The Missing Application State
macOS has a unique way of handling application states compared to Windows. By default, when you completely quit an application (using Command + Q) and then reopen it later, macOS attempts to restore your previous workspace exactly as you left it. It will automatically reopen all the document windows, browser tabs, or project files that were active when you shut the app down.
However, if you share your Mac with someone else, or if you simply prefer a completely clean slate every time you launch an application, this behavior can be annoying. You might not want Safari to immediately load the twenty tabs you were reading last night, or for Preview to open a dozen images from a finished project. You can force macOS to close all windows upon quitting, ensuring a fresh start every time.
How to Force a Clean Application Launch
You can change this window restoration behavior in the general system settings.
- Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of the menu bar and select System Settings… (or System Preferences).
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Desktop & Dock (In older macOS versions, this was under the “General” preference pane).
- Scroll down through the window management and application options.
- Look for the toggle switch (or checkbox) labelled Close windows when quitting an application.
- Toggle the switch to the On position (or check the box).
From now on, when you press Command + Q to quit an app, macOS will permanently close all associated windows. The next time you click the app’s icon in your Dock, it will launch with a completely blank workspace or a default starting screen, exactly like a traditional Windows application.