General Close Window in Windows 11

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brink
  • Start date Published: Start date Updated Updated:

Close_banner.webp

This tutorial will show you different ways to close an open window for your account in Windows 11.


Contents





Option One

Close Window using Keyboard Shortcut


1 While the window is in focus, press the Alt + F4 keys.

On some laptop keyboards, you may need to press the Fn + Alt + F4 keys instead.






Option Two

Close Window using Title Bar Caption Button


1 Click/tap on the Close (X) caption button at the top right corner of the window. (see screenshot below)

If a window is in F11 full screen mode, you will need to exit full screen mode to see the Close (X) button.


Close_window_button.webp





Option Three

Close Window using Title Bar Menu


1 Perform one of the following actions: (see screenshot below)
  • Right click on the title bar of the window, and click/tap on Close.
  • While the window is in focus, press the Alt + Space keys and release to open the title bar menu, and press the C key.

If a window is in F11 full screen mode, you will need to exit full screen mode to see the title bar.


Close_window_title_bar_menu.webp





Option Four

Close Window using Taskbar Menu


1 Right click on the window's taskbar icon. (see screenshots below)

2 Click/tap on Close window or Close all windows.

Close_window_taskbar-1.webp
Close_window_taskbar-2.webp





Option Five

Close Window using Taskbar Shift Menu


1 Press and hold the Shift key.

2 Right click on the window's taskbar icon. (see screenshot below)

3 Release the Shift key.

4 Click/tap on Close.

close_window_taskbar_shift_menu.webp





Option Six

Close Window from Taskbar Thumbnail Preview


1 Hover the pointer on the window's taskbar icon to see its thumbnail preview. (see screenshots below)

2 Perform an action below:
Middle_click_on_taskbar_thumbnail_preview.webp
Close_window_taskbar_thumbnail-1.webp





Option Seven

Close Window from Taskbar Thumbnail Preview Menu


1 Hover the pointer on the window's taskbar icon to see its thumbnail preview. (see screenshot below)

2 Right click on the taskbar thumbnail preview.

3 Click/tap on Close.

Close_window_taskbar_thumbnail-2.webp





Option Eight

Close Window from Task View


1 Open Task View (Win + Tab).

2 Perform one of the following actions: (see screenshots below)
  • Click/tap on the Close (X) button on the window you want to close.
  • Right click on the window you want to close, and click/tap on Close.
  • Select a window you want to close using the Tab, arrow, or PgUp/PgDn keys, and press the Delete key.
Close_window_taskview-1.webp
Close_window_taskview-2.webp
Close_window_taskview-3.webp





Option Nine

Close Window from Ctrl+Alt+Tab


1 Press the Ctrl + Alt + Tab keys.

2 Perform one of the following actions: (see screenshots below)
  • Click/tap on the Close (X) button on the window you want to close.
  • Select a window you want to close using the Tab, arrow, or PgUp/PgDn keys, and press the Delete key.
Alt+Tab-1.webp
Alt+Tab-2.webp





Option Ten

Close Window using End Task


1 Use an option in the tutorial below to End task (kill process) the app and its open window(s).



That's it,
Shawn Brink


 
Last edited:
Can you explain a bit more? This training is really difficult.😅
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Huawei MateBook D15
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3500U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Vega 8
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    256GB Samsung SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS73 6RF Stealth Pro
    CPU
    intel core i7 6700HQ
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I can add a couple of notes to this quite complete tutorial.
  1. The Title Bar menu (also called the window menu) should belong to the main application window. Internal windows in multi-document interface (MDI) have slightly different menu with Ctrl+F4 command instead of Alt+F4, which closes the window but not the whole application. Dialog windows have a menu with Alt+F4, but it closes only the dialog.
  2. Most of the methods in this tutorial may not work if an application hangs or becomes non-responsive by any reason. Only the Task Manager gives the reliable way to close such app.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Legion 5-15ARH05
    CPU
    AMD Rysen 5 4600H
    Memory
    32 GB (2 x 16 GB Samsung SO-DIMM DDR4-3200)
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, 4 GB GDDR6
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD M.2 512 GB SAMSUNG MZALQ512; SSD M.2 1 TB Seagate FireCuda 530
    Mouse
    Logitech M650L in Bluetooth mode

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Huawei MateBook D15
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3500U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Vega 8
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    256GB Samsung SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS73 6RF Stealth Pro
    CPU
    intel core i7 6700HQ
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Intel NUC12WSHi7
    CPU
    12th Gen Core i7-1260P
    Motherboard
    NUC12WSBi7
    Memory
    64 GB Micron PC4-25600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    on-board Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3219Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 990 PRO 1TB
    Crucial MX500 2 TB
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
And what if the task manager stops responding?
My "plan B" is the Process Explorer from Sysinternals. If even it cannot close the app, then most likely OS is in bad condition and need to reboot it. Problem with reboot because of non-responsive app is another story. Eventually the power button fixes all, the only question is a price.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Legion 5-15ARH05
    CPU
    AMD Rysen 5 4600H
    Memory
    32 GB (2 x 16 GB Samsung SO-DIMM DDR4-3200)
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, 4 GB GDDR6
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD M.2 512 GB SAMSUNG MZALQ512; SSD M.2 1 TB Seagate FireCuda 530
    Mouse
    Logitech M650L in Bluetooth mode
Option Ten: Press and hold the Alt key, and, while still holding Alt, either click on the Close (X) button that appears on the thumbnail (in the Alt+Tab window) when you hover your mouse on it or use your keyboard (Tab / Shift+Tab / arrow keys left-right-up-down / Home / End / PgUp / PgDown ) to navigate to the thumbnail before pressing the Del key to close. It's possible to close multiple windows with the mouse or use keyboard to navigate to and close multiple windows, one by one, until you release Alt. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Alt+Tab and either do the same, and, when done, press the Esc key. (If the keyboard layout you use has an Alt Gr key, then pressing and holding Ctrl+Alt has the same effect as pressing and holding Alt Gr.)

And what if the task manager stops responding?
Put your laptop behind the tyre of your car, and, next, drive backwards. IMO
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    30Mbit/s up, 500Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
    Antivirus
    What's an antivirus?
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    30Mbit/s up, 500Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
From taskbar thumbnail preview, you can also close window using middle-click.

middle_click_from_taskbar_preview.webp


p/s: Just in case if anyone interested, there is a way to middle-click close on the taskbar (instead of previewing thumbnail) to close windows, by using 3rd party app (Windhawk, AutoHotkey) but that's out of this topic.

That is very helpful and less strain to hands. Sadly I can't find any registry hack to do this. Hope microsoft implements it someday 😞
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    Memory
    24GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Antivirus
    None

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