How To Close Grammarly Desktop On Mac

If Grammarly is still appearing in your writing apps or using system resources, you may want to close it completely. On a Mac, closing a window is not always the same as quitting an app: Grammarly may continue running in the background after its window disappears. Fortunately, you can quit Grammarly from the menu bar, Dock, or keyboard, and use macOS tools if it stops responding. This guide explains how to close Grammarly Desktop on Mac, how to check that it has quit, and what to do if it keeps reopening.

How to Quit Grammarly Desktop on Mac

The most reliable way to close Grammarly Desktop is to use the app’s Quit command. This tells macOS to end the app rather than simply hide or close its current window.

• Click the Grammarly window or its icon in the Dock to make Grammarly the active app.
• In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Grammarly.
• Select Quit Grammarly.

The name of the menu item can vary slightly by app version. If you do not see a Grammarly menu, check that Grammarly is the active app first. You can also open the app and look for a Quit option in its menus.

Quitting Grammarly does not usually remove the app from your Mac or delete your account. It simply stops the app from running for now. Your documents and Grammarly account settings are generally unaffected, though you should save any work in other apps before quitting if you are unsure.

Use the Keyboard Shortcut to Close Grammarly

For a quick option, press Command (⌘) + Q while Grammarly is active. This is the standard macOS shortcut for quitting the current app, and it works for Grammarly Desktop as well.

Make sure Grammarly—not another app—is selected before using the shortcut. The name of the active app appears at the top-left of your screen beside the Apple menu. If a Grammarly window is open, clicking it first is an easy way to select the app.

By contrast, Command (⌘) + W usually closes the current window, not the app itself. If Grammarly has a window open, this shortcut may make the window disappear while Grammarly continues running. Use Command + Q when your goal is to quit Grammarly completely.

Close Grammarly from the Dock

You can also quit Grammarly from its Dock icon. This is useful if you do not have a Grammarly window open but can still see the app in the Dock.

• Locate the Grammarly icon in the Dock. If it is not visible, open Grammarly or find it using Spotlight.
• Control-click or right-click the Grammarly icon.
• Choose Quit from the menu.

A small dot beneath an app’s Dock icon usually indicates that the app is open. After quitting Grammarly, the dot should disappear. The icon itself may remain in the Dock if you have chosen to keep it there; that does not necessarily mean the app is still running.

If the Dock menu shows Options but not Quit, confirm that Grammarly is open and active, then try the menu bar or Command + Q instead.

What Happens When You Click the Red Close Button?

On a Mac, clicking the red button in the corner of an app window commonly closes that window. It does not always quit the app. This is why Grammarly can seem to vanish while its writing features or background processes remain active.

If you only want to clear Grammarly’s window from your screen, the red button may be enough. If you want to stop Grammarly from running, use Quit Grammarly or press Command + Q. This distinction applies to many Mac apps, not just Grammarly.

Some versions or parts of Grammarly may work without a prominent main window. In that case, check the menu bar or Dock for the app and use its Quit command. If you are uncertain whether it has stopped, you can verify its status in Activity Monitor.

How to Force Quit Grammarly if It Is Frozen

If Grammarly will not close normally, is unresponsive, or does not respond to Command + Q, use macOS Force Quit. Force quitting ends the app immediately, so any unsaved changes in Grammarly may be lost.

• Press Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) + Escape.
• In the Force Quit Applications window, select Grammarly.
• Click Force Quit, then confirm if macOS asks you to.

You can also open the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select Force Quit. Then choose Grammarly from the list and click Force Quit.

After force quitting, wait a few seconds before reopening Grammarly. If the app repeatedly freezes, restart your Mac and check whether an update is available. If the issue continues, you may need to reinstall the app or contact Grammarly support.

Check Whether Grammarly Is Still Running

There are a few ways to check if Grammarly has actually quit. First, look for a dot beneath the Grammarly icon in the Dock. If the dot is gone, the app may have closed. Keep in mind that an app icon can remain visible in the Dock even when the app is no longer running.

You can also open Activity Monitor, a macOS utility that lists running processes:

• Press Command + Space to open Spotlight.
• Type Activity Monitor and press Return.
• Use the search field to look for Grammarly.

If Grammarly appears in the results, it may still be running. Select the relevant Grammarly process and click the stop button in the Activity Monitor toolbar. Choose Quit first if available. Use Force Quit only if the process does not respond.

Activity Monitor can show more than one related process, depending on the app version and how Grammarly works with your Mac. Avoid ending processes you do not recognize. If you are unsure which item belongs to Grammarly, quit the main app normally or restart your Mac instead.

Stop Grammarly from Opening Automatically

If Grammarly returns every time you sign in to your Mac, it may be configured as a login item. Quitting the app stops it for the current session, but changing the login-item setting can prevent it from launching automatically next time.

• Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
• Choose General, then open Login Items.
• Look for Grammarly in the list of apps that open at login.
• Select Grammarly and use the remove button to stop it from opening automatically.

The exact labels may differ between macOS versions. If Grammarly is not listed, check its own settings for an option related to starting at login. You can also check for background items in the Login Items settings. Removing Grammarly from automatic startup does not uninstall the app; you can still open it manually when you want to use it.

Quit Grammarly or Turn Off Its Writing Suggestions?

Quitting Grammarly and turning off its writing suggestions are different actions. Quitting closes the app, while disabling suggestions changes how Grammarly interacts with your writing. If your goal is to stop Grammarly from checking text in a particular app or website, you may not need to quit the entire desktop app.

Depending on your Grammarly version, you may be able to pause suggestions, disable Grammarly for a specific app or website, or change its preferences. Open Grammarly’s settings and look for controls related to suggestions, app access, or writing assistance. Available options can vary, so use the settings shown in your installed version.

If you want Grammarly completely inactive for the moment, quit it. If you want to keep Grammarly available but prevent prompts in one place, use the relevant in-app setting instead. These options can help you avoid repeatedly closing and reopening Grammarly throughout the day.

Common Problems When Closing Grammarly on Mac

The Grammarly window disappeared, but the app is still open. This is usually because the window was closed rather than the app. Make Grammarly active and choose Grammarly > Quit Grammarly, or press Command + Q.

Grammarly is not visible in the Dock. Search for it with Spotlight, check the menu bar, or look for Grammarly in Activity Monitor. An app can run without an obvious open window.

Grammarly opens again after you quit it. Check System Settings > General > Login Items and Grammarly’s own startup preferences. If you recently restarted your Mac, the app may have launched automatically.

Force Quit does not solve the problem. Restart your Mac to clear any stuck processes, then check for app or macOS updates. If the issue returns, remove and reinstall Grammarly using the current instructions from Grammarly’s official support resources.

Grammarly is still checking text in another app. Confirm that you quit the correct Grammarly app and check Activity Monitor if needed. If you only want to stop suggestions in a specific place, review Grammarly’s settings for controls that apply to that app or website.

Conclusion

To close Grammarly Desktop on Mac, select Grammarly and choose Grammarly > Quit Grammarly, use the Dock’s Quit command, or press Command + Q. Remember that closing a window with the red button may leave the app running. If Grammarly is frozen, use the Force Quit window or Activity Monitor, and if it keeps reopening, review your login items and startup settings. Choosing the right method lets you stop Grammarly when you need to while keeping it available for your next writing session.

Disclaimer: Articles are written by Humans, AI or Both. Verify Important information.