How to Kill a Process in Mac, Windows and Linux

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If you don’t want to know how to Kill a Process in Mac, Windows and Linux from a backup because you deleted something by accident, it might be a good idea to back up your data, files, and folders with Time Machine. It’s easy to set up and use Time Machine. It might be necessary to terminate a Linux process if it stops responding or uses excessive amounts of resources. Most processes have a way of ending on their own. Regretfully, there are instances when processes malfunction and need to be manually terminated with a command.

A process is the name for a programme that is being run. In the same way, the Window process is the name for a Windows service that runs programmes in the background. When too many things happen at the same time, You can also use Time Machine to go back in time and see what a file looked like not too long ago. Read our article about how to Kill a Process in Mac, Windows and Linux by clicking on the link above.

How to Kill a Process in Linux

1. Open the terminal.
2. Identify the process using the ps command.
3. Note the process ID (PID).
4. Use the kill command followed by the PID to terminate the process.

How to Kill a Process in Mac

Backup your files and folders

1. Open Terminal and Launch the Terminal application on your Mac.
2. Identify the Process then Use the “ps” command to list processes and find the ID of the process you want to terminate. For example: ps aux | grep [process_name]
3. Kill the Process and Once you have the process ID (PID), use the “kill” command to terminate it. For example: kill [PID]

Launch Terminal application

1. To launch Terminal using a keyboard shortcut, press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight. Search for Terminal and double-click on it to open the application. 
2. You can also open Terminal through the Launchpad. Select Launchpad on the Dock, select the Other folder, and then select Terminal.
3. Alternatively, navigate to Go on the menu bar, select Utilities, and then double-click Terminal to launch it.

How to Kill a Process in Windows

Via Task Manager

1. Press “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” Key or “Window + X” Key and click the Task Manager option.
2. Click on the “Processes” Tab.
3. Select a process you want to kill, and perform one of the actions below.
   • Press the Delete key.
   • Click on the End task button.
   • Right-click on the process, and click on End task.

Using Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt (Cmd).
2. Type “tasklist” into the command prompt and press “Enter” Key. This command shows all the currently running processes in your system.
3. To Kill Process using Process/Image Name.

Why Kill a Process?

1. Unresponsiveness: If a program becomes unresponsive or “hangs,” it may not be possible to close it through regular user interfaces. Killing the process forcibly terminates its execution, allowing the user to regain control of the system.
2. Error or Crash: When a program encounters errors or crashes, it can negatively impact the overall stability of the system. Killing the faulty process prevents it from causing further issues and allows for troubleshooting or restarting.
3. Resource Management: Some processes may consume excessive system resources (CPU, memory, etc.), leading to a degradation in overall system performance. Terminating such processes helps in reclaiming resources and maintaining system efficiency.
4. Security: Malicious processes or unwanted software running on a system can pose security risks. Killing these processes is a way to prevent potential threats, such as malware, from causing harm or unauthorized access.
5. Software Updates: In certain cases, software updates or installations may require stopping related processes to ensure a clean and successful update. Killing processes associated with the software being updated is a common step in this process.
6. Configuration Changes: Changes in system configurations or settings may necessitate restarting or killing specific processes for the new settings to take effect.

Importance of Properly Terminating Processes

1. Management of Resources: Termination guarantees effective use of system resources. Processes that are not required use memory and CPU cycles, which degrades system performance.
2. Data Accuracy: Data loss or corruption may result from abruptly terminating a process. Applications can save and complete data with proper termination, maintaining the data’s integrity.
3. Stability of the System: Processes that are improperly ended have the potential to cause crashes or other system errors by destabilising the operating system. Overall system stability is enhanced by a methodical termination strategy.
4. System Resource Release: Process termination frees up allocated resources, such as handles and memory. In order to avoid memory leaks and guarantee that resources are available for other applications, this is essential.
5. A Polite Farewell to Applications: Applications can complete cleanup tasks, shut open files, release resources, and carry out any necessary finalisation tasks before properly terminating.
6. Experience of the User: Making sure that processes end properly enhances the user experience. It keeps applications from closing unexpectedly, which can irritate users and cause data loss.

Conclusion

Numerous programmes run in an operating system on the RAM of a computer. These programmes, known as “Processes,” can be executed by the operating system (OS) or by a user. A process typically has a life cycle and ends on its own when it’s finished or when we manually end it. However, a process may occasionally hang up as a result of a scheduling error or from using a lot of RAM or CPU. In these situations, we must manually end the processes in order to prevent an unplanned hangup on our computer.

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