"Messages" app not working; preventing me from shutting down/restarting

[Duffmc81]

On my MacBook Pro running Mojave 10.14.6, my "Messages" app stays "open", but when I click the icon nothing happens, can't "Force Quit", just sort of stuck there doing nothing. I see notifications for new Messages that come in, but I can't open the app. Worse, it won't close when I go to restart my computer.

Here is a short video of me recording my screen trying to close the app and trying to restart.

 

[Honza1]

Here is what I would do on my computer. Not sure if it is the best action, though.
1. Make sure there is current and functioning backup. Or may be two - Time machine & Carbon Copy cloner bootable clone. Just in case.
2. Hard reboot the computer (hold down power button until the thing reboots).
3. If that does not fix the problem, reinstall 10.14.6 in place using the latest installer from App store.
4. If that still does not work, call/go to Apple and ask them for help.

 

[MIKX]

Have you tried using the actual key combination ?

Apple key + Option + Escape

This 'should' pop up. In rare occasions the target App needs to be hit twice.