As a Windows user, you may encounter instances where a program becomes unresponsive or starts malfunctioning, and you need to force-quit it to get the system back to normal. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open Task Manager

The Task Manager is a built-in tool in Windows that helps you manage running applications and processes. To access it, you can either press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys simultaneously, or right-click on the Taskbar and select “Task Manager” from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Locate the Unresponsive Program

In the Task Manager window, look for the program that has stopped responding. You can identify it by checking the “Status” column, which should mention “Not Responding” next to it. Alternatively, you can check the “CPU” and “Memory” columns to see which program is using the most resources.

Step 3: Choose the “End Task” Option

Once you’ve identified the problematic program, right-click on it and select “End Task” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can select the program by clicking on it and then click on the “End Task” button at the bottom-right corner of the Task Manager window.

Step 4: Confirm the Action

A warning message may appear asking you to confirm the task termination. Click on “End Task” again to proceed. If you have unsaved work in the program, the system will prompt you to save it before terminating the task.

Step 5: Monitor the System

After you’ve force-quit the program, the system may take a few moments to get back to normal. You can monitor the Task Manager to ensure that the program has stopped running and is no longer consuming resources.

Conclusion

Force-quitting a program in Windows is a simple process that can help you regain control of your system when applications stop responding or become unmanageable. By using the Task Manager, you can quickly identify problem programs and terminate them safely. However, it’s essential to use this feature judiciously and only when necessary, as terminating essential processes can cause system instability or data loss.