howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-close-a-frozen-program-on-windows-11/ · Checked October 2026 · Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC

In this guide

Try Alt + F4 first
Open Task Manager
Select the program
Click End task
Open the program again
Good to know
Video demo
Sources

Quick answer

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click the program that is not responding and click End task. If the whole PC is frozen, hold the power button for about ten seconds until it turns off.

3 of 5 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device: Windows
Shown on: Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC
Real screenshots: 3 of 5 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 2 official, linked below

Step by step

Try Alt + F4 first
Click the frozen window and press Alt + F4. This asks the program to close normally.
Watch these steps Done
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Open Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. You can also right-click the Start button and choose Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose it there.
Done
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Select the program
On the Processes page, frozen programs are marked "Not responding" in the Status column. Click the one you want to close.
Done
Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size
Click End task
The button is at the top right and becomes active once a program is selected. The program closes immediately.
Done
Open the program again
Word, Excel and most browsers offer to restore what you were working on.
Done

Watch these steps

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About this guide

When a program stops reacting and its window turns pale with "Not responding" in the title, you can close just that program without restarting the PC. Unsaved work in it is usually lost, so give it a minute first.

No program was frozen when we took the screenshots, so they show Settings selected as an example.

Step 1 shows a diagram of the keys to press.

Good to know

If the screen is completely frozen and the keyboard does nothing, hold the power button for about ten seconds until the PC turns off. Wait a moment and turn it on again.

A program that freezes often needs an update, or the PC is short of memory. Task Manager's Memory column shows which programs use the most.

More help for a sluggish computer: seven free fixes for a slow laptop.

In short: Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select the program, End task.

Sources

Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.