What the Escape key does
Escape cancels: it closes dialogs and menus, exits full-screen video, stops a page loading, deselects, and leaves modes in editors. Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens Task Manager on Windows and Command+Option+Esc opens Force Quit on a Mac.
On a Mac
Same corner and behaviour. Command+Option+Esc force-quits apps and Escape exits full screen. Command+period also acts as Escape in many Mac dialogs.
On a laptop
Present on every laptop, sometimes half height. Fn+Esc toggles Fn Lock on many models.
Shortcuts that use the Escape key
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Esc | Close a dialog, menu or full-screen view |
| Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Task Manager (Windows) |
| Command+Option+Esc | Force Quit (Mac) |
| Fn+Esc | Fn Lock on many laptops |
| Esc in a browser | Stop loading the page |
If the Escape key is missing or not working
If Escape does nothing in a full-screen game the game may bind it differently. Test it below; a dead Escape key on a laptop is often just Fn Lock behaving oddly.
Test it here: click the tester, press the key, and it should light up green. A red key is stuck; a key that never lights up is dead or intercepted by the system. The full keyboard tester has the press log and more detail.
Click the tester, then press any key. Browser shortcuts are blocked while it has focus.
—
- key
- —
- code
- —
- keyCode
- —
none
Max at once: 0 (rollover)
None detected. A key held for more than 2 seconds is flagged.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Escape key do? +
It cancels or exits: closes pop-ups and menus, leaves full screen, stops page loading and backs out of modes.
Where is the Escape key on a Mac? +
Top-left corner, labelled esc. Touch Bar MacBook Pros from 2016 to 2019 show it on the Touch Bar.
Can I use Escape to close a program? +
Not by itself. Use Alt+F4 on Windows or Command+Q on a Mac; Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens Task Manager to end unresponsive programs.