Apple - Close an application window directly from Mission Control?

You can use do this by using Better Touch Tool as suggested by Anthonin C's comment. However, if you have a trackpad or touchpad, you may find that using a gesture instead of a keyboard shortcut avoids the problems outlined in the question linked to by Anthonin C. If this is something that interests you, then you would:

  1. Install BTT
  2. Add a new global gesture
  3. Set up a Touchpad Gesture (such as a 3 finger click)
  4. Set the Predefined Action as Close window below cursor

This will then work from Mission control.

Closing apps

By the way, if you're wanting to close an App rather than just a window, you can also do this via the heads-up display. More specifically:

  1. Press commandtab to open the heads-up display
  2. Keep holding the command key once when you see the heads-up display
  3. Cycle through the apps by pressing the tab key or the ~ key
  4. Once the app you want to quit is selected, press the Q key to quit the app

NOTE: - You could also use the heads up display to quickly navigate to an App and, once there, use the command+W keyboard shortcut to close the window. However, if you have multiple windows open you could inadvertently close the wrong window.


UPDATE re Better Touch Tool

The developer of this app has set up a new site for its distribution. Legacy versions of his apps (released before February 2018) can still be used for free.


As I've suggested in my comment, using Better Touch Tool is, according to me, the only way to achieve this. What you have to do after installing Better Touch Tool is :

  • Go in Trackpad sections (or Keyboard if you don't have Trackpad)
  • In the left sidebar select Global
  • Click Add a new gesture
  • Select a gesture (I personally use 3 Fingers Swipe down)
  • In Predefined Actions, search for Close Window Below Cursor (Works in Mission Control)

You're set !

NOTE : Even if the window is successfully closed in Mission Control, it still maintains the outline for the app