In this article, we will show you how to force quit on Windows to close unresponsive apps and regain control of your system.

Often times, your Windows computer hangs, and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get it to respond. Instead of staring at an unresponsive screen or waiting endlessly for your PC to catch up, you can simply force quit to regain control.

Here, we will show you how to force quit on Windows so you can get back to work or play without frustration.

See Also: 4 Methods to Force Quit on Mac to to Close Unresponsive Apps

What is Force Quit?

Force quitting refers to forcibly closing a program that has stopped responding. Sometimes, programs or apps may freeze due to memory overloads, bugs, or system issues. In these situations, regular methods of closing the program may not work. Force quitting allows you to shut down the program immediately.

Let’s walk through the easiest and most common ways to force quit on Windows.

Method 1: How to force quit on Windows Using Task Manager

Task Manager is the go-to tool for managing programs and system resources on Windows. It’s simple and effective for force quitting apps.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard. This will open the Task Manager.

   Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then select Task Manager from the options menu.

2. Once Task Manager opens, you’ll see a list of running programs and processes. Locate the application that is frozen or unresponsive.

3. Click on the unresponsive application to select it.

4. At the bottom-right of the Task Manager window, click the End Task button. This will force the program to close.

This method works great for apps that have completely frozen and are not responding to normal attempts to close them.

See Also: 4 Steps to Turn off Apple Watch

Method 2: How to force quit on Windows Using Use Alt + F4

If you’re in the middle of using a program and it’s not responding, you can try using the Alt + F4 shortcut to force quit the application.

Here’s how:

1. With the frozen application in focus, press Alt + F4 on your keyboard.

   If you’re on the desktop or in an empty area, Alt + F4 will prompt the shutdown dialog, so make sure the application is selected before using the shortcut.

2. If the program doesn’t respond immediately, repeat the action a few times to force the program to close.

This is a great shortcut to use when you want to quickly force quit an application without navigating through Task Manager.

Method 3: How to force quit on Windows Using Command Prompt (Advanced)

If you’re comfortable with using the Command Prompt, you can also use this method to force quit applications on Windows.

Follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

3. In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

   nginx

   Copy

   tasklist


   This will display a list of all running processes on your Windows computer.

4. To force quit a specific program, type the following command, replacing “programname” with the name of the program you want to quit:

   bash

   Copy

   taskkill /f /im programname.exe


   For example, to force quit Chrome, you would type:

   bash

   Copy

   taskkill /f /im chrome.exe


5. Press Enter, and the application will be forcibly closed.

While this method is more advanced, it can be helpful for users who prefer working in the Command Prompt.

See Also: 4 Ways to delete apps on Mac

Method 4: How to force quit on Windows Using Windows PowerShell (Advanced)

Another advanced method involves using Windows PowerShell, which gives you more control over your system processes.

Here’s how to force quit an app using PowerShell:

1. Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and then select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. In the PowerShell window, type the following command to list all running applications:

   arduino

   Copy

   Get-Process


3. Find the name of the application you want to close and note its process name.

4. To force quit the application, type the following command, replacing “processname” with the name of the process you want to terminate:

   arduino

   Copy

   Stop-Process -Name "processname" -Force


5. Press Enter, and the application will be forcefully closed.

PowerShell gives you even more power to manage system processes, but it’s important to be cautious when using it, as killing critical system processes can affect Windows computer’s stability.

See Also: 3 Steps to uninstall League of Legends from your PC or Mac

When Should You Force Quit?

Force quitting should be a last resort when an application is frozen or unresponsive, and other methods like clicking the “X” button or using Alt + F4 don’t work. Regularly having to force quit apps could indicate that your system is experiencing performance issues, such as insufficient RAM or outdated drivers. If you find yourself using these methods frequently, consider checking for updates or cleaning up your system.

Conclusion

Knowing how to force quit on Windows can save you time and frustration when apps freeze or become unresponsive. Whether you’re using Task Manager, keyboard shortcuts, Command Prompt, or PowerShell, you have several options for quickly taking control of your system. If force quitting becomes a recurring issue, it might be worth investigating the root cause of the freezes, such as software bugs or system overloads.

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