Web Analytics


This quick tip is in response to a couple of readers’ questions on how to forcefully kill a program.

Sometimes a program will hang up and wont close. You can use task manager to kill the process or you can run a simple command. Learn how to do both of these in this guide.

Use Task Manager to Terminate a Program

To use task manager to terminate a program, do the following:

  1. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open the task manager
  2. Find the frozen process and right click the name
  3. Click End Process

    Terminate programs in Windows - 1

  4. Exit the Task Manager

Use the Command Line to Terminate a Program

Sometimes you just want to use the command line; to use the command line to terminate a program, do the following:

  1. Press WINKEY+R to Open the Run dialogue (Start, type run, click run)
  2. Type cmd and hit Enter

    Terminate programs in Windows - 2

  3. Type taskkill /f /im process.exe (process exe is the frozen process’s name)
  4. Wait for confirmation and exit the command line

Terminate programs in Windows - 3

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix them.

Free PC tips by email

Search Windows Guides




Comments

30 thoughts on “Forcefully Terminate Programs Windows XP/Vista/7 [How To]”

  1. D.DuPre' says:

    thanks, i been using the task manager which eventually miscue afterward
    shortcuts aren’t always the best solution.i’ll use the cmd for now on

  2. D.DuPre' says:

    thanks, i been using the task manager which eventually miscue afterward
    shortcuts aren’t always the best solution.i’ll use the cmd for now on

  3. D.DuPre' says:

    thanks, i been using the task manager which eventually miscue afterward
    shortcuts aren’t always the best solution.i’ll use the cmd for now on

  4. rsvr85 says:

    You can also create a shortcut on the desktop with the following into the location bar. Make sure that the name is automatically taskkill. It’ll kill any windows “not responding”

    taskkill.exe /f /fi “status eq not responding”

  5. Francisco Wesley says:

    Very interesting, I was using this command recently for close the internet explore and firefox.

  6. Francisco Wesley says:

    Very interesting, I was using this command recently for close the internet explore and firefox.

  7. Francisco Wesley says:

    Very interesting, I was using this command recently for close the internet explore and firefox.

  8. rsvr85 says:

    You can also create a shortcut on the desktop with the following into the location bar. Make sure that the name is automatically taskkill. It’ll kill any windows “not responding”

    taskkill.exe /f /fi “status eq not responding”

  9. RSVR85 says:

    You can also create a shortcut on the desktop with the following into the location bar. Make sure that the name is automatically taskkill. It’ll kill any windows “not responding”

    taskkill.exe /f /fi “status eq not responding”

  10. MSherwood says:

    Sometimes, when I REALLY want to kill all instances and processes involved with an application, I’ll choose “End Process Tree” and that does the trick.

  11. MSherwood says:

    Sometimes, when I REALLY want to kill all instances and processes involved with an application, I’ll choose “End Process Tree” and that does the trick.

  12. MSherwood says:

    Sometimes, when I REALLY want to kill all instances and processes involved with an application, I’ll choose “End Process Tree” and that does the trick.

  13. Rich says:

    rsvr and MSherwood — thanks for sharing your tips!

  14. Rich says:

    rsvr and MSherwood — thanks for sharing your tips!

  15. Rich says:

    rsvr and MSherwood — thanks for sharing your tips!

  16. SandeepChouhan says:

    Hi,

    This is the best way to close the program, but can you put any other way! Because sometimes, a virus is executed and the process cannot be killed through Task Manager or Command Prompt, whats the best way at that time to kill the program and minimize the damange on computer!

    Thanks,
    Sandeep Singh Chouhan

  17. SandeepChouhan says:

    Hi,

    This is the best way to close the program, but can you put any other way! Because sometimes, a virus is executed and the process cannot be killed through Task Manager or Command Prompt, whats the best way at that time to kill the program and minimize the damange on computer!

    Thanks,
    Sandeep Singh Chouhan

  18. SandeepChouhan says:

    Hi,

    This is the best way to close the program, but can you put any other way! Because sometimes, a virus is executed and the process cannot be killed through Task Manager or Command Prompt, whats the best way at that time to kill the program and minimize the damange on computer!

    Thanks,
    Sandeep Singh Chouhan

  19. Asif says:

    its really nice.

  20. Asif says:

    its really nice.

  21. Asif says:

    its really nice.

  22. saleh13 says:

    thank you

  23. Joe Russell says:

    Knowing how to do this from the command line is a nifty trick!

  24. Joe Russell says:

    Knowing how to do this from the command line is a nifty trick!

  25. Joe Russell says:

    Knowing how to do this from the command line is a nifty trick!

  26. GarykPatton says:

    I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.

  27. GarykPatton says:

    I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.

  28. GarykPatton says:

    I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.

  29. Cómo finalizar "a says:

    […] Via. Average: 0 ‹ Cómo detectar y corregir errores en memorias USB. arriba Cómo se hace: Instalar Windows 7 RC como un arranque dual, de Vista, o desde cero. › 264 lecturas […]

  30. Pingback: Cómo finalizar "a la fuerza" los programas de Windows XP/Vista/7. | subinet.es beta información tecnológica y de actualidad.

Comments are closed.


Computer tips in your inbox
Sign up for the Windows Guides newsletter to get PC tips and access to free Windows books (More details)

Subscribe now
Popular Guides

See which sites have been visited on your PC (even if private browsing mode is used)

Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc

Best Free Anti-malware

Hibernate vs. Sleep vs. Shut-Down

i3, i5, and i7; Dual, Quad, Hexa Core Processors. How to they Differ?

Intel's Ivy Bridge Processor: new Features

Windows Guides on Facebook