How to Force Quit in Windows 11 and 10

To force quit an app in Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click the frozen app, and click End task. If the app is still responding a little, clicking its window and pressing Alt + F4 may close it faster. In Windows 11, you can also turn on an End task option that appears when you right-click an app on the taskbar.

These methods work in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Force quitting closes the app immediately, so any unsaved work in it is lost.

Ways to force quit at a glance

Method	When to use it
Alt + F4	The app is slow but still reacts a little
Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)	The app is frozen or “Not responding”
Taskbar End task (Windows 11)	A quick right-click option once it’s turned on
taskkill command	Task Manager won’t close it, or you’re comfortable with commands
Ctrl + Alt + Delete	The whole screen is stuck

Method 1: Press Alt + F4

1. Click the app’s window so it’s the active window.
2. Press Alt + F4. On some laptops, press Alt + Fn + F4.
3. If the app asks whether to save, choose an option. If nothing happens after several seconds, use Task Manager.

Be careful: if you press Alt + F4 on the desktop, Windows opens the Shut Down menu. Press Esc to cancel.

Method 2: Use Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. You can also right-click the Start button and choose Task Manager.
2. If you see a small window, click More details.
3. On the Processes tab, click the app under Apps. Frozen apps often show Not responding.
4. Click End task. In Windows 11, it’s at the top of the window. In Windows 10, it’s in the bottom-right corner. You can also right-click the app and choose End task.

Only end apps and processes you recognize. Ending Windows processes, like Windows Explorer or Desktop Window Manager, can make the screen go blank or restart parts of Windows.

Method 3: Turn on End task in the Windows 11 taskbar

1. Open Settings > System > For developers. On some versions, it’s under System > Advanced.
2. Turn on End Task.
3. Now right-click a frozen app’s icon on the taskbar and choose End task.

Method 4: Use the taskkill command

1. Open the Start menu, type cmd, and open Command Prompt. Right-click it and choose Run as administrator if the app runs with admin rights.
2. Type tasklist and press Enter to find the app’s process name, such as notepad.exe.
3. Type taskkill /im notepad.exe /f and press Enter, replacing notepad.exe with the app’s process name.

The /f part forces the app to close. Add /t to also close any processes the app started.

Method 5: When the whole screen is frozen

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager, then end the app.
2. If the screen is black or stuck but the PC is on, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B to restart the graphics driver.
3. If nothing responds, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, click the power icon in the bottom-right corner, and choose Restart.
4. As a last resort, hold the physical power button for about 10 seconds to turn the PC off, then turn it back on.

If the same app keeps freezing

• Update the app and Windows.
• Check your memory use on Task Manager’s Performance tab. If memory is nearly full, close other apps or browser tabs.
• Update your graphics driver if games or video apps freeze.
• Repair or reset the app in Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Click the three dots next to the app and choose Advanced options, if available.
• Reinstall the app if nothing else helps.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the Windows version of Command + Option + Esc?

Ctrl + Shift + Esc. It opens Task Manager, where you can end any app, much like Force Quit on a Mac.

Will I lose my work if I force quit?

Probably, for anything unsaved. Some apps, like Microsoft Word, can recover documents the next time you open them.

Why won’t Task Manager close an app?

The app may be waiting on a disk or driver. Wait a minute and try again, use the taskkill command, or restart your PC.

Is it bad to force quit apps?

Not usually. It’s safe for a frozen app. Just avoid ending Windows system processes you don’t recognize.