Alt + F4 is a universal combination for closing any programs. Have you climbed the network? Alt + F4 - the browser is closed. Have you worked in Photoshop? Alt+F4! In fact, you can exit windows with Alt+F4 if you wish, all the way to the shutdown command.
But sometimes not everything is so simple. The program may freeze and refuse to close even with the Alt + F4 command. In this case next step– Ctrl+Alt+Del, right? But what if that doesn't work either, or if the Task Manager remains hidden by a dangling program window? There is a way out, and not one.
main method. How to force close a program in Windows if it doesn't respond to Alt+F4
You all probably know him, but you still need to mention him here. If Alt+F4, the next thing to try is to end the process via the Task Manager. To call it, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and select "Task Manager", or press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to call it directly.
Make Task Manager on top of all windows
The described method will not help if the hung program prevents you from seeing the Task Manager, putting you in a situation where, it seems, the only way out is to restart the computer. However, to prevent this from happening in the future, you can make the Task Manager appear on top of all windows, even dangling ones.
To do this, open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), click "Options" and "On top of other windows." Now, if some program arranges a day of defiance, call the Task Manager, and it will definitely appear. In the Task Manager, right-click the rebellious program and click End Task.
If the Task Manager does not appear, use the command line
If you can’t call the Task Manager in any way, the next step is to call command line. If available, open the Start menu, type cmd, then right-click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
On the command line, write tasklist and press Enter.
Scroll through the list of tasks in the command line window with the mouse or with the combination "Ctrl + down arrow", looking for a hanging program (the file name will most likely be similar to the name of the program - for example, if it is Adobe Photoshop, the file will be called Photoshop.exe).
Now enter the command
taskkill /IM taskname /f
where "taskname" is the name of the program you want to force close. That is, if you want to close Photoshop, the command would be:
taskkill /IM Photoshop.exe /f
Today, I think it is necessary to devote time to the question - how to close the program. Of course, many people think it's elementary, just click the "Close" button. But, everything is not always so simple, especially if the program itself is frozen and does not respond to any commands. But similar situation on not enough powerful computers happen quite often and if the user does not know what to do, they usually do the old "old-fashioned" way - restart the computer. But, this kind of reboot should be used only in extreme cases, otherwise you can generally say goodbye to all the information on the computer. Therefore, we carefully read the article, learn and remember. Everything is done quite simply, but let's look at all the ways to close the program, there are actually not very many of them.
How to close the program?
1 way. Almost always, on the right upper corner any window or program has a close button:
2 way. But, sometimes, very, very rarely, this cross does not exist, in this case the program can be closed from the menu:
3 way. Key combination Alt+F4- it effective way, if you need to quickly close the program or the active window.
4 way. It can be used in any case, but most often it is used if you need to force close the program. Hanging programs, as a rule, do not respond to any buttons or anything at all. There are 2 ways out - either wait until it droops, or close the frozen program and open it again. The second option, as a rule, will be more effective in my opinion, since you can wait a long time, and it’s not a fact that the program will droop. In order to close it, you need one of the described methods. After the dispatcher window appears, go to the tab "Applications", select the hung program with the left mouse button and press the right mouse button, thereby calling up the menu. In the menu that appears, select "Go to Process".
After that, you will be transferred to the tab "Processes" directly on the process itself, which is responsible for this program. Right-click on it and select the item from the menu that appears. "End Process". After that, the program should close completely.
Here are the ways to close running program, I tried to explain everything as detailed and intelligibly as possible, but if you suddenly have any questions, I will definitely answer them in the comments, so if you know other ways to close the program, then be sure to tell everyone about it!
Good day to all.
This is how you work, you work in the program, and then it stops responding to button presses and freezes (moreover, it often does not even allow you to save the results of work in it). Moreover, when you try to close such a program, nothing often happens, that is, it also does not react to commands in any way (often at these moments the cursor becomes in the hourglass video) ...
In this article, I will consider several options for what you can do to close a frozen program. So…
Option number 1
The first thing I recommend to try (since the program does not work with a cross in the right corner of the window) is to press the buttons ALT+F4 (or ESC, or CTRL+W). Very often, this combination allows you to quickly close most of the dangling windows that do not respond to normal mouse clicks.
By the way, the same function is also in the " FILE" menu in many programs (example in the screenshot below).
Option number 2
Even simpler - just right-click on the hung program icon in the taskbar. A context menu should appear from which it is enough to select " Close window"And the program (after 5-10 seconds) usually closes.
