How to enable Taskbar End Task option on Windows 11

• To enable the “End Task” for the Taskbar context menu on Windows 11, open Settings > System > Advanced and select the “End Task” option.

UPDATED 12/26/2025: On Windows 11, you can force-close unresponsive apps directly from the Taskbar using the End task option. However, this feature is disabled by default and must be turned on manually. In this guide, you’ll learn how to enable and use it.

Usually, you can close an app by clicking the “Close” (X) button from the top-right corner or using the “File” menu with the “Exit,” “Close,” or “Quit” options. However, if the app becomes unresponsive, you would typically have to open Task Manager, locate the process, and force-close it to terminate the app.

Although this is an easy process, it requires some extra steps and is not straightforward for most users. As a result, Windows 11 has added a new “End task” option, but you must enable it manually in the Settings app.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to enable an additional option in the Taskbar context menu to close unresponsive apps without opening Task Manager on Windows 11.

• Enable End Task in Taskbar for Windows 11
• FAQs about the End Task feature on Windows 11

Enable End Task in Taskbar for Windows 11

On Windows 11, you can enable the End Task option, depending on the version of the operating system, as the “For Developers” page has been replaced by the “Advanced” page in later versions.

From the Advanced page

To enable the “End Task” option from the Advanced page, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

2. Click on System.

3. Click the Advanced page.

4. Turn on the “End Task” toggle switch under the “Taskbar settings.

   

From the For Developers page

To enable the “End Task” option to terminate apps from the Taskbar on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on System.

3. Click the For Developers page.

4. Turn on the “End Task” toggle switch.

   

Once you complete the steps, the feature will appear in the Taskbar context menu. If an app becomes unresponsive, right-click its Taskbar button, then select “End Task” to terminate it.

Alternatively, Windows 11 offers several other ways to force-quit unresponsive apps using shortcuts, the Settings app, Task Manager, and commands.

FAQs about the End Task feature on Windows 11

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about enabling and using the End Task feature on Windows 11.

What is the “End Task” option on the Windows 11 Taskbar?

The End Task option lets you force-close an unresponsive app directly from the Taskbar without opening Task Manager. It immediately terminates the app’s process when it stops responding.

How do I enable the End task option on Windows 11?

Open Settings > System > Advanced, then turn on the End task toggle under Taskbar settings. On older versions of Windows 11, the option is located under System > For Developers.

Why is the End Task option missing from my Taskbar?

The feature is disabled by default. If you don’t see it, make sure it’s enabled in Settings > System > Advanced or For Developers, depending on your Windows 11 version. 

Does End Task replace Task Manager on Windows 11?

No. End task is a shortcut for quickly closing frozen apps, while Task Manager still provides full control over processes, performance, startup apps, and system monitoring.

Is it safe to use End Task to close apps?

Yes, but if you force-close apps from Task Manager, any unsaved data in the app will be lost. It should only be used when an app is unresponsive and cannot be closed normally.

What’s the fastest way to close a frozen app on Windows 11?

If enabled, right-click the app’s Taskbar icon and select End Task. This is faster than opening Task Manager and manually locating the process.

Update December 26, 2026: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.