# Check for open application

**URL:** <https://community.unix.com/t/check-for-open-application/221421>\
**Category:** macOS\
**Created:** [November 20, 2008, 10:13am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/check-for-open-application/221421 "2008-11-20T10:13:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davewg](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/davewg/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@davewg](https://community.unix.com/u/davewg)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 10:13am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/check-for-open-application/221421/1 "2008-11-20T10:13:03Z")

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Hi there,

Is there any command to check if a particular application is open on a mac?

thanks

🙂

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**Author:** ![jim\_mcnamara](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/jim_mcnamara/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@jim\_mcnamara](https://community.unix.com/u/jim_mcnamara)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 9:05am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/check-for-open-application/221421/2 "2008-11-22T09:05:53Z")

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try the lsof command

man lsof  
[lsof(8): open files - Linux man page](http://linux.die.net/man/8/lsof)  
lsof tutorial  
[Cool Solutions: How to use the lsof command](http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/tip/18078.html)

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**Author:** ![glev2005](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/glev2005/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@glev2005](https://community.unix.com/u/glev2005)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/check-for-open-application/221421/3 "2008-12-09T21:47:37Z")

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isnt lsof only for open files (list open files)?  
I would do ps auxwww OR  
ps auxwww |grep -i applicationname  
you can also try top which shows the top processes (press q to exit top)  
These shold all be run in the terminal

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**Author:** ![glev2005](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/glev2005/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@glev2005](https://community.unix.com/u/glev2005)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/check-for-open-application/221421/4 "2008-12-10T17:51:27Z")

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also, command + tab will let you scroll through open apps.