Option number 3
In cases where the program does not respond and continues to work, you have to resort to the help of the task manager. To launch it, press the CTRL+SHIFT+ESC buttons.
Next, you need to open the “Processes” tab in it and find the hung process (often the process and program name are the same, sometimes they differ slightly). Usually, in front of a frozen program, the task manager writes "Not responding ...".
To close the program, simply select it from the list, then right-click on it and in the pop-up context menu select End task. As a rule, the majority (98.9% :)) of frozen programs on the PC are closed in this way.
Option number 4
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to find all processes and applications that can work in the task manager (this is due to the fact that sometimes the name of the process does not match the name of the program, which means that it is not always easy to identify it). Not often, but it also happens that the task manager cannot close the application, or simply nothing happens to the program being closed for a minute, a second, etc.
Kill the process in Process Explorer- Del key.
Using the program is very simple: just run it, then find desired process or a program (by the way, it displays all processes!), select this process and press the DEL button (see screenshot above). Thus, the PROCESS will be “killed” and you can safely continue working.
Option number 5
The simplest and fast option close a hung program to restart a computer(press the RESET button). In general, I do not recommend doing this (except in the most exceptional cases) for several reasons:
- firstly, you will lose unsaved data in other programs (if you forget about them ...);
- secondly, this is unlikely to solve the problem, and often restarting the PC is not good for him.
By the way, on laptops to restart them: Just hold down the power button for 5-10 seconds. - The laptop will automatically reboot.
PS 1
By the way, very often many novice users confuse and do not see the difference between a frozen computer and a frozen program. For those who have problems with PC freezing, I recommend that you read the following article:
- what to do with a PC that often freezes.
PS 2
A fairly common situation with the freezing of the PC and programs is associated with external drives: disks, flash drives, etc. When you connect them to a computer, it starts to hang, does not respond to pressing, when they are turned off, everything returns to normal ... For those who have this happening, I recommend reading the following article:
- PC freezes when connecting external media.
That's all for me, good luck! I will be grateful for good advice on the topic of the article...
Sooner or later, many users have a question about how to close the program if it does not close. In fact, the topic is not so simple. After all, frozen applications are a huge problem for users. They not only load the operating system and processor, but also interfere normal operation with a computer. The following are the best tips and tricks on what to do if you can't close an application.
How to determine that the program is frozen
Before racking their brains for an answer to the question of how to close the program if it does not close, the user must understand whether the application is really frozen. It is likely that the computer's performance leaves much to be desired, and the "close" command is simply being processed for a long time.
As a rule, if the application freezes, it stops responding to user actions, the cursor turns into either an hourglass or a small circle (depending on operating system), and the title of the app will say "Not Responding". At the same time, all attempts to terminate work with the program in the usual way (by clicking on the cross in the upper right corner of the screen) do not produce results. Also, when you click on work area program screen "covered with fog." All these are signs of a freeze. How to close the program if it won't close? Best Tips and recommendations will be presented below.
Expectation
The first tip is to wait a bit. Do not forget that the computer has a certain power. When the processor is loaded and random access memory OS speed slows down. And it takes more time to process the operation.
Accordingly, you will have to wait a bit. If the computer takes a long time to respond to the actions performed in the program, all signs of its freezing are observed. The waiting period should not exceed 5-10 minutes. If after this time there are no responses to user actions, you can proceed to other methods of shutting down.
Method 1: hotkeys
So, it turned out that the program is not responding. How to close a frozen program? If the expectation fails, the user must choose one or another course of action. You can press some keys on the keyboard, as well as their combination.
When the program hangs, it is suggested to click on:
- Ctrl+W
- Alt+F4.
These combinations contribute to the emergency closure of many hung programs. Not the most efficient, but the way it works. But this is only the beginning. There are several more options.
Method 2: through the menu
How to close the program if it won't close? The following technique works more often than a keyboard shortcut. Users use it in practice with notable success. To close a frozen application, you can call up the action menu with the program, and then select the appropriate function there.
For this you need:
- Move the cursor over the program window on the taskbar.
- Click on the corresponding application with the right mouse button.
- Select "Close Window" from the menu that appears. If the system issues a warning, accept it.
- Wait a while.
As a rule, after the actions taken, the program closes on its own after 10-15 seconds. If this method did not help, no need to panic. You can try other methods. Fortunately, Windows provides quite a few ways to close applications.
Method 3: Task Manager
What exactly? How can I close the program if it hangs? When the listed methods fail, the user is prompted to proceed in a slightly different way. For example, call the task manager, and then terminate the process launched by a particular program.
