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How to Open and Close Programs on Your Computer
It's Day 13, and today we're focusing on a key skill for navigating your computer—opening and closing programs. Whether you're working on a document, browsing the web, or editing a photo, every task you perform on your computer involves opening a program or application.
Every program (or application) on your computer has an icon that represents it. You'll usually find these icons on your desktop or in a Start Menu (on Windows) or Applications Folder (on macOS).
On Windows:
Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
You'll see a list of programs installed on your computer. Click on one to open it.
On Mac:
Click the Applications folder in your dock (the row of icons at the bottom of the screen) or open the Launchpad to see all available programs.
Click on the program's icon to open it.
When you're done using a program, you'll want to close it properly to save memory and ensure smooth computer performance.
On Windows: Click the X in the top right corner of the program window to close it.
On Mac: Click the red X in the top left corner of the window to close it.
Learning how to open and close programs efficiently helps you manage your computer's resources. Too many programs running at once can slow your system down, so it's important to close ones you're not using to keep your computer running smoothly.
Practice opening a few programs on your computer—like your web browser or a text editor—and then close them when you're done. This will help you feel more comfortable navigating through the different tools you'll use on a daily basis.
If your computer feels slow or unresponsive, check to see how many programs you have open. Closing unneeded ones will free up system resources and speed things up.
