8%1.2 GB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   RRoundtable9.8%8.4%920 MB0 B/s24 KB/s310 KB/s290 KB/s5

   NNorthwind Sync6.1%0.0%410 MB3.9 MB/s700 KB/s64 KB/s1.1 MB/s3

   kernel_task4.2%—2.4 GB——0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTessel Design3.7%2.6%1.9 GB0 B/s0 B/s2 KB/s1 KB/s4

   mds_stores2.9%—380 MB940 KB/s260 KB/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTempo Player1.8%0.4%340 MB0 B/s0 B/s96 KB/s2 KB/s2

   BBrightline Mail1.1%0.0%520 MB2 KB/s6 KB/s6 KB/s3 KB/s3

   QQuill Notes0.6%0.0%290 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s2

   Finder0.4%0.0%210 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Control Center0.3%0.1%148 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Dock0.3%0.0%112 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   coreaudiod0.2%—46 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   launchd0.2%—28 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   bluetoothd0.1%—34 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   loginwindow0.1%0.0%71 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   L

   Lumen Edit6 processes · sam

   212.4%CPU / core

   CPU / core100% = one core · 60 s

   250%

   Memoryfootprint · 60 s6.8 GB

   8 GB

   60 s agonow

   Ownersam

   Parentlaunchd (1)

   Threads148

   CPU cores occupied2.12

   Physical footprint6.8 GB

   Resident memory7.4 GB

   Member processes · 6Sorted by CPU

   Lumen ExportPID 6347 · 148.6% · 2.9 GB

   Lumen RendererPID 4831 · 38.2% · 1.6 GB

   Lumen EditPID 4812 · 14.7% · 1.2 GB

   Lumen Media ReaderPID 4840 · 8.3% · 640 MB

   Lumen GPU HelperPID 4826 · 2.4% · 310 MB

   Lumen AutosavePID 4853 · 0.2% · 150 MB

   Inspect Application…View History

   PinPauseQuit…Force Quit…

4. 04Step 4 of 5

   Step 4. Read the review

   Nothing is sent yet. A sheet opens and lists every process that will receive the signal, by name and PID. An app with helpers shows all of them. Anything that cannot be included is listed separately under EXCLUDED, with the reason.

   Processes

   Apps & helpersAll processesProcess treeProjectsSearch or jump to…⌘KPauseRecord

   LiveRows sampled 10:42:18

   Lumen Edit leads CPU in this sample.

   GPU time sampled 10:42:14 · every 5sNetwork sampled 10:42:13 · Includes local and VPN traffic

   Top CPU / core

   212.4%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   100% = one core

   Top GPU time

   46.2%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   not device GPU %

   Top memory

   6.8GB

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   can overlap shared pages

   Unavailable

   3processes

   no memory or disk reading

   shown as —, never as zero

   My processesPinnedName, PID, owner, or path

   Columns & Views312 workloads from 486 processes

   Mac CPU charts are 0–100% of the whole Mac. CPU / core uses 100% for one core. GPU time is not device GPU %. Network columns include local and VPN traffic. — means no reading. * is a partial total.

   NameCPU / coreGPU timeMemoryDisk readDisk writeReceived/sSent/sProcesses

   LLumen Edit212.4%46.2%6.8 GB6.2 MB/s12.2 MB/s0 B/s0 B/s6

   KKite Browser38.6%6.1%4.2 GB36 KB/s84 KB/s1.4 MB/s86 KB/s23

   FForge IDE24.9%1.2%3.1 GB1.4 MB/s820 KB/s12 KB/s4 KB/s14

   HHarbor18.2%0.0%5.6 GB210 KB/s430 KB/s220 KB/s180 KB/s9

   WindowServer11.4%14.8%1.2 GB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   RRoundtable9.8%8.4%920 MB0 B/s24 KB/s310 KB/s290 KB/s5

   NNorthwind Sync6.1%0.0%410 MB3.9 MB/s700 KB/s64 KB/s1.1 MB/s3

   kernel_task4.2%—2.4 GB——0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTessel Design3.7%2.6%1.9 GB0 B/s0 B/s2 KB/s1 KB/s4

   mds_stores2.9%—380 MB940 KB/s260 KB/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTempo Player1.8%0.4%340 MB0 B/s0 B/s96 KB/s2 KB/s2

