How to Close a Frozen Program or Game in Windows 10

When an application or game freezes in Windows 10, it can be frustrating and disruptive. However, there are several simple and quick ways to close a frozen program and regain control of your computer. In this guide, we’ll explore the main methods to terminate unresponsive applications.

1. Using Task Manager

The most popular way to close frozen programs is by using the Task Manager. Here’s how:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager directly. Alternatively, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select “Task Manager” from the menu.
  2. Locate the frozen program in the list of running applications under the “Processes” tab.
  3. Select the program and click the “End Task” button in the bottom-right corner of the window.

This method is usually effective, but in some cases, the Task Manager itself may become unresponsive.

2. Closing via Command Prompt

If Task Manager doesn’t work, you can try closing the program through the Command Prompt:

  1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. Right-click the Start button and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin).”
  2. Type tasklist and press Enter. This will display a list of all running processes.
  3. Find the name of the process for the frozen program (e.g., chrome.exe for Google Chrome).
  4. Type taskkill /IM process_name /F and press Enter. For example, to close Chrome, type taskkill /IM chrome.exe /F.

This forceful termination method is usually effective but requires caution to avoid closing important system processes.

3. Using Alt + F4 Shortcut

If the application is still visible on the screen, try using the Alt + F4 shortcut:

  1. Make the frozen program’s window active by clicking on it or using Alt + Tab to switch to it.
  2. Press Alt + F4. This will usually close the active window.

This method is simple but may not always work, especially if the program is severely frozen.

4. Restarting the System as a Last Resort

If none of the above methods work, the final option is to restart your computer:

  1. Click the Start button and select “Restart.” If the system is unresponsive, press and hold the power button for several seconds to force a shutdown.
  2. After restarting, check the status of the frozen program and try opening it again if necessary.

This method should be used as a last resort, as it can result in the loss of unsaved data. However, it’s sometimes the only way to restore functionality.