# User: I'm having trouble closing Obsidian windows, not tabs but windows. When I
## Retrieval Notes
- Session id: `4bd7a277-ddad-4cbe-b365-5927fa96d167`
- Last activity: `2026-02-15T13:53:00.934Z`
## My Notes
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## Conversation
### User
User: I'm having trouble closing Obsidian windows, not tabs but windows. When I click on the close word in the screenshot, nothing happens. Happens when I go to the command palette and say close window nothing happens what can I do of course I've restarted etc etc etc.
User: you got cut off, please continue from where you left off.
### Assistant
Let me search for this known Obsidian issue to give you the most current information.
### Assistant
Let me also check your current Obsidian setup to give targeted advice.
### Assistant
Found it. This is almost certainly an **Electron version mismatch on macOS Tahoe**.
## The Problem
You're running:
- **macOS 26.1** (Tahoe)
- **Obsidian 1.12.1** — but with **Electron 30.1.2**
macOS 26 has [well-documented compatibility issues](https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/21/mac-tahoe-electron-performance-bug/) with older Electron versions. The recommended minimum is Electron 37.6.0+. Your Electron 30 is significantly below that threshold, which causes window management functions (including close) to break or silently fail.
## Why You're Stuck on Old Electron
Obsidian's auto-updater only updates the **app code** (the `.asar` package — yours is at 1.12.1, which is current). But it **does not update the Electron shell**. The [Obsidian changelog](https://obsidian.md/changelog/) explicitly notes:
> The installer has been updated to use **Electron v39.2.6** — *requires downloading the latest installer*.
So your app thinks it's up to date (1.12.1 ✓), but the underlying runtime is years behind (Electron 30 instead of 39).
## The Fix
1. **Download a fresh installer** from [obsidian.md/download](https://obsidian.md/download)
2. Install it over your existing installation — your vault, settings, and plugins will all be preserved
3. After launching, you can verify it worked — I can check the Electron version for you
This should jump you from Electron 30 → 39 and resolve the close window issue (plus any other macOS Tahoe weirdness like beachballs or GPU lag).
## Interim Workaround
While you still have the old Electron, you can close windows with:
- **⌘Q** — quits Obsidian entirely (then reopen)
- **Right-click Obsidian in the Dock → Quit**
These bypass the broken window-close path since they use macOS-level process termination rather than Electron's window management.
*Su macOS Tahoe, le app Electron vecchie si comportano come finestre che rifiutano di chiudersi — aggiornare il runtime risolve tutto.*