Because ALT+F4 is identical to using the X to close an open program, this method of force-quitting a program is only helpful if the program in question is working to some degree, and it won’t work to close any other processes that this program “spawned” at any point since it started. If no program is selected, Windows itself will shut down, although you’ll have a chance to cancel it before it happens (so don’t skip trying the ALT+F4 trick for fear of shutting off your computer). If a different program or app is selected, that’s the program or app that will close. While still holding the ALT key down, press F4 once. Tip: If you’re having trouble doing this, try ALT+TAB and progress through your open programs with the TAB key (keep ALT down) until you reach the program you want (then let go of both).

Bring the program you want to quit to the foreground by tapping or clicking on it. Regardless of what program won’t close, or what the specific situation is, there are several ways to “force quit” a program in Windows: Try to Close the Program Using ALT+F4 The little known but very handy ALT+F4 keyboard shortcut performs the same, behind the scenes, program-closing magic that clicking or tapping that X in the top-right of a program window does. Worst of all, some programs that freeze or lock up do so in a way that even your operating system can’t detect and inform you about, leaving you wondering if you have a problem with your mouse buttons or touchscreen. Other times all you get is a Not Responding message in the program’s title bar and a full-screen gray-out, making it really clear that whatever program is going nowhere fast. Push to Exit Ever try to close a program in Windows but tapping or clicking on that big X doesn’t do the trick? Sometimes you’ll get lucky and Windows will tell you that a program isn’t responding and give you some options to Close the program or End Now, or maybe even to Wait for the program to respond.

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