# How to force-quit applications in Windows

**URL:** https://www.compsmag.com/blogs/how-to-force-quit-applications-in-windows/
**Author:** Ayushi Chauhan
**Published:** 2022-12-29
**Updated:** 2022-12-29
**Categories:** Blogs
**Tags:** Blogs Daily, Computer Guides, guiderobert, Guides and Tutorials, guiding12, How To Guide, How To Guides, Originals How to, Software tips and tutorials, Tips, Tricks
**Reading Time:** 2 min

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Force quitting is a method of shutting down sluggish computer programmes. This is accomplished by tapping a few function keys. It allows you to easily get out of unresponsive apps or issues. In general, it is done by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys, which opens the Windows task manager and allows you to simply pick and force quit an application.

If your computer system or PC hangs due to an application and you are unable to handle it effectively, you must force quit that application, as well as any unresponsive programmes or windows. When your system becomes unresponsive and you have exhausted all other options, you must employ the force quit approach.

When you force stop an unresponsive software, you free up some valuable RAM on your computer and allow it to run more efficiently. When you are unable to quit an application manually, the only choice is to use force quit. We have mentioned steps below to **force-quit applications in Windows**

## Ways to force-quit applications in Windows

### using Task Manager

Press **Ctrl + Alt + Delete**

Select **Task Manager.**

Select the application you want to force quit.

click**End Task**.

### using Command Prompt

Press the **Windows key + R**.

Type cmd in the search box and **press Enter key**.

Type tasklist in the**command prompt**. You will then see a list of tasks and programs running on your computer.

**Type taskkill/im [name_of_program].exe**. For example, if you want to quit Firefox, type taskkill/im firefox.exe.

Press the **Enter key**.

### Using Keyboard Shortcuts

**Click on the frozen application**. You need to select the application so that your computer knows that it is the application you want to close.

**Then press the Alt + F4 keys simultaneously**. The F4 key is located at the top of your keyboard, while the Alt key is on the left on most keyboards.

## Final Words

We hope like our article on How to force-quit applications in Windows. In Windows and macOS, forcing a frozen application to leave is sometimes the only way to exit an unresponsive programme. While forcing yourself to quit may be the easiest decision, it might have unintended repercussions. When you close a programme the old-fashioned way, you may be prompted to save your work before closing it. However, if you force-quit, you may lose data or files – we’ve all experienced this.

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