The HungAppTimeout value is the default 5 seconds you wait on the Signing out, Restarting, or Shutting down screen when you sign out, restart, or shut down to see if any still open apps (tasks) will end (close) before considered "hung" or "not responding".
When the HungAppTimeout expires with unresponsive app(s) found, the End Task dialog appears asking you to click/tap on Sign out anyway, Restart anyway, Shut down anyway to force close the app(s) and lose anything unsaved, or click/tap on Cancel to cancel the sign out, restart, or shut down and return to the desktop to properly save and close the app(s).
If you do not make a choice in the End Task dialog before the 1 minute timeout expires, Windows will automatically cancel the sign out, restart, or shut down by default, and return you to the desktop.
If you turn on AutoEndTasks, Windows will automatically force close any apps instead of waiting for your choice on the End Task dialog screen, and automatically Sign out anyway, Restart anyway, or Shut down anyway.
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off AutoEndTasks for your account in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
EXAMPLE: End Task dialog when signing out, restarting, or shutting down
This example uses Notepad open with unsaved changes when trying to sign out, restart, or shut down.
Here's How:
1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.
2 Turn On AutoEndTasks
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_On_AutoEndTasks_at_sign-out_restart_shut-down.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"="1"3 Turn Off AutoEndTasks
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_Off_AutoEndTasks_at_sign-out_restart_shut-down.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"AutoEndTasks"=-4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Sign out and sign in or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