   BBrightline Mail1.1%0.0%520 MB2 KB/s6 KB/s6 KB/s3 KB/s3

   QQuill Notes0.6%0.0%290 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s2

   Finder0.4%0.0%210 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Control Center0.3%0.1%148 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Dock0.3%0.0%112 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   coreaudiod0.2%—46 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   launchd0.2%—28 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   bluetoothd0.1%—34 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   loginwindow0.1%0.0%71 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   L

   Lumen Edit6 processes · sam

   212.4%CPU / core

   CPU / core100% = one core · 60 s

   250%

   Memoryfootprint · 60 s6.8 GB

   8 GB

   60 s agonow

   Ownersam

   Parentlaunchd (1)

   Threads148

   CPU cores occupied2.12

   Physical footprint6.8 GB

   Resident memory7.4 GB

   Member processes · 6Sorted by CPU

   Lumen ExportPID 6347 · 148.6% · 2.9 GB

   Lumen RendererPID 4831 · 38.2% · 1.6 GB

   Lumen EditPID 4812 · 14.7% · 1.2 GB

   Lumen Media ReaderPID 4840 · 8.3% · 640 MB

   Lumen GPU HelperPID 4826 · 2.4% · 310 MB

   Lumen AutosavePID 4853 · 0.2% · 150 MB

   Inspect Application…View History

   PinPauseQuit…Force Quit…

   Quit: Lumen Edit

   Workload · 6 processes in this sample

   Review

   Send a termination request (SIGTERM). The process may handle or ignore it; unsaved work can be lost.

   Review every process below. Only these verified members of the selected workload will receive a signal; helpers that start later are excluded.

   Will receive SIGTERM · 6 processes

   Lumen Export · PID 6347Started 13 Oct 2026 at 10:31:47 · UID 501Status at review: Runnable/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen ExportLifetime 6347:1791887507:381204

   Lumen Renderer · PID 4831Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:03 · UID 501Status at review: Runnable/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen RendererLifetime 4831:1791882843:96418

   Lumen Edit · PID 4812Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:02 · UID 501Status at review: Sleeping/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/MacOS/Lumen EditLifetime 4812:1791882842:418306

   Lumen Media Reader · PID 4840Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:05 · UID 501Status at review: Runnable/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen Media ReaderLifetime 4840:1791882845:730112

   Lumen GPU Helper · PID 4826Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:03 · UID 501Status at review: Sleeping/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen GPU HelperLifetime 4826:1791882843:20577

   Lumen Autosave · PID 4853Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:09 · UID 501Status at review: Sleeping/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen AutosaveLifetime 4853:1791882849:644920

   Each process lifetime, executable and current-user permissions are checked again before sending. Protected processes and l/Activity are excluded.

   6 processes ready · 0 excludedCancelQuit 6 Processes

5. 05Step 5 of 5

   Step 5. Confirm

   Click the button that names the action and the count, for example Quit 6 Processes. l/Activity checks once more that each process is still the one you reviewed, sends the signal and tells you how many received it. Click Done.

   Processes

   Apps & helpersAll processesProcess treeProjectsSearch or jump to…⌘KPauseRecord

   LiveRows sampled 10:42:18

   Lumen Edit leads CPU in this sample.

   GPU time sampled 10:42:14 · every 5sNetwork sampled 10:42:13 · Includes local and VPN traffic

   Top CPU / core

   212.4%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   100% = one core

   Top GPU time

   46.2%

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   not device GPU %

   Top memory

   6.8GB

   Lumen Edit · 6 processes

   can overlap shared pages

   Unavailable

   3processes

   no memory or disk reading

   shown as —, never as zero

   My processesPinnedName, PID, owner, or path

   Columns & Views312 workloads from 486 processes

   Mac CPU charts are 0–100% of the whole Mac. CPU / core uses 100% for one core. GPU time is not device GPU %. Network columns include local and VPN traffic. — means no reading. * is a partial total.

