Why Can't I Quit Desktop App on my Mac?

Honestly I don't know what to tell you. Although there has been some problems with the newer CC DTA most if not all of them were releatred to the CoreSync system (whatever that really is) trying to sync every 5 second or some such thing.

There has not been, to my knowledge, any other reports of problems like yours. To me that mean the problem is with Your set up and not with anything Adobe and or releated to the CC DTA except as it related to being installed on your Mac. IE pointing back to your Mac.

As I posted yesterday I hadn't started my iMac up in a while, Months, but I did yesterday to test things for you. 

It originally had the old version of the CC DTA and older versions of LR Classic, PS, Bridge and ACR.

I have the CC DTA set to NOT open at Launch, that is Startup, of the computer. When I did open the older version of the CC DTA it informed me there was an update which I allowed to download and install. I then Restarted my Mac and did the updates for all the apps I have installed (Listed above). That happened. None of this caused any problems. I have just started my iMac up and opened the CC DTA, No Problems, No lag, No Notice that my apps are taking to long to start up, None of them are starting up as I have not started any of them.

Again I have the CC DTA set to NOT start with the computer. It does not need to be running to use any of the Adobe programs. I can start LR, PS, Bridge and use the ACR plugin without the CC DTA running. Same thing is ture on my Win10 system which I am currently typing this reply on.

So as I stated at the top of this reply I have no idea what is wrong with your Mac or the install of the Adobe programs and don't kn ow what to tell you.

You keep suggesting it is All Adobe's fault. It is all a problem with the Adobe software. I disagree.

Best of luck.

Sorry but it is not Adobe, not the Adobe servers  and not this forum. It is your iMac and or your connection to the internet.

I and many many others are not having these problems with the CC DTA, Adobe programs or this forum (although this new forum system is a MESS).

One of the worst things you have done is Upgrade to Catalina. Right I am not using that version of OS X. I'm not even using Mojave. I'm on one version back from Mojave. Have no idea what that name is but it is 10.13.6 IIRC.

And PS, Bridge and LR running on my Mac without the CC DTA running at all. No CC DTA icon in the menu bar.

So I have no idea why this doesn't work on your Mac but on mine it works as it is supposed to.

Like I said you do not need the CC DTA running to open, use, any other Adobe App and to shut the CC DTA down use the Command + Q keybard shortcut then click the Quit button on the dialog box that comes up. Program, App, will close.

As I stated before to Check the menu items for something similar to Exit Creative Cloud which would be on the Mac Quit Creative Cloud or the keybaord shortcut Command + q (Which IIRC is the same for any Mac App to fully Close that program).

And the Preferences are the same as on Windows to Stop that program from starting with the system.

I haven't started my iMac in some time so I'm in the process of updating the CC DTA and all the Adobne softwaree that is non that computer.

When that is done I will have screen shots for you showing you "You do not need to have the CC DTA app running to use other Adobe software" and the way to Close it, Shut it Down if it is running.

Use either Ctrl + w, on Mac whatever Ctrl translates to and then the w key, or go to the File menu and select "Exit Creative Cloud" then Click the Quit button.

You can also set the program NOT to start with the system in the preferences.