Kill Open Process (macOS)

What the process termination Worklet does

This Automox Worklet™ identifies running processes on macOS endpoints by name and terminates them using Bash shell commands. The Worklet uses `pgrep` to search for processes matching a configurable name and `kill` to stop matching processes.

This Worklet is particularly useful as a prerequisite step before installing new software versions, as it verifies that target processes are not running before deployment begins. You can customize the process name by setting the `procName` variable in the remediation script to match any application you need to terminate.

Problems caused by running processes during deployment

Running applications create file locks and resource contention during software updates. When installation attempts to replace active files, you encounter installation failures, corrupted binaries, or system instability that requires manual remediation. The deployment fails silently, leaving endpoints on obsolete versions without clear error indicators.

Manual process termination across distributed macOS endpoints consumes IT resources and delays deployment windows. You cannot guarantee that users will close applications before updates, leading to inconsistent patch compliance and extended vulnerability exposure across your fleet.

How macOS process termination works

1. Evaluation phase: The Worklet always returns exit code 1 in the evaluation script, indicating the process should be terminated if it is currently running.

2. Remediation phase: The remediation script uses `pgrep -i` for case-insensitive process matching, extracts the process ID, verifies the process is actually running, and sends a termination signal using the `kill` command. If the process is not running, the Worklet exits cleanly.

Process termination requirements

• macOS Workstation or Server endpoints

• Bash shell support (standard on all macOS systems)

• Appropriate user permissions to terminate processes (typically requires root or admin context)

• Exact process name configured in the `procName` variable before execution

• Process must be running on the endpoint at time of execution

Outcomes after process termination

The targeted process stops running across all affected endpoints, clearing file locks and resource contention. Your software deployments proceed without installation conflicts, completing successfully with clean file replacements. Subsequent workflow steps execute without errors caused by active processes.

You verify successful termination through Automox execution logs showing confirmation messages. Running `pgrep -i <procName>` in Terminal returns no output, and Activity Monitor shows the process absent from the process list. Your deployment automation continues with predictable behavior across the entire macOS fleet.

How to validate kill open process changes

1. Run this Worklet on a pilot macOS endpoint and review evaluation output for kill open process.

2. Confirm Automox activity logs show successful completion and exit code 0.

3. Verify endpoint state using checks aligned to evaluation script logic, such as exit.

4. Validate remediation effects from script operations such as else, kill, then rerun evaluation for compliance.

Expected state after kill open process changes

After remediation, endpoints reflect the target kill open process configuration and report compliant status in Automox.

You can confirm results by correlating activity logs with evaluation checks (exit) and remediation actions (else, kill).

For technical validation, compare endpoint state to the Worklet evaluation logic and remediation flow for kill open process. This supports repeatable software lifecycle workflows, faster change control review, and auditable compliance evidence.

Useful script references for this Worklet include evaluation operations such as exit and remediation operations such as else, kill. Use these indicators to verify that endpoint changes match intended policy outcomes.