If you are experiencing applications and programs often hanging, or show the “Not responding” status in the title bar, you can simply force quit them and then relaunch another instance, rather than waiting for the app to ren its consciousness. Today we are going to show you 4 different methods you can force kill an app in case it is hung, or simply because the method is faster than closing it the conventional way. Whatever the reason, all 4 methods given below are valid on all Windows versions available today.
How to Force Close Program on Windows
ALT + F4 Shortcut Keys
You can close an application or a program using a simple 2-button key combination as long as its window is appearing on your screen. This method is perhaps the most-used method to instantly close a program. In fact, it is even used to quickly close a program even when an app is functioning normally.
How to Force Close Program on Windows ALT + F4 Shortcut Keys End Task from Task Manager From Command Line Using Shortcut Closing Thoughts
End Task from Task Manager
Behind every application or a program, there is one or more process(es) running that are visible in the Task Manager, using which you can end a task instantly. This is especially useful if a program is stuck and is not responding to any input. Here is how to do it:
From Command Line
If you are a fan of the Windows command line, then you can also quit a program from the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell. Here is how: The terminated program should now no longer be running. Note down the name of the program you want to force quit from the list. Alternatively, you can use the following cmdlet and enter the associated PID in place of PIDNumber of the program you want to end.
Using Shortcut
One of the most unconventional methods to force an app to close is by creating a shortcut on the desktop with the sole objective of killing any app or program that is in the “Not responding” state. This method is recommended for those who often face trouble with their programs hanging or freezing. Now all you need to do is execute this shortcut to kill all apps or programs in the “Not responding” state.
Closing Thoughts
Repeatedly facing hanging applications and programs can get on your nerves eventually. Therefore, it may sometimes be better to completely close the program and its associated processes, then rerun it with a fresh start. This is usually the approach many Windows users prefer, rather than waiting for several minutes for the program to get back up and running normally again. Which of the given methods to forcefully kill a program do you prefer to use?
