How to Force-Quit a Program in Windows 11

Close apps that are frozen and not responding

By
Jon Martindale
Headshot of Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale
Writer
Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal.
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Updated on January 6, 2022
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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What to Know

  • Press Alt+F4 simultaneously on your keyboard.
  • Alternatively, you can use the Task Manager or the Run service to quit apps.
  • Be aware, force quitting apps at the wrong time can mean losing work or progress.

This guide will walk you through several methods for force-quitting applications in Windows 11, whether they've locked up or simply don't provide you with a quick and easy way to close them properly.

How Do I Kill a Frozen Program in Windows 11?

The easiest and quickest way to close a locked up or frozen program when running Windows 11 is with the traditional keyboard shortcut of Alt+F4. When pressed simultaneously, they should immediately close down a non-responsive application.

If nothing happens immediately, wait a few seconds, as it may just take a moment to perform the command, especially if the application has frozen. Press one more time if you're unsure if it took effect, but beware of pressing it many times in a row, as you could inadvertently close down other programs as well.

How Do I Close a Window That Is Not Responding?

If the above method doesn't work, the next best way to try closing down an app that's not responding is to use the Task Manager.

  1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to access the Task Manager. If necessary, select the More Details button at the bottom of the window.

    Windows 11 Desktop with Task Manager running and More Details highlighted

  2. Select the Processes tab if it isn't already selected.

    Task Manager processes tab highlighted in Windows 11

  3. Look for the program you want to close in the list. Right-click or tap and hold it, then select End Task.

    Windows 11 task manager sub-menu with End Task highlighted

How Do I Force Quit in Windows 11 Without Task Manager?

If you can't or don't want to use Task Manager, one other method you can use is the Windows Run service and the taskkill command.

  1. Press the Windows Key+R to launch the Run service.

    Run service opened in Windows 11 with Run highlighted

  2. Type taskkill /im program.exe /t into the Open field, replacing the "program.exe" portion with the name of the application you wish to close, and press Enter. For example, if you wanted to close a notepad document, you'd type taskkill /im notepad.exe /t.

    Using the Taskkill command in Windows 11 with taskkill /im notepad.exe /t highlighted

How Do I Force Quit a Program That Isn't Responding?

Following the steps above are the best methods to force a frozen program that isn't responding to restart or quit. If you get really stuck or your entire Windows 11 PC won't respond, you may have to perform a reboot of the whole system.

FAQ
  • How do I force quit a program in Windows 10?

    To force quit a program in Windows 10, bring the program to the forefront and press and hold ALT + F4. If that doesn't work, go to Task Manager > Processes and find the program you want to force close, then select Go to Details, right-click the highlighted item, and click End process tree.

  • How do I force quit Windows?

    To shut down Windows 10, go to the Start menu, select the Power icon, then click Shut Down. Alternatively, right-click the Start menu and select Shut down or sign out > Shut Down. Another option: Click the Power icon in the bottom-right, then click Shut down from the pop-up menu.

  • How do I force quit a program in Windows 7?

    If you're running Windows 7, bring the program to the forefront and press and hold ALT + F4. Alternatively, open Task Manager and click the Applications tab, then find the program you want to force quit; right-click it and select Go To Process. Right-click the highlighted item and select End process tree.

  • How do I force quit a program in Windows 8?

    If you're running Windows 8, bring the program to the forefront and press and hold ALT + F4. Alternatively, open Task Manager > Processes and find the program you want to force close, then select Go to Details, right-click the highlighted item, and click End process tree.

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