How to close a frozen program on Windows 11
2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026
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.
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.
The pictures are diagrams of the keys to press.
Step by step
Try Alt + F4 first
Click the frozen window and press Alt + F4. This asks the program to close normally.
Open Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. If that does nothing, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager.
Select the program
On the Processes page, frozen programs are marked "Not responding". Click the one you want to close.
Click End task
The button is at the top right. The program closes immediately.
Open the program again
Word, Excel and most browsers offer to restore what you were working on.
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.
- Microsoft Support: Close apps that are not responding in Windows
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