• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Tutorials and fixes for smartphone, gadget, and computer problems

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About Technipages

Windows 10: Use the Command Prompt to Close a Process

By Judy Sanhz 1 Comment

Sooner or later, you’re going to have to deal with a program that won’t stop misbehaving. A buggy program can cause all kinds of problems, and that includes refusing to close.

Sure, you could use the Task Manager or press the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys, but there are other options. One of those options is closing a process by using the Command Prompt as an administrator.

How to Force Close Any Program – Windows 10

To close a task without using the Task Manager is a two-step process. First, you need to know the program’s PID or image name. You can get this data by typing tasklist and pressing Enter.

To force close a program, you can use the image name or the PID. For example, to close a program with the image name, you’ll need to enter the following: Taskkill /IM “NordVPN.exe” /F. The commands are easy to read. /IM refers to the image name, and /F is to force close the program despite any difficulties.

To force close a p process using the PID, your command will need to look like this:

Taskkill /PID #### /F

Don’t forget to replace the # for the PID. You might want to close a program using the PID when various processes have the same image name. To see more options, you can use type taskkill /? in the Command Prompt. Among many other options, you’ll see useful tips such as what command to use to close a group of processes by using taskkill /PID 2523 /PID 1422 /PID 5653 /T.

Close Any Program with PowerShell

If you’re more of a PowerShell fan, it’s also possible to force-close a program with this program. To open PowerShell, right-click on the Windows start menu and click on PowerShell Administrator.

If you’re not sure if you’re running a specific process, you can check by typing Get-Process, followed by the Enter key. Once you’ve found the process, you want to stop, enter the following command: Stop-Process -Name “ProcessName” -Force.

To kill a process using the PID, you’ll need to enter: Stop-Process -ID PID -Force.

Conclusion

For those times when clicking the x to close a program just won’t work, you know you can always count on the Command Prompt or the PowerShell. They’ll both get the job done, it’s just in case you have either one open at the time.

You Might Also Like

  • How to Make Windows Command Prompt Transparent
    How to Make Windows Command Prompt Transparent
  • Windows 10 Command Prompt Appears Then Disappears
    Windows 10 Command Prompt Appears Then Disappears
  • Windows 10 - How to Uninstall a Program Using the Command Prompt
    Windows 10 - How to Uninstall a Program Using the Command…
  • Windows Command Prompt: How to Change the Font and Colors
    Windows Command Prompt: How to Change the Font and Colors
  • Windows: Create Command Prompt That Opens To Specific Folder Location
    Windows: Create Command Prompt That Opens To Specific Folder…
  • How to Access Device Manager from the Command Prompt
    How to Access Device Manager from the Command Prompt
  • 4 Ways to Close Session in Windows 10
    4 Ways to Close Session in Windows 10
  • Windows 10: Automatically Close Applications at Shut Down
    Windows 10: Automatically Close Applications at Shut Down
  • Windows 10: Force Close Apps That Are Frozen in Full-Screen
    Windows 10: Force Close Apps That Are Frozen in Full-Screen

Filed Under: Windows Tagged With: Windows 10

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Flynn says

    November 29, 2021 at 4:59 pm

    Very helpful. Thank you

Did this help? Let us know!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Windows 11: How to Fix Windows 11 Won’t Connect to a Network
  • What to Do When Firefox Won’t Load a Page
  • Chrome: How to Refresh Various Tabs Simultaneously
  • The Latest Foldable Phones – A Look At The Huawei Mate X2
  • Everything Announced at Google I/O 2022 That You Should Care About
  • How to Build the Best High-Spec PC for Your Budget
  • Google Shows Off Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch Ahead of Fall Launch
  • Windows 11: How to View Saved Passwords

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

You May Also Like

  • Windows 95/98
  • Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Windows Media Player (WMP)
  • Top 8 Itunes Alternatives for Windows

© Copyright 2022 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy