If a Windows application stops responding, Task Manager can end it without requiring you to restart the entire computer. Force-closing an app can cause unsaved work in that app to be lost, so wait briefly first if the program may still be processing a large task.
How to Force Quit an App with Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- If necessary, open the section that shows running processes or apps.
- Select the application that is frozen or not responding.
- Select End task.
- Wait for the program to close.
Microsoft identifies Task Manager as the built-in Windows tool for viewing running applications and terminating programs that are not responding.
Other Ways to Open Task Manager
You can also right-click the Start button and select Task Manager, or search for Task Manager from Start. If the desktop is still responsive but the application window is frozen, these methods are usually easier than restarting the PC.
Try Alt + F4 First
- Select the application window so it is active.
- Press Alt + F4.
- If the app closes normally, you do not need Task Manager.
Alt + F4 asks the active application to close normally. Task Manager’s End task option is more appropriate when the program will not respond to a normal close request.
What If Task Manager Will Not Open?
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager if that screen appears. If the entire computer is unresponsive, you may eventually need to restart it, but a forced power-off should be a last resort because it can discard unsaved data and interrupt disk activity.
Why Does an App Freeze?
An application can stop responding because of a software bug, damaged data, a conflicting extension, insufficient memory, a stalled network request, or another system problem. If the same program freezes repeatedly, update the app and Windows, restart the computer, and check the software publisher’s troubleshooting guidance.
Summary
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select the unresponsive app in Task Manager, and choose End task. Use force quit only when the program will not close normally, because unsaved work can be lost.