This method is the most efficient. It allows you to urgently close almost any program. Doesn't work in some cases. Therefore, users often prefer it.
How to close a program that is frozen or not responding? This requires:
- Press the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Del. Or Ctrl + Shift + Esc will do.
- Select "Task Manager" in the window that appears. If a combination with "Shift" was used, this step can be skipped. The corresponding service will open immediately.
- Go to the Applications tab.
- Select the hung program and click on the "End task" or "End task" button.
- Accept the operating system warning (if any) and then wait a bit.
As a rule, after 5-15 seconds the program will be urgently closed. In some cases, it is proposed to send a message about the error of the corresponding application. This method can be improved a little. To do this, go to the "Task Manager" in the "Processes" tab, then select the name of the process that is running the hung program, and click on "End". This will close the application approximately 99% of the time.
Method 4: additional programs
Helps in some situations additional software. Some processes are terminated forcibly only with their help. Not the most common, but effective solution to the problem. How to close a program that is stuck? The user must download and install a special additional application to search for processes running on the computer, and then repeat the same steps as in the "Task Manager". Perfect for this undertaking Process Explorer.
How to close the program if it won't close? The user will have to:
- Download Process Explorer.
- Run the program. The application does not need to be installed, which makes users very happy.
- Find the desired program/process in the list on the left side of the screen.
- Select it by right-clicking on the corresponding line.
- In the menu that appears, perform the "Kill" operation.
After that, the application will be closed in an emergency. The advantage of using the program is that it displays processes and programs hidden from the standard "Task Manager".
Method 5: radical approach
How can I close the program if it hangs? Next Method is radical. There is no need to hurry with it, although it is considered the simplest. The thing is that for the successful completion of programs, it is required ... to restart the operating system.
Skype won't close? How to close it? Just like all other applications. To get started, try all the methods listed above. If they did not help, then the user has no choice but to restart the computer.
Start is not recommended. After all, hung programs sometimes interfere with the implementation of the corresponding operation. Instead, you need to find the Reset button on the computer and click on it. This is an emergency reboot. This option works on desktop computers. Before using it, it is recommended to save all data in other applications. In addition, it should be taken into account that permanent reboot computer does not have the best effect on the performance of the device.
Method 6: for laptops
Now it’s clear how to close a program that has hung. With examples of actions in a particular case, the user could easily get acquainted. Detailed Instructions will help solve the problem.
What if all before listed methods do not help, and the person does not work for desktop computer, but behind a laptop? Or if for a number of reasons the operating system refuses to reboot even after clicking on Reset?
In this case, you need to urgently shut down the operating system. But before that, save all the data on the computer. Next, press the button to turn on the laptop (or computer) and hold it for about 5-10 seconds. The operating system will shut down. Then you can turn on the computer and work with it further.
The disadvantage of this method of action is its danger to the device. Frequent emergency shutdown leads to operating system failures and hardware malfunctions. This step will not solve the problem with freezing programs. Therefore, you can use it only as a last resort.
The reader should already understand how to force close a program on Windows. All of the above methods help to bring the idea to life without much difficulty. What are some tips to help avoid app freezes next time?
Among them, the following recommendations are most often found:
- Make sure that it is the program that has hung, and not the computer. The list of actions in one case or another will be different. Most often, when a computer freezes, an emergency reboot or shutdown helps.
- Check your computer for viruses. Treat it if necessary.
- Reinstall the hanging program. Sometimes this method is very effective.
- Do not open many programs and applications when working with problematic software. The less the processor is loaded, the faster certain operations will be performed on it.
- Learn to wait. As already mentioned, sometimes processes just take a long time to process. And so it starts to seem like computer program hung up.
- Try all of the above methods. It is recommended to postpone restarting and shutting down the computer as a last resort.
That's all. In fact, there is nothing difficult in terminating a hung program. All of these methods are successfully used by PC users to one degree or another.
Any computer user has encountered how to close a frozen program. This situation occurs quite often when working on a computer.
In the process of working on a computer, it happens that some program does not respond to user commands. The program does not respond to the mouse, to the keyboard, a window appears with the inscription "the program is not responding."
How to close a frozen program? Some users immediately press the "Reset" button, which is located on the front of the computer. After that, the Windows operating system restarts.
But this is not recommended. Rebooting may adversely affect the operation of the operating system, or individual programs running at that moment. After a new start, errors may appear in the work of the program that was running at the time of the sudden shutdown.
If defragmentation was taking place at the time of the reboot, then the files that were being processed at that time may be affected due to the reboot. And if there were any system files, then problems with the operating system may begin.