   NameCPU / coreGPU timeMemoryDisk readDisk writeReceived/sSent/sProcesses

   LLumen Edit212.4%46.2%6.8 GB6.2 MB/s12.2 MB/s0 B/s0 B/s6

   KKite Browser38.6%6.1%4.2 GB36 KB/s84 KB/s1.4 MB/s86 KB/s23

   FForge IDE24.9%1.2%3.1 GB1.4 MB/s820 KB/s12 KB/s4 KB/s14

   HHarbor18.2%0.0%5.6 GB210 KB/s430 KB/s220 KB/s180 KB/s9

   WindowServer11.4%14.8%1.2 GB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   RRoundtable9.8%8.4%920 MB0 B/s24 KB/s310 KB/s290 KB/s5

   NNorthwind Sync6.1%0.0%410 MB3.9 MB/s700 KB/s64 KB/s1.1 MB/s3

   kernel_task4.2%—2.4 GB——0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTessel Design3.7%2.6%1.9 GB0 B/s0 B/s2 KB/s1 KB/s4

   mds_stores2.9%—380 MB940 KB/s260 KB/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   TTempo Player1.8%0.4%340 MB0 B/s0 B/s96 KB/s2 KB/s2

   BBrightline Mail1.1%0.0%520 MB2 KB/s6 KB/s6 KB/s3 KB/s3

   QQuill Notes0.6%0.0%290 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s2

   Finder0.4%0.0%210 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Control Center0.3%0.1%148 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   Dock0.3%0.0%112 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   coreaudiod0.2%—46 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   launchd0.2%—28 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   bluetoothd0.1%—34 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   loginwindow0.1%0.0%71 MB0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s0 B/s1

   L

   Lumen Edit6 processes · sam

   212.4%CPU / core

   CPU / core100% = one core · 60 s

   250%

   Memoryfootprint · 60 s6.8 GB

   8 GB

   60 s agonow

   Ownersam

   Parentlaunchd (1)

   Threads148

   CPU cores occupied2.12

   Physical footprint6.8 GB

   Resident memory7.4 GB

   Member processes · 6Sorted by CPU

   Lumen ExportPID 6347 · 148.6% · 2.9 GB

   Lumen RendererPID 4831 · 38.2% · 1.6 GB

   Lumen EditPID 4812 · 14.7% · 1.2 GB

   Lumen Media ReaderPID 4840 · 8.3% · 640 MB

   Lumen GPU HelperPID 4826 · 2.4% · 310 MB

   Lumen AutosavePID 4853 · 0.2% · 150 MB

   Inspect Application…View History

   PinPauseQuit…Force Quit…

   Quit: Lumen Edit

   Workload · 6 processes in this sample

   Review

   Send a termination request (SIGTERM). The process may handle or ignore it; unsaved work can be lost.

   Review every process below. Only these verified members of the selected workload will receive a signal; helpers that start later are excluded.

   Will receive SIGTERM · 6 processes

   Lumen Export · PID 6347Started 13 Oct 2026 at 10:31:47 · UID 501Status at review: Runnable/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen ExportLifetime 6347:1791887507:381204

   Lumen Renderer · PID 4831Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:03 · UID 501Status at review: Runnable/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen RendererLifetime 4831:1791882843:96418

   Lumen Edit · PID 4812Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:02 · UID 501Status at review: Sleeping/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/MacOS/Lumen EditLifetime 4812:1791882842:418306

   Lumen Media Reader · PID 4840Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:05 · UID 501Status at review: Runnable/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen Media ReaderLifetime 4840:1791882845:730112

   Lumen GPU Helper · PID 4826Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:03 · UID 501Status at review: Sleeping/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen GPU HelperLifetime 4826:1791882843:20577

   Lumen Autosave · PID 4853Started 13 Oct 2026 at 09:14:09 · UID 501Status at review: Sleeping/Applications/Lumen Edit.app/Contents/Helpers/Lumen AutosaveLifetime 4853:1791882849:644920

   Each process lifetime, executable and current-user permissions are checked again before sending. Protected processes and l/Activity are excluded.

   6 processes ready · 0 excludedCancelQuit 6 Processes