

If a top-level window stops responding to messages for more than several seconds, the system considers the window to be not responding. There is an SDK Windows function IsHungAppWindow that can be used.Īn application is considered to be not responding if it is not waiting for input, is not in startup processing, and has not called PeekMessage within the internal timeout period of 5 seconds. Without the source code to Windows we cannot be sure what it is doing internally. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.Īfter completing the steps, the app with the problem will close, and you can now launch the app again without issues.Īlternatively, you can quickly open the Task Manager using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut.How does Windows know if a program is not responding? In the case the problem is with a traditional desktop application, you can still use the Task Manager to terminate the app, but you’ll also need to end related processes manually as necessary. How to close an app when not responding using Task Manager Once you’ve completed the steps, the app with the problem and its related processes will close, and you can now re-open and start using the app again, but this time (hopefully) without issues.Īlternatively, you can also right-click the app Live Tile from the Start menu, select More, and click App settings to quickly navigate to the settings page for a particular app. Select the app that is acting up and click the Advanced options link. If you’re experiencing problems with a Microsoft Store app, you can quickly terminate the app and its related processes using the Settings app. How to close an app when not responding using Settings
