When a program stops responding and you cannot close it, Task Manager lets you force it to close without restarting your entire computer. It is one of the most useful tools built into Windows and worth knowing how to open quickly.
How to open Task Manager
The quickest way is to press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard. This opens Task Manager immediately. Alternatively, right click on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and click Task Manager. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select Task Manager from the menu that appears.
How to close a frozen program
Once Task Manager is open, you will see a list of apps and programs currently running. Find the one that is not responding. It will usually say Not responding next to it. Click on it to select it, then click End task in the top right corner. The program will close. You can then reopen it and carry on.
Checking what is using your resources
Task Manager also shows you how much CPU, memory and disk each program is using. If your computer is running slowly, open Task Manager and click the CPU or Memory column to sort by usage. If a single program is using an unusually high amount, it may be the cause of the slowdown. You can end it or restart it to free up resources.
What if Task Manager does not open
If nothing is responding at all, including Task Manager, press and hold the power button on your computer for about ten seconds. This forces a shutdown. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. This should only be used as a last resort, as it does not give your computer a chance to save anything.
A note about unsaved work
When you force close a program, anything you had not saved will be lost. This is a good reminder to save your work regularly, or better yet, use OneDrive or SharePoint so your files save automatically. If you are working in Microsoft 365 apps like Word or Excel, AutoSave keeps your work protected as long as the file is stored in OneDrive.
When to get help
If you find yourself opening Task Manager regularly because programs keep freezing or your computer is consistently unresponsive, that points to a deeper issue. It could be insufficient memory, failing hardware or malware running in the background. Contact your IT provider to investigate.