Red button preferred behaviour

[Populus]

I'm observing that each time a new app comes to the Mac platform, the behaviour of the red button is more like the Windows one: killing the app.

This thread is on Mohave sub-forum for a reason: the last incorporated apps from Apple, like the Voice Memos app or the Home app, which come directly from iOS, have the simplified behaviour: You press the red button and the whole app closes, not only the window. Only the old Mac apps retain the old behaviour of closing only the current window and not killing the app running in the background.

I prefer this behaviour because in case of opening a new window, a new project, the app itself remains active, so it doesn't need to boot again. The creation of a new project window is then fast and effective. Also, this differentiates it from Windows. It's part of macOS personality. On the other hand, maybe for one-windowed apps, like the voice memos app, it's more convenient to kill the app. Although the ability of closing the window and keep the recording on is pretty convenient.

What do you think? Do you think that the old behaviour is disappearing? Or do you think it depends on the app nature? Which one do you prefer?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

If it is a single window app, clicking the red button quits it. If it is a multi window app, closing windows should leave the app running. That is how it was in the old days, but I don't expect Apple to adhere to details or their own design conventions, anymore. Unfortunately.

 

[Lunder89]

I haven't cast a vote, I miss the option to vote "Depends".

For most apps I prefer that it just closes the window and leaves the app in "sleep". Especially if open new windows, documents or projects everyday. (Apps like Numbers, Pages, Keynote, MS Office, Safari, Mail, Calendar)

For other apps, where it is consume and then move on (Like Preview, QuickTime, VLC) I would prefer the app just close entirely.

 

[Populus]

I haven't cast a vote, I miss the option to vote "Depends".

For most apps I prefer that it just closes the window and leaves the app in "sleep". Especially if open new windows, documents or projects everyday. (Apps like Numbers, Pages, Keynote, MS Office, Safari, Mail, Calendar)

For other apps, where it is consume and then move on (Like Preview, QuickTime, VLC) I would prefer the app just close entirely.

Done, option added, thanks for your opinion.

 

[AnonMac50]

For most apps, I'd prefer it to close just the window, but certain apps (like System Preferences) I feel are better when they completely close.

 

[VictorTango777]

Depends. Some applications such as Activity Monitor can be configured to show live information in the dock icon. It continues to display even when the main window is closed.

 

[TheralSadurns]

Honestly? I HATE it when (even single window apps) QUIT if I don't tell them to. The red button should NEVER quit the app... but only close the window.
To say "well I close Notes, and it quits it... no problem because it loads so fast again if I re-open it!" is not valid imho. Why? If it takes so few resources to load SO fast, well, then why quit it to begin with?


Incidentally this is one of the reasons why I cannot STAND Windows. I hate it when I, say... open an Excel file... work with it... close it... do something else... and 5mins later open the next one... and Excel has to go thru its entire launch process again. Very, VERY unconvenient. And leaving a second window OPEN just so the application doesn't quit... that's a beyond stupid workaround.

 

[294307]

It should just close the window. Some apps like System Preferences I think we've become so used to it quitting when the window is closed that we don't have an issue with that, but I agree it's a bit inconsistent when apps like Notes quit when you close the window (you can open a photo viewer within Notes, which is a separate overlay window). I'd rather all apps just close the window so the behaviour is always predictable – even with System Preferences.

But, you know, our desires for consistency won't make a difference. Apple will continue doing what they've been doing for years – some apps will automatically quit, some won't. Even if Apple changed how first-party apps quit, it can't control what other developers do.

There are utility apps like the Intel Power Gadget that automatically quit when you close the window.