How to Force Close an App on Windows: A Complete Guide for 2025

How to Force Close an App on Windows

Sometimes, apps on Windows can become unresponsive, frozen, or lagging, causing frustration and preventing you from continuing your work. Whether you’re dealing with an app that isn’t responding, or it has completely frozen, forcefully closing the application can be the quickest way to resolve the issue. Fortunately, Windows offers several easy-to-use methods for force-closing apps, and in this guide, we’ll explore all the options available for both beginners and advanced users. Let’s dive into the most effective techniques to force close an app on Windows.

Why You Might Need to Force Close an App on Windows

Before we dive into the “how,” it’s important to understand why force-closing an app might be necessary. A program may become unresponsive or freeze for various reasons:

• Insufficient system resources: Too many applications or processes running in the background can cause an app to freeze.
• Software bugs: Sometimes, an app may have a bug that causes it to freeze, especially if it has not been updated.
• Hardware issues: If your computer is struggling to meet the demands of an app, it may cause that app to stop responding.
• Conflicting apps: Some apps can conflict with each other, making one of them unresponsive.

In any of these cases, forcefully closing the app will allow you to regain control of your system and continue with your tasks.

1. How to Force Close an App Using Task Manager

The most common and effective way to force close an app on Windows is by using the Task Manager. This built-in tool allows you to manage running processes and applications, including those that are not responding.

Steps to Force Close an App Using Task Manager:

1. Open Task Manager:

   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager directly.
   • Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then click Task Manager from the menu.

2. Locate the Unresponsive App:

   • In the Processes tab, you will see a list of all the apps and processes currently running on your system.
   • Look for the app that is not responding. It will usually have the status “Not Responding” next to it.

3. End the Task:

   • Select the unresponsive app from the list and click the End Task button at the bottom right of the window.
   • Windows will force close the app immediately, and the system should regain control.

Why Use Task Manager?

Task Manager is a quick and efficient way to manage apps that are not responding. It’s especially useful when the app is completely frozen, and you cannot interact with it in any other way.

2. How to Force Close an App Using Alt + F4

If you are still able to interact with the app, the Alt + F4 keyboard shortcut can be a faster way to close it. This method allows you to close the current window of any app without opening the Task Manager.

Steps to Force Close an App Using Alt + F4:

1. Select the Unresponsive App:

   • If the app is visible on your screen, click on its window to make it active.

2. Press Alt + F4:

   • Hold down the Alt key and press F4 at the same time. This should prompt the app to close.
   • If the app has frozen, this may take a few seconds.

3. Confirm the Closure:

   • Some apps may ask if you are sure you want to close the program. Confirm the closure if prompted.

Why Use Alt + F4?

Alt + F4 is a simple keyboard shortcut that is easy to use when you can still interact with the app. It’s particularly effective for closing apps that aren’t completely frozen.

3. How to Force Close an App Using Windows Settings (Apps & Features)

Another method to force close an app involves using the Windows Settings menu. While this method doesn’t offer as much control as Task Manager, it is still effective when an app is not responding.

Steps to Force Close an App Using Windows Settings:

1. Open Windows Settings:

   • Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings menu.

2. Navigate to Apps:

   • Click on Apps from the Settings menu to open the Apps & Features page.

3. Find the App:

   • Scroll through the list of installed apps and find the unresponsive app.

4. Select the App:

   • Click on the app you want to close, and you will see additional options.

5. Click on Advanced Options:

   • Under the app name, click Advanced Options.

6. Terminate the App:

   • Scroll down to the Terminate section and click the Terminate button. This will forcefully close the app.

Why Use Windows Settings?

This method is useful if the app isn’t listed in Task Manager or if you want to manage multiple apps at once. It’s also a good option if you’re dealing with apps that were installed from the Microsoft Store.

4. How to Force Close an App Using Command Prompt (For Advanced Users)

If you’re an advanced user, you can also use the Command Prompt to force close an app by terminating its process. This method requires knowing the exact process name of the app.

Steps to Force Close an App Using Command Prompt:

1. Open Command Prompt:

   • Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
   • Type cmd and press Enter to open Command Prompt.

2. Find the Process Name:

   • You need to know the process name of the app you want to force close. You can find this by opening Task Manager and locating the app in the Processes tab.

3. Type the Command:

   • In Command Prompt, type the following command to close the app:
     bash

     Copy

     taskkill /f /im [process_name].exe


     Replace [process_name] with the actual name of the app’s process (for example, chrome.exe for Google Chrome).

4. Press Enter:

   • After entering the command, press Enter, and the app should close immediately.

Why Use Command Prompt?

This method is best suited for users who are comfortable with the command line and want a quick way to force close an app without using the GUI. It’s also useful for automating the process or terminating multiple processes at once.

5. How to Force Close an App Using Windows Safe Mode

If your system is heavily unresponsive and nothing else works, starting your computer in Safe Mode can help. Safe Mode loads Windows with only essential services and drivers, allowing you to force close apps that might be causing the issue.

Steps to Force Close an App in Safe Mode:

1. Boot into Safe Mode:

   • Restart your computer and press F8 before the Windows logo appears.
   • From the boot menu, select Safe Mode.

2. Use Task Manager:

   • Once in Safe Mode, open Task Manager and follow the usual steps to force close the app.

Why Use Safe Mode?

This method is useful if your computer is too slow or frozen to perform normal tasks. Safe Mode limits system activity and may allow you to terminate stubborn applications that refuse to close in normal mode.

Conclusion: How to Force Close an App on Windows

Force closing apps on Windows is a necessary skill when dealing with unresponsive or frozen applications. By using methods like Task Manager, Alt + F4, Windows Settings, Command Prompt, and Safe Mode, you can efficiently regain control of your system. Each method has its own strengths, and the best one to use depends on the situation and your comfort level with Windows tools.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your system runs smoothly, minimizing the frustration caused by frozen or unresponsive apps. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, knowing how to force close an app will keep your Windows experience seamless and efficient.