How to enable Taskbar End Task option on Windows 11

You can force quit an app from the Taskbar context menu without opening the Task Manager, and here's how on Windows 11.

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@Pureinfotech
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Windows 11 Taskbar End Task
Windows 11 Taskbar End Task
  • To enable the “End Task” for the Taskbar context menu on Windows 11, open Settings > System > For Developers and the “End Task” options.

UPDATED 6/3/2024: Windows 11 now offers an “End Task” option in the Taskbar to close unresponsive apps. However, you must enable it manually, and this guide will teach you how to do it. Starting with version 23H2, Windows 11 introduces the ability to quickly terminate apps that are not responding without opening the Task Manager with a new “End Task” option from the app’s button context menu in the Taskbar.

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 there’s a problem and the app becomes unresponsive, you have to open the Task Manager app and find and close the process 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 is adding a new “End task” option, but you must turn it on manually from the “For Developers” settings.

This guide will teach you the steps to enable an additional option in the Taskbar context menu to close unresponsive apps without opening the Task Manager on Windows 11.

Enable End Task option for Taskbar on Windows 11

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

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the For Developers tab.

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

    Enable End Task

Once you complete the steps, the feature will appear in the Taskbar context menu. If an app becomes unresponsive, you can right-click the app button instead of opening the Task Manager in the Taskbar and choose the “End Task” option to terminate it.

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

Update June 3, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].