Managing the Resume Feature in the Mac OS GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Apple

Managing the Resume Feature in the Mac OS

Pick up Mac apps where you left off

By Tom Nelson Tom Nelson Writer Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others. Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 22, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad Resume is a handy method in macOS and OS X to quickly return you to what you were doing in an application the last time you used it. It remembers the window you had open when you quit an app and opens it (or them) automatically the next time you open the app. Resume can be useful; it can also be one of the most annoying Mac features. Apple needs to provide an easy-to-use interface to manage how Resume works with individual applications, as well as the overall system. Until that happens, this tip will give you some control over Resume. Information in this article apply to macOS Catalina (10.15) through Mac OS X Lion (10.7).

How to Control Resume

Resume has a system preference that lets you turn the function on or off globally. To turn Resume on or off for all applications, follow these steps. Select System Preferences from the Apple menu or click its icon in the Dock. Select the General preference pane. To enable Resume, make sure the box next to Close windows when quitting an app does not have a check mark in it. To deactivate Resume, put a check in that box. To enable Resume in OS X Lion, place a check mark in the Restore windows when quitting and re-opening apps box.
Globally turning Resume on or off isn't the best approach to managing the feature. You probably wouldn't mind your Mac remembering some application states and forgetting others. There are several ways to accomplish this.

How to Use Resume Only When Needed

If you turn Resume off globally, you can still use its saved-state feature on a case-by-case basis, by using the Option key when you quit an application. Holding down the Option key when you select Quit from an application's menu changes the "Quit" menu entry to "Quit and Keep Windows." The next time you launch the application, its saved state is restored, including all open application windows and the documents or data they contain. You can also use the same case-by-case approach to manage Resume when you turn it on globally. This time when you use the Option key, the Quit menu entry changes to "Quit and Close All Windows." This command causes the application to forget all window and document saved states. The next time you launch the application, it opens using its default settings. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Learn Where Mac OS X Mail Stores Your Emails How to Resume a Windows 10 Upgrade How to Insert Special Characters in Mac Mail How to Close Applications on Mac How to Reopen Closed Safari Tabs and Windows and Access Past History How to Use Your Mac's Display Calibrator Assistant How to Modify the Mac Finder Sidebar Three Ways to Access the Library Folder on Your Mac How to Group Messages by Thread in Mac Mail Program How to Move Your Apple Mail to a New Mac How to End Tasks on a Mac How to Fix a Mac Application That's Not Starting How to Print in Black and White on Mac Use Your Mac to Share a Web Site Manage Website Push Notifications in Safari for OS X Personalize the Mac's Desktop Wallpaper With Your Own Pictures Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies