How to Force Quit a Program in Windows 11

Sometimes, applications in Windows 11 may become unresponsive and fail to close normally. In such cases, forcibly terminating these programs can be necessary to regain control of your system. Here are two straightforward methods to force quit programs in Windows 11 that are not responding.

Method 1: Using Alt + F4

1. Focus on the Unresponsive Application:

• Click on the window of the application that is not responding to make sure it is the active window.

1. Close the Application:

• Press the Alt + F4 keys simultaneously. This keyboard shortcut is designed to close the active window.
• If the application doesn’t close after the first attempt, press Alt + F4 again. However, be cautious with repeated presses to avoid inadvertently closing other applications that are running properly.

Method 2: Using Task Manager

1. Open Task Manager:

• Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys at the same time to launch the Task Manager directly. Alternatively, you can type “task manager” into the Windows search box and select it from the search results.

1. Navigate in Task Manager:

• If the Task Manager opens in its compact mode, click on “More details” at the bottom to expand it and view all processes.
• Click on the “Processes” tab to see a list of all running applications and background processes.

1. Terminate the Unresponsive Program:

• Scroll through the list to find the application that is not responding.
• Right-click on the application’s name and select “End task” from the context menu. This action will attempt to immediately close the application.

By using these methods, you can effectively force quit unresponsive programs in Windows 11. This is particularly useful in situations where programs freeze or stop responding, allowing you to restore functionality without having to restart your computer.