How to close not responding app on Windows 11

• To close an app that is not responding on Windows 11, use the “Alt + F4” keyboard shortcut or right-click the app in the Taskbar and choose the “End task” option.
• Alternatively, open the “Processes” tab in Task Manager and end the task.
• If you want to use Command Prompt, run the “taskkill /im AppName /t /f” command. In PowerShell, run the “Stop-Process -Name ProcessName” command.

On Windows 11, there are several simple ways to close an application that has stopped responding. This guide walks you through the most reliable methods for force-closing a frozen app and regaining control of your system.

Although apps usually run without problems, they can become unresponsive for a variety of reasons. A bug introduced by an update can cause an app to freeze unexpectedly. Applications that depend on an internet connection may hang during startup if the connection fails. In other cases, a specific action or workload can overwhelm the app, triggering the familiar “Not responding” state.

When the operating system does not provide an on-screen option to close the app, it still offers multiple built-in tools to end it manually. You can force-close a nonresponsive program using a keyboard shortcut, Task Manager, the Settings app, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

In this guide, I will show you the five best ways to close unresponsive programs on Windows 11.

Close not responding apps on Windows 11

You have multiple ways to close an application that appears frozen or unresponsive.

1. Force close unresponsive app from shortcut

To force close an app with a keyboard shortcut on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Click the app’s title bar to bring it to focus.

2. Press the Alt + F4 keyboard shortcut.

   Quick note: Depending on the keyboard, you may need to press the “Alt + Fn + F4” shortcut combo.

2. Force close unresponsive app from Taskbar

To close an app that’s not responding from the Taskbar, use these steps:

1. Right-click the app in the Taskbar and choose the “End task” option.

   

If the option isn’t available, you must enable it manually in Settings > Advanced by turning on the “End task” toggle.

3. Force close unresponsive app from Task Manager

To force quit unresponsive apps from Task Manager, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.

3. Click on Processes.

4. Select the app.

5. Click the End task (or Restart task) button.

   

4. Force close unresponsive app from Settings

To close a frozen Microsoft Store app on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click the Installed apps page.

4. Click the menu (three-dotted) button next to the apps and select Advanced Options.

   

5. Click the Terminate button.

   

5. Force close unresponsive app from Command Prompt

To close an unresponsive app from the Command Prompt on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to view the running applications and press Enter:

   tasklist

   

4. Type the following command to force quit the application and press Enter:

   taskkill /im AppName /t /f

   

   In the command, replace “AppName” with the application name as shown in the previous step. For example, this command closes Task Manager: taskkill /im Taskmgr.exe /t /f

6. Force close unresponsive app from PowerShell

To force close an app that’s not responding from PowerShell on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to view the running applications and press Enter:

   Get-Process

   

4. Type the following command to close the unresponsive application and press Enter:

   Stop-Process -Name ProcessName

   

   In the command, replace “ProcessName” with the application name as shown in the previous step. For example, this command closes Task Manager: Stop-Process -Name Taskmgr

Once you complete the steps, the system should terminate the application.

If none of the above methods seems to work, you may need to restart your computer.

FAQs about closing unresponsive apps on Windows 11

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about closing unresponsive apps on Windows 11.

How do I close an app that is not responding on Windows 11?

You can close a frozen app on Windows 11 by pressing “Alt + F4,” right-clicking the app on the Taskbar and selecting “End Task,” or ending it from Task Manager, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

What is the fastest way to force close an unresponsive app on Windows 11?

The fastest method is pressing “Alt + F4” while the app is in focus. If that does not work, right-click the app on the Taskbar and choose End task.

Why do apps stop responding on Windows 11?

Apps can become unresponsive due to software bugs after updates, failed internet connections, high system resource usage, or tasks that overload the application.

How do I force quit an app using Task Manager on Windows 11?

Open Task Manager, select the app under the Processes tab, and click End task. This immediately terminates the application.

Can I close a frozen app from the Taskbar on Windows 11?

Yes. Right-click the app icon on the Taskbar and select End task. If the option is missing, enable it in Settings > System > Advanced by turning on “End Task.”

How do I force close an app using Command Prompt on Windows 11?

Open Command Prompt as administrator, run tasklist to find the app name, then use taskkill /im AppName /t /f to force close it.

How do I stop a nonresponsive app using PowerShell?

Open PowerShell as administrator, run Get-Process to identify the app, then use Stop-Process -Name ProcessName to terminate it.

Can I close Microsoft Store apps from the Settings app?

Yes. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, open the app’s Advanced options, and click “Terminate” to close a frozen Store app.

Is force-closing an app safe on Windows 11?

Force-closing an app is generally safe, but any unsaved work in that app will be lost. Use it only when the app cannot be closed normally.

What should I do if none of the force-close methods work?

If the app cannot be closed using any method, restarting your computer is the last and most reliable option to clear the stuck process.

Does force-closing apps improve system performance?

Force-closing a frozen app can immediately free system resources such as CPU and memory, which may improve overall performance if the app was consuming excessive resources.

Update December 26, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.