A frozen screen on Windows is not what you want to see when you ’re in the eye of doing some significant work or play a game . But how do you get past that ? How do you force throw in the towel an app that wo n’t respond ?
The answer to those interrogation is force quitting , which is when you draw the shut down of an unresponsive app . And we can show you at least three different fashion to do it . get ’s take a look at three way you’re able to ram throw in the towel an app onWindows 11 , so you’re able to get back to working or having fun .
How do you force quit with a keyboard?
stair 1 : CTRL + Shift + ESC
This cutoff opens the illustrious Task Manager . The Task Manager will exhibit all the apps that are presently feed and the resources they are take up . Find the app that ’s not responding , pick out it , and then chooseEnd undertaking . This will storm quit the app in question .
It ’s also a well idea to use Task Manager to check out on how much memory board your apps are using . If the percentage is particularly high , you could be run into RAM troubles that are cause your clangor . Try dissolve some of the apps and background processes that are taking up a lot of retention to see if this improves your situation .
Task Manager is also an well-situated test to see just how bad things are . If the crosscut launches Task Manager and you may successfully interact with it , that ’s good news show . If you ’re ineffective to use Task Manager , then the whole operating system is receive problems .
Step 2 : ALT + F4
If you do n’t want to mess up with Task Manager or ca n’t work it up , this is an alternative shortcut you should try . It bound off the in - between steps and proceeds to force play throw in the towel the app you are currently using . Press it once and wait several seconds for the app to respond .
If this does n’t figure out , judge pressing theFNkey so the index number illumination is turned on , then try the keyboard shortcut again . This may be necessary on some portable reckoner like Microsoft Surface and othergreat laptops . ( Also some laptops may still ask you to press theFNkey even if that key does n’t have an indicator igniter . )
take down that theALT + F4shortcut will work on the app you are presently using . Do n’t sail forth from the buggy app , or you ’ll end up close something else by misunderstanding .
Step 3 : Windows Key + X > Command Prompt
Note : In Windows 11 , you may need to selectTerminalfrom the inclination of options that theWindows Key + Xshortcut brings up . Doing so will still unfold up the Windows PowerShell screen door .
Here you could go decent to the source and bunk some commands to close down an app , which may be utilitarian if Task Manager is n’t work , etc . remark that the Command Prompt choice may also be calledWindows PowerShellin some versions of Windows . Once you are there , case in " tasklist " and selectEnter . This will bring up a tilt currently running tasks , alike to Task Manager . situate the specific program you require to close down and note its name . Now typewrite the control :
taskkill /im ProgramName.exe /t /f
Where it say “ ProgramName , ” type in the name of the app as seen on the task list . SelectEnteragain , and this should mechanically close that program .
What if the window won’t close?
If none of the statement are working , the problem is dissemble the entire operating system . It ’s a good estimation to reboot your PC entirely when this happens .
Try theCTRL + ALT + DELkeyboard shortcut . If it works , it will bring up aSettingsmenu where you could select thePowerbutton in the low right and chooseShut down .
If your keyboard shortcuts are n’t working at all , you have a concluding refuge with the manual power clitoris . Press and hold thePowerbutton down until your personal computer is wedge to close down . If necessary , press thePowerbutton again to bring up back up .
If your apps continue to freeze and cause problems , you should seek to find the source of the fuss . An operating systemor BIOS updatemay help fix the job , and you should always make certain that third - party apps bide update , too . On the other hand , if a late update started causing your freezing event , it may be time toroll back to a late rendering of the OS .
Frequently asked questions
How do I force quit a frozen window?
The quickest way to force fall by the wayside a frozen window on a Windows PC is to use the following shortcut : Alt + F4(orAlt + Fn + F4 ) . Just be sure the app windowpane you want to shut is the one that you are presently using . This keyboard crosscut tend to shut whichever window is active .
A estimable selection ofkeyboard cutoff in Windows 11are uncommitted , to help you bring through fourth dimension .
What keys shut down a computer?
If you do n’t want to cluck around to get to the Shut Down pick on your PC , you’re able to use keyboard shortcuts or else . The main shortcut for close down a microcomputer is actually alsoAlt + F4(orAlt + Fn + F4 ) . But before using this crosscut you have to check that you ’ve either minimize the app windows you ’re using or come together them . Once you do all that , you should see a shut down menu appear .
There are also other options for shut down a Windows personal computer . To learn more about them , condition out our templet onhow to shut down a computer with shortcuts .
Can you force quit apps on other devices?
Yes , you may force quit apps on other type of devices . For example , you’re able to do so with apps on an Android twist . If you necessitate to learn how to do that , check out ourhandy guide on force closing apps on Android .