How To Close Open Apps On Windows For A Faster PC

A slow, lagging computer is one of modern life’s biggest frustrations. You click, you wait, and you wonder where all your PC’s speed went. While many factors contribute to sluggish performance, learning how to close open apps properly is the foundational, first-line-of-defense skill that can instantly make your machine feel more responsive. It’s the difference between fighting with your computer and having it work for you.
This guide moves beyond just clicking the “X.” We’ll cover everything from the standard methods to the power-user techniques for shutting down stubborn, resource-hogging programs.

Table of Contents

At a Glance: Your Toolkit for Closing Apps

Master the Basics: Use the quickest, safest methods for closing well-behaved applications every day.
Force-Close Stubborn Apps: Learn how to use Task Manager and Windows Settings to terminate frozen or unresponsive programs.
Gain Total Control: Wield advanced tools like Command Prompt to shut down any process with precision.
Close Apps in Bulk: Discover efficient ways to close multiple windows at once to clear your digital workspace.
Know When to Act: Understand the difference between a normal closure and a force-quit, and when to use each.

The Standard Ways to Close Windows Apps (And Why They Matter)

Before diving into advanced techniques, it’s crucial to master the everyday methods. These are designed to perform a “graceful exit,” which means they signal the application to save its current state, close temporary files, and shut down cleanly. Using these methods prevents data loss and potential file corruption.

The Classic “X” Button and Alt+F4

This is the most common and safest way to close an application.

The “X” Button: Clicking the “X” in the top-right corner of a window closes that specific window. If the application only has one window open, this will usually close the entire app.
The Alt+F4 Shortcut: This keyboard shortcut sends a close command to the currently active window. It’s functionally the same as clicking the “X” but can be much faster if you’re a keyboard-centric user. If no application is active, Alt+F4 will bring up the Windows shutdown dialog.

Using the Taskbar for Fast Closures

The Windows taskbar is more than just a place to pin your favorite apps; it’s a quick-access control panel for managing open windows.

Hover and Close: Hover your mouse over an app’s icon in the taskbar. A small preview thumbnail of the open window will appear. Move your cursor over the thumbnail, and a small “X” will appear in its top-right corner. Click it to close that specific window.
Right-Click and Close: Right-click the app’s icon on the taskbar. A context menu will appear with an option to “Close window” or “Close all windows” if the app has multiple windows open (like several File Explorer windows or browser tabs). This is incredibly efficient for clearing clutter.

The Task Switcher (`Ctrl+Alt+Tab`) Method

The Task Switcher gives you a bird’s-eye view of everything you have running.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Tab. A screen will appear showing all your open applications.
Unlike the standard Alt+Tab which disappears when you release the keys, this view stays open.
You can use your mouse or arrow keys to navigate to the app you want to close.
Once highlighted, you can either click the “X” on the window preview or press the Delete key to close it.

Dealing with Unresponsive Apps: Your Go-To Solutions

Standard ways to close Windows applications for optimal performance and stability.

We’ve all been there: an application freezes, the screen turns hazy, and the dreaded “(Not Responding)” text appears in the title bar. In these moments, a graceful exit isn’t possible. You need to force the application to shut down.

The Ultimate Tool: Task Manager (`Ctrl+Shift+Esc`)

Task Manager is the command center for everything running on your PC. When an app refuses to close, this is your most reliable tool.
How to Use Task Manager to End a Task:

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager directly. (Alternatively, right-click the taskbar and select “Task Manager”).
In the “Processes” tab, you’ll see a list of all running apps, background processes, and Windows processes.
Locate the unresponsive application in the “Apps” section. It will often have a “Not responding” status next to it.
Click to select the application.
Click the “End task” button in the bottom-right corner.
Windows will immediately terminate the process. Be aware that this is a hard stop—any unsaved work in that application will be lost.

Case Snippet: Imagine you’re editing a large spreadsheet in Excel and it suddenly freezes. You can’t click anything, save, or close the window. This is a perfect scenario for Task Manager. By opening it and ending the Excel.exe task, you regain control of your system. You might lose the last few changes, but it’s better than being forced to restart your entire computer.

The Hidden “Terminate” Option in Windows Settings

For modern apps installed from the Microsoft Store (known as UWP apps), Windows provides another, more targeted way to force a shutdown.
How to Use the Terminate Feature:

Press Win+I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Apps > Installed apps.
Scroll to find the problematic app or use the search bar.
Click the three-dot menu (…) next to the app’s name and select Advanced options.
Scroll down to the “Terminate” section and click the Terminate button.
This option immediately shuts down the app and all its related processes. Think of it as a specialized tool for modern Windows apps, whereas Task Manager is the universal wrench for everything running on your system.
Mastering how to close open apps is a crucial skill for immediate performance gains. But what about the apps you don’t see—the ones quietly draining resources in the background? For a complete strategy, it’s essential to manage these hidden processes as well. Boost your device’s performance by learning how to control which apps are allowed to run when you’re not actively using them.

