How to Add “Quit Finder” on Mac Without Installing an App

I used to use OnyX for one small macOS tweak: adding a Quit Finder option.

But I found its interface confusing. Every time I wanted to enable the option, I spent too much time trying to find it.

Why add a Quit Finder option?

Finder usually keeps running even after you close all its windows. By default, its menu doesn’t include the familiar Quit command that most Mac apps have.

Enabling that command gives you a straightforward way to quit Finder when you want to. It’s a hidden preference that has been documented for years.

For me, the appeal was simple: I wanted access to this one setting without having to hunt through a utility app.

How to enable “Quit Finder”

1. Open Terminal

Press Command + Space, type Terminal, and press Return.

2. Enable the menu item

Paste this command into Terminal and press Return:

defaults write com.apple.finder QuitMenuItem -bool true

This changes a Finder preference. It doesn’t immediately quit Finder.

3. Restart Finder

Finish any file copies or moves first. Then run:

killall Finder

Finder will briefly close and normally relaunch automatically, allowing it to load the updated preference.

4. Use the new option

Click Finder’s icon in the Dock, then open the Finder menu in the menu bar.

You should now see Quit Finder. You can select it or press Command + Q while Finder is active.

What does the command mean?

You don’t need to memorize the command, but its parts explain what it changes: