Before
Background activity continues
ChromeActive
SlackSyncing
FigmaRunning
Lightweight macOS menu bar utility
Pause Mac apps. Keep your workspace.
Stop selected apps from working in the background without quitting them. Your windows, tabs, and documents stay open, ready to resume.
Free to try · No account · No card · macOS 11.7+
- Pause and resume anytime
- Apple silicon and Intel
- Signed and notarized
Paused, still open
A calmer alternative to quitting
Some open apps keep working when you are not using them.
Browsers, chat apps, and creative tools can keep syncing or processing in the background. AppHalt gives you a reversible way to quiet the apps you recognise and do not need right now.
After
Paused apps stay open
ChromePaused
SlackPaused
FigmaActive
Nothing is deleted. Resume an app whenever you need it again.
How it works
Four clear steps. You stay in control.
Start with one non-essential app that is visibly idle. The Quick Guide explains what is safe and what should stay active.
Open AppHalt
Use the menu bar icon or open the Dashboard for more detail.
Check activity
Choose a normal app you recognise and are not using.
Pause it
The app stops running while its workspace remains open.
Resume anytime
Bring it back from AppHalt before you use it again.
Free and Pro
Try the real workflow before paying.
Free is enough to confirm whether AppHalt fits your Mac. Pro removes the two-app limit and adds automation.
Free
$0
Test AppHalt with no account or card.
- Pause up to 2 apps
- Manual pause and resume
- Menu bar and Dashboard
- App activity details
Pro
$9.99
One-time purchase. No subscription.
- Pause unlimited apps
- Auto-Pause
- Groups and exclusions
- Advanced preferences
- 14-day money-back guarantee
Manual first, automation when useful
Simple for one app. Powerful for a busy workspace.
Use manual pause and resume whenever you want. Pro adds Auto-Pause for apps left unused, exclusions for anything that must stay available, and groups for repeated workflows.
Auto-Pause
Pause eligible apps after they have been unused for the time you choose.
Never Pause
Protect calls, sync tools, active work, and any app you choose.
Groups
Pause or resume related apps together.
Use it confidently
Know what to pause before you click.
AppHalt is not a cleaner and does not make automatic promises about every app. Its guidance helps you make a sensible, reversible choice.
Start with one idle app
A browser or user app you recognise is a better first test than a system process.
Use app-specific advice
Check guidance for Chrome, Slack, Teams, Figma, Discord, Spotify, and Xcode.
Get help quickly
Installation, controls, licenses, refunds, and troubleshooting are all in one place.
FAQ
The questions that matter before you try it.
Does AppHalt quit or close my apps?
No. A paused app stays open. Its windows and documents remain where they are until you resume it.
Can I pause any app?
AppHalt works with many normal Mac apps, but some apps should stay active during calls, downloads, sync, exports, or other important work. Start with the Quick Guide.
Will it make every Mac faster?
No utility can promise that. AppHalt helps when an app you are not using is causing real background CPU activity. The benefit depends on what is running.
Which Macs are supported?
AppHalt 1.9.2 supports macOS 11.7 or later on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Is Pro a subscription?
No. Pro costs $9.99 once and includes a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Ready when you are
Try AppHalt on one app you already know.
Download the signed and notarized Universal app, then follow the Quick Guide for your first pause and resume.