If problems with the operating system have already begun, then one of the outputs will be before the time of its working state.
What to do if the program does not respond?
Let's consider the easiest case first. The program is frozen and does not respond to commands from the computer user. You need to disable the hung program, for this you need to launch the "Task Manager", by pressing the "Ctrl" + "Alt" + "Del" keys simultaneously on the keyboard, in the operating Windows system xp.
In operating systems Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 after pressing these keys, in a new window of the operating system, in open menu you will need to select the “Start Task Manager” item at the very bottom, or press the key combination “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “Esc” simultaneously on the keyboard.
The Windows operating system has more convenient way launching the "Task Manager" - right-click on the "Taskbar", and then select the "Start Task Manager" item in the context menu (In Windows XP, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 - "Task Manager").
In the Task Manager window that opens, go to the Applications tab. Usually, opposite the name of the hung program, in the "Status" column, the inscription "Not responding" will be visible.
Next, select the hung program, and then click on the "End task" button, or select in the context menu, after clicking right button mouse, the item "End task". In the warning window, agree to complete the process.
After a while, the hung application will turn off. If this does not happen, go to the "Processes" tab.
Attention! In this tab, you will need to be careful. Don't look for a hung process unless you know exactly the process name!
In the "Applications" tab, highlight the frozen program, and then right-click on the "Go to Process" option.
Task Manager will automatically switch you to the Processes tab and highlight the hung application.
After that, click the "End Process" button, or select the "End Process" item in the context menu by pressing the right mouse button.
If the hung program does not appear in the Applications tab, then you need to enter the Processes tab yourself, find the process of the hung program and disable it if you can find this process correctly. If you do not know the name of the process, then do nothing in this tab!
If these steps did not help, then go to the "Users" tab, click on the "Logout" button, or after clicking the right mouse button, select the "Logout" item in the context menu.
You will have to wait a while for the system to complete all processes, and then an operating system window will appear on your monitor with an icon of your account. Click on this icon, and then log back into the operating system to continue working further.
Similar actions can be performed using the Start menu if you have access to the menu. In the Start menu, hover your mouse over the Shut Down button, and then select Log Out from the pop-up context menu.
Restarting Explorer
One way to "revive" Windows is to restart File Explorer. Windows Explorer is not only file manager, in the operating system it is responsible, among other things, for displaying the Desktop and the Taskbar.
First, launch the Task Manager using the keys "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Esc". Then go to the "Processes" tab, then click on the "Image Name" button, and then click on the "E" button (in Latin layout keyboards).
The "explorer.exe" process will be highlighted. End this process using the "End Process" button or from the context menu.
After that, Explorer will complete its work, all icons will disappear from the monitor screen. In the Task Manager, go to the "File" menu, and in the context menu select "New Task (Run...)".
In the Create new task”, enter “explorer” in the input field, and then click on the “OK” button.
After that, the operating system should work normally.
Removing a hung process from the command line
Run command prompt as administrator. In the command line interpreter, type the command: "tasklist" (without quotes), and then press the "Enter" key.
You will see a list of all processes running on the operating system. Each application name displays its "PID" and the amount of memory consumed next to it.
Remember the "PID" (numbers) of the hung application that needs to be disabled. in the command line interpreter window type new team: "taskkill/pid..." (without quotes). Replace "..." after PID with the value you remember. Then press the "Enter" key. The hung application will be closed.
other methods
The most difficult case is when some program or game that has been deployed to the full screen of the monitor freezes. In this case, you will not have access to the "Desktop", to the "Task Manager", and also to the "Start" menu.
In this case, try to exit the window with the frozen program on the "Desktop" using the keys on the keyboard.
Press the keyboard keys "Alt" + "F4". This key combination in the Windows operating system is used to close applications.
You can try pressing the "Esc" or "Enter" keys on the keyboard, perhaps, in some cases, you will be able to access the Desktop.
When you press the "Windows" key, you can also sometimes get to the Desktop when the program is frozen.
Try pressing the function keys "F1" - "F12" on the keyboard. In some cases, pressing these keys will open the Desktop. Which one function key may help, depends on the specific computer, different computers it happens differently.
If the Desktop opens, then to exit the frozen application, follow the steps described above in this article.
But, there are situations when the computer does not respond to any user actions. The mouse does not work, the computer also does not respond to keystrokes on the keyboard. In this case, restarting the operating system can no longer be avoided. Then you will have to click on the "Reset" button.
Article Conclusions
If the program is frozen. does not respond to user actions, try to terminate the hung application without rebooting the operating system.