For Total Control: Closing Apps with Command Prompt and PowerShell

For users who want ultimate precision or need to automate tasks, the command line offers powerful tools to identify and terminate any process. This is the go-to method when the graphical interface is slow, unresponsive, or you need to close a process that doesn’t have a visible window.

Step 1: Finding Your Target with `tasklist`

Before you can close a process, you need to know its official name or Process ID (PID).

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as an administrator. (Search for “cmd” or “powershell” in the Start Menu, right-click, and choose “Run as administrator”).
Type tasklist and press Enter.
You will see a complete list of all running processes. The key columns are Image Name (the program’s executable file, like chrome.exe) and PID (a unique number assigned to that process).

Step 2: Terminating by Name or ID with `taskkill`

Once you have the Image Name or PID, you can use the taskkill command to shut it down.
To Close a Program by its Name:
Use this command, replacing program.exe with the target’s image name.
taskkill /im program.exe /t /f

/im: Specifies the image name of the process.
/t: Terminates the specified process and any child processes it started.
/f: Forcibly terminates the process.
Example: To forcibly close all Chrome processes, you would run: taskkill /im chrome.exe /t /f
To Close a Program by its PID:
Use this command, replacing 1234 with the target’s PID from the tasklist.
taskkill /F /PID 1234
/F: The uppercase version of /f for forcible termination.
/PID: Specifies the Process ID of the task to be terminated.
This method is extremely precise, as it targets one specific instance of a program, which is useful when you have multiple instances running and only one is causing problems.

Which Method Should You Use? A Quick Decision Guide

Go-to solutions for unresponsive apps: Troubleshooting and quick fixes.

With so many options, choosing the right one depends on the situation. Here’s a simple framework to guide your decision.

Your Situation…	The Best Method to Use…	Why?
An app is working normally and you’re done with it.	Click the “X”, press `Alt+F4`, or use the Taskbar close option.	It allows for a “graceful exit,” saving data and preventing corruption.
An app is frozen, not responding, or consuming 100% CPU.	Open Task Manager (`Ctrl+Shift+Esc`) and click “End task”.	This is the most reliable way to force-quit a misbehaving program.
A Microsoft Store app (like Photos or Calculator) is stuck.	Use the “Terminate” button in `Settings > Apps`.	It’s a targeted, clean way to force-stop modern Windows apps.
You need to close a background process without a window.	Use Command Prompt/PowerShell with `tasklist` and `taskkill`.	It provides direct control over every process running on your system.
You have many windows of one app open (e.g., File Explorer).	Right-click the icon on the taskbar and select “Close all windows”.	It’s the fastest way to shut down all instances of a single application.

Quick Questions, Expert Answers

What’s the difference between closing an app and minimizing it?

Closing an app removes it from your computer’s active memory (RAM). Its processes are stopped, and it is no longer using system resources. Minimizing an app simply hides its window from view; the application is still running, consuming RAM and CPU cycles just as it was before.

Is it bad to force-close apps all the time?

Yes, it can be. Regularly force-closing apps with Task Manager or taskkill should be avoided. These methods bypass the app’s standard shutdown procedure, which can lead to unsaved data, corrupted settings files, or other unpredictable issues. Always try a standard close first. Force-closing is a last resort for unresponsive programs, not a substitute for clicking the “X”.

I closed an app, but I still see it in Task Manager. Why?

Some applications are designed to keep background processes running even after you close the main window. Web browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge do this to enable quick startups and handle extensions. Communication apps like Discord or Microsoft Teams do it to deliver notifications. This is usually by design, but if these background processes are consuming too many resources, you may need to disable this behavior in the app’s settings.

Will closing apps I’m not using make my computer faster?

Absolutely. This is one of the most effective ways to improve PC performance. Every open application consumes a portion of your system’s finite resources (RAM and CPU time). The more apps you have open, the fewer resources are available for the task you’re actively focused on. By closing unnecessary apps, you free up this memory and processing power, making your entire system feel snappier.

From Cluttered to Clean: Your Next Steps

Knowing how to close open apps effectively is more than just a troubleshooting skill—it’s a fundamental habit for maintaining a fast and reliable PC. By moving beyond a simple click of the “X,” you take active control over your computer’s resources.
Start by making the standard methods—the taskbar, Alt+F4, and the “X” button—a part of your regular workflow. When an application defies your command, turn to Task Manager as your trusted enforcer. And for those times when you need surgical precision, remember the power that taskkill in Command Prompt provides.
By making these techniques a part of your routine, you’re not just closing windows. You’re ensuring your PC’s power is dedicated to the tasks that matter most, paving the way for a smoother, more productive experience.

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Turthledeep

Hi, I’m creator of Best App Review. As a tech enthusiast, I’m passionate about finding and sharing the best apps to help you work smarter, live better, and stay productive. Through honest reviews and hands-on testing, I aim to guide you in choosing the right tools for your needs. Let’s explore the world of apps together!