How to End a Program on a PC

Your PC freezes up and does not respond. It's frustrating, and you wonder what to do since you can't "click" on anything. The fix is usually simple, and in most cases, you don't need to reboot your PC. Just take the simple steps listed below to find out how to end a program on a PC.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Delete key

   Access the Task Manager. The most direct way to do this is to simultaneously hold down the Ctrl, Alt and Delete buttons on your keyboard. This will pull up the Task Manager Window on your screen.

2. Search for the program that is not responding. In the Task Manager Window, there will be a list of current programs running. Simply click on the program that is not responding to highlight it.

3. 
   Task Manager

   Select "End Task." At the bottom of the Window will be a button labeled "End Task." As long as the program that is not responding is highlighted in the list above, your PC system should end the program automatically within a few seconds.

Tips & Warnings

• If the program does not end right away, sometimes the Task Manager will tell you the program is not responding and that ending it may cause you to lose unsaved information. It will prompt you to chose to end it anyway.
• Using the power button on your PC to end the program is not safe. Only do that as a last resort.