Don't know how to close (quit) programs/applications

If a program became unresponsive and you weren't able to quit it via any other method, shut it down. This method is more helpful to laptop users than to desktop computer users, because desktop computers have a dedicated restart button.

To force-shut-down the computer, press and hold the Power On/Off button until the cooling fans stop working (which should be in around 15-20 seconds after you have pressed the power button). Turn it back on after a minute or two.

Pulling out the battery when the mobile device is on is one of the best and easiest ways to close the applications that have become unresponsive.

If your device's battery is removable, remove it while your device is on and reinsert it after 20-30 seconds.

Note: No data will be lost during this process. If your device's battery is not removable, check out the other solutions on how to restart your device.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
   
   

   
   
   

2.  Select the program you wish to close (usually the one whose Status is Not Responding) -> Click End Task
   
   

   
   
   

3. Click the X icon in the top-right corner to close the Task Manager

If the above-mentioned method didn't work:

1. 1. Right-click the program and select Go to Process -> Click End Process (or End Task on Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10) -> Click End Process again to confirm
      
      

      

Note: The procedure is the same if you use Windows 8(.1) or 10, only the user interface of the Task Manager is different.

If a program became unresponsive and you are unable to close via the Task Manager, a simple restart (by pressing the restart button on the computer case) of the computer will do the trick.

If you use a laptop (which doesn't have a restart button), check out the don't know how to restart my device solutions.

If an application became unresponsive and you cannot close it, and you have access to the Settings, you can force-stop it.

1. Go to Settings -> Tap on Apps
   
   

     
   
   

2. Select an application from the list -> Tap on Force stop
   
   

        
   
   

If you are forced to restart your mobile device too often, and your problems still remains (you are still unable to close some applications), consider hard-resetting your device.

To learn how to hard-reset your device, check out the don't know how to reset my device solutions.

Double-tap the Home button to access the app switcher -> Swipe left or right to find the application you want to close -> Swipe up over it to close it.

*You can quit up to three applications at a time by placing you fingers over them and and swiping up.

Here is a video demo of how to close apps through the app switcher:

Press and hold the Power ON/OFF (Sleep/Wake) button until a slider appears -> Move the slider to the right to power off the device

Press and hold the Power ON/OFF (Sleep/Wake) button again after 10-15 seconds, to turn on the device.

If the above-mentioned method didn't work, press and hold the Power ON/OFF (Sleep/Wake) button and the Home button at the same time and hold them until the Apple's logo appears.

Note: No data will be lost during this process.

Tap and hold the Back button -> find the applications you want to close -> tap on the X icon in the top-right corner of the application you want to close.

Note: This option is only available on devices that have Windows Phone software version 8.0.10501.127 or later.

If you have exhausted every option to close an unresponsive application, restart your mobile device.

To restart it, press and hold the Power ON/OFF (Sleep/Wake) button and the Volume Down (-) button until the Android (or manufacturer's) logo appears.

Note: You won't lose any data in the process.

Maybe your device has a more serious problem for which you are not aware of. If you tried everything but nothing worked, take your device to a repair store. They will diagnose and fix the problem.

Press the Alt + F4 key combination (don't press the "+" key), while you are still in the program's window (running the program) and not on the desktop, and the program will close.

Press and hold the Power ON/OFF (Sleep/Wake) button and the Volume Down (-) button -> Slide down to power off your device -> After 10 seconds, press the Power ON/OFF (Sleep/Wake) button to turn the device back on.

Note: No data will be lost during this process.

Right-click the program's icon in the taskbar and select Close window (or Close all windows)

If the program you are running has three icons in the top-right corner of the window (like the ones shown in the screenshot), click the X icon to close the program.

  - Windows 7

   - Windows 8(.1)

- Windows 10

Note: Some programs might be only minimized if you click the X icon and they will continue running in the background. You need to look them up in the notification area to make sure that they are fully closed. Check the other solution to learn how.

Press the two-overlaid-rectangle button (or the square button, or rectangular), to access the recent apps list -> tap the X icon or swipe right or left over the application you want to close

If you want to close all applications at the same time, tap the round button with three parallel lines.

If a program became unresponsive and you weren't able to quit it, you can close it via Force Quit.

1. Press and hold Command + Option + Esc
   
   

   

   
   
2. Select the program that has become unresponsive -> Click Force Quit
   
   

   

If you tried everything else, but nothing worked, a simple restart of your computer should be enough to quit the unresponsive program(s).

To learn how to restart your Mac computer, check out the don't know how to restart my device solutions.

Maybe a virus prevents your programs from closing properly. The best thing you should do is to scan it for viruses.

To learn how to check if your device is infected with a virus, check out the viruses/spywares/malware solutions.

If you are not sure which antivirus software to install, check out the don't know which antivirus software to install solutions.

Maybe your computer is slow and prevents the program from functioning (closing) properly.

To learn how to improve the speed of your computer, check out the computer is slow solutions.

Maybe your mobile device is slow and prevents the application from running properly.

To learn how to improve your mobile device's speed, check out the mobile device is slow solutions.

1. Open any folder -> Select Applications  -> Utilities -> Activity Monitor
   
   

   
   
   

   
   
   

2. Select the process you don't want to use and click on the "X" button (upper left corner)
   
   
   
   
   

Please note that there are processes that cannot be closed because they are essential for the good performance and stability of Mac OS.

Some programs remain to work in the background even if you have clicked the X button in the top-right corner of the window. Those programs can be closed from the notification area.

Follow the steps below to learn how to close such programs:

1. Click the small vertical arrow to see all the icons
   
   

   

2. Right-click the icon of the program you wish to close -> Select Exit/Quit
   
   

   

Click on the name of the program (application) next to the Apple icon (in this case - Safari) -> Select Quit

Press the Command + Q keys combination (without the "+" key) while you are still in the program's window (running the program), and not on the desktop, and the program will close.

Right-click the program (application) you are running -> Select Exit (Quit)

If a program became unresponsive, you can close it via the System Monitor, by following the steps below:

1. Open the Ubuntu dash and type System Monitor in the search bar;
2. Find the unresponsive program, right-click on it and select Kill.