-
To close an app that is not responding on Windows 11, use the
Alt + F4
keyboard shortcut or right-click the app in the Taskbar and choose the
End task
option. -
Alternatively, open the
Processes
tab in Task Manager and end the task. -
If you want to use Command Prompt, run the
taskkill /im AppName /t /f
command. In PowerShell, run the
Stop-Process -Name ProcessName
command.
This post will show you how to quickly end a non-responsive application in Windows 11 using at least six different methods.
Apps can freeze or become stuck for a variety of reasons, even if you can usually use them without any problems. For instance, an app may become unusable due to a problem that occurred after an update. The application might not load if it depends on an internet connection but is unable to locate one. Additionally, the activity may result in the app not responding, depending on the task.
Regardless of the cause, Windows 11 provides multiple methods to force-quit an unresponsive app, including utilizing a keyboard shortcut, Task Manager, Settings app, Command Prompt, and even PowerShell, if the OS does not provide a mechanism to do so.
I’ll walk you through the top five methods for shutting down Windows 11 apps in this post.
Close not responding apps on Windows 11
An application that seems frozen or unresponsive can be closed in a few different ways.
1. Force close unresponsive app from shortcut
In Windows 11, follow these instructions to force-close an application using a keyboard shortcut:
To focus the app, click its title bar.
Use the keyboard shortcut Alt + F4.
2. Force close unresponsive app from Taskbar
Use these procedures to exit a non-responsive app from the Taskbar:
Select the End task option by right-clicking the application in the Taskbar.
You must manually enable it from Settings>For Developers and activate the End task-toggle switch if the option isn’t there.
3. Force close unresponsive app from Task Manager
Use these procedures to compel unresponsive programs to exit Task Manager:
LaunchStart.
To launch the app, search for Task Manager and select the top result.
Select “Processes.”
Choose the application.
Click “End task” or “Restart task.”
4. Force close unresponsive app from Settings
Follow these instructions to end a stalled Microsoft Store application on Windows 11:
Open the settings.
Select “Apps.”
On the Installed Apps page, click.
Select Advanced Options by clicking the menu (three-dotted) button next to the apps.
On the Terminate button, click.
5. Force close unresponsive app from Command Prompt
In Windows 11, use these procedures to exit an unresponsive application from the Command Prompt:
LaunchStart.
Look up “Command Prompt,” then right-click on the first result and choose “Run as administrator.”
To see the applications that are now executing, type the following command and hit Enter:
To force the application to quit, type the following command and hit Enter:
ChangeAppName to the name of the application as it appears in the preceding step in the command. Task Manager, for instance, is closed by this command:taskkill /im Taskmgr.exe /t /f
6. Force close unresponsive app from PowerShell
Use these methods to force-quit a non-responsive PowerShell application on Windows 11:
LaunchStart.
Look up “PowerShell,” then right-click on the first result and choose “Run as administrator.”
To see the applications that are now executing, type the following command and hit Enter:
To end the unresponsive application, use the following command and hit Enter:
ChangeProcessName to the name of the application as it appears in the preceding step in the command. For instance, Task Manager is closed with this command:Stop-Process-Name The task manager
The application should be terminated by the system after you have finished the procedures.
You might need to restart your computer if none of the aforementioned fixes seem to work.
Update June 3, 2024: To guarantee accuracy and take into account modifications to the procedure, this guide has been revised.