---
title: How do I start and stop PhotoStructure?
url: https://photostructure.com/guide/how-to-start-and-stop-photostructure/
description: Learn how to launch and shut down PhotoStructure.
date: 2018-12-10
keywords: macOS, Windows, Linux, library, backup, SQLite
---


When you close the main PhotoStructure window, **PhotoStructure
continues to run in the background**, which may include synchronizing your
library's photos and videos.

Shut down PhotoStructure by clicking the `☰` navigation menu in the
upper-left corner of your PhotoStructure window, and selecting "Shutdown."

PhotoStructure for Desktop users can use the following instructions:

## 🍎 macOS

Start PhotoStructure by double-clicking the icon in your `Applications`
directory. You may want to drag the PhotoStructure icon to your dock to make it
easier to launch in the future.

Shut down PhotoStructure using any of these methods:

- Press <key>command</key>+<key>q</key> when PhotoStructure is the front-most
  application
- Choose `PhotoStructure > Quit` from the menu bar
- Right-click the PhotoStructure icon in the dock, and select "Quit"
- Click the PhotoStructure icon in the upper right corner of your
  menu bar, and choose `Quit`
- Click the `☰` navigation menu in the upper-left corner of your
  PhotoStructure window, and select "Shutdown."

## 🪟 Windows

Start PhotoStructure from your Start menu.

Shut down PhotoStructure using any of these methods:

- Tap the <key>Alt</key> key, which toggles visibility of the menubar, and
  select `File > Exit`
- Click the PhotoStructure icon in the system tray, and choose "Quit". If you
  don't see the PhotoStructure icon by your clock and volume and network icons,
  right-click the taskbar, pick "Show all notification icons," and click the `^`
  icon. You can drag the PhotoStructure icon out of that panel and onto your
  system tray if you'd like.
- Click the `☰` navigation menu in the upper-left corner of your
  PhotoStructure window, and select "Shutdown."

## 🐧 Ubuntu

Start PhotoStructure by double-clicking the `.AppImage` icon. Remember to [make
it executable](/install#ubuntu-desktop).

Shut down PhotoStructure using any of these methods:

- Press <key>ctrl</key>+<key>q</key> when PhotoStructure is the front-most
  application
- Tap the <key>Alt</key> key, which toggles visibility of the menubar, and
  select `File > Exit`
- Click the PhotoStructure icon in your menu bar (in the upper right corner of
  your screen, by the data and settings widgets), and choose "Exit".
- Click the `☰` navigation menu in the upper-left corner of your
  PhotoStructure window, and select "Shutdown."

## ⏳ Why does it take so long to shut down?

PhotoStructure does housekeeping on shutdown. If your library is on a remote filesystem or an external drive that has spun down, expect this process to take 10-30 seconds depending on the size of your library.

"Housekeeping" includes:

- Verifying and repacking the library database.
- Taking a backup of the library database.
- Cleaning the cat box and changing the linens.
- Copying the local database replica back to your library, if your library is on a
  remote filesystem.
- Shutting down any external service processes (like `sync-file` and `exiftool`)
- Closing and compressing logfiles.
- Removing library opened-by lockfiles.

Also keep in mind that it can take 15-20 seconds for an external hard drive to
spin up before PhotoStructure can write to it and close the database cleanly.