How to Close Unresponsive Apps on Windows 11 (Without Task Manager)

I’ve experienced apps on my PC becoming unresponsive too many times to count, and you probably have too. Most of the time, to fix it, we tap that red-coloured close button and hope it works. But sometimes, it just sits there, doing nothing. Just stuck with no response. For that reason, using “End Task” becomes a lifesaver. It lets you forcefully close an unresponsive application, preventing system issues and freeing up resources. It’s a more direct method than waiting for the app to respond—or worse, restarting your computer.

But unlike Windows 10, where you could simply open Task Manager and end the task from there, accessing this feature on Windows 11 is a bit different. It’s tucked away behind a setting you need to turn on first.

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Steps to Access “End Task” on Windows 11

Step 1. Click on the Start button and select "Settings"

Step 2. Go to the "System tab"

Step 3. Scroll down and click on "For Developers"

Step 4. Toggle on End Task

Once that’s on, Windows gives you a much easier way to shut down frozen apps—no need to open Task Manager every time.

How to Use It When an App Freezes

If any app becomes unresponsive:

Step 1. Right-click on the app icon in the taskbar then, click "End Task"

And just like that, the app closes. No need to wait. No need to reboot. It’s quick and it works.

Conclusion

So, if you’re working on your Windows 11 PC and it suddenly becomes unresponsive, you don’t have to panic, force a shutdown, or sit there endlessly clicking “Close” and hoping it’ll respond. With the End Task feature now built right into the taskbar (once enabled), you can instantly kill off any app that’s frozen without opening Task Manager or interrupting the rest of your work. It’s a small tweak, but it makes a huge difference when your system starts acting up. Enable it once, and you’ve got a fast, reliable way to deal with unresponsive apps anytime they show up.

Image credit: Oluwaseun Bamisile/Techloy.com

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