How to Close Apps in Windows 10

Method 1 of 2:

Closing Apps in Regular (Desktop) Mode

Use the ✕ button window control.
1. Move your mouse to the top-right. Be sure to hover over the ✕ button.
2. Watch for it to turn red. It should happen instantaneously.
3. Click it. The app will close.
Right-click the taskbar icon. Right-clicking the taskbar brings up a list of options, including the ability to close the window(s).
1. Locate the icon of the app you wish to close.
2. Right-click the app icon.
3. Click ✕ Close window. It's the option closest to the icon.
  1. Note: The option will be listed as ✕ Close all windows if the app has multiple windows open and you've configured the icons to combine. You can configure this setting in "Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > "Combine taskbar buttons" dropdown".
Use the Task View window.
1. Click the taskbar task view
  
  icon. It's to the right of the search bar/icon. Alternatively, press ⊞ Win+Tab ↹ together.
2. Locate the app you wish to close.
3. Move your pointer to the top-right of the app preview, parallel to the title.
4. Click the ✕ button. It'll turn red when highlighted.
End the task via Task Manager. Ending tasks in Task Manager has been commonly used to close frozen apps since Windows 9x.^[1]
1. Open Task Manager. Right-click an empty spot on the taskbar and click Task Manager.
2. Ensure you're in the advanced view. If so, you'll see a collection of tabs towards the top. If you find yourself in the simplified view, click "More details" at the bottom.
3. Ensure you're on the Processes tab.
4. Click an app from below the "Apps" header.
5. Click End task from the bottom-right. The app should close within a few seconds.
Use the title bar context menu.
1. Right-click the title bar of the app.
2. Choose × Close. It's at the bottom of the menu.
Use the Alt+F4 keys. Pressing these two keys will close the currently selected app window. Unselected windows won't be affected.

Method 2 of 2:

Closing Apps in Tablet Mode

Use the ✕ button window control.
1. Tap the red ✕ button at the top-right of your screen. Note: The window control for Windows Store apps is hidden until provoked (only by a mouse).
2. Tap it. The app will close and the full screen Start menu will open.
Pull the app's title bar to the bottom of the screen. This was introduced as the way to close Windows 8 Metro apps.^[2] It's slightly different in Windows 10—there is no flip animation. Just pull the title bar to the bottom of the screen and release.
Use the Task View window.
1. Click the taskbar task view
  
  icon. It's to the right of the search bar/icon. Alternatively, press ⊞ Win+Tab ↹ together.
2. Locate the app you wish to close. From here, you can drag it to the bottom or continue reading.
3. Press and hold on the app preview.
4. Choose Close.
Use Task Manager. Ending tasks in Task Manager has been commonly used to close frozen apps since Windows 9x.^[3]
1. Press the Cortana/search icon on the taskbar.
2. Search for task manager.
3. Choose the matching result.
4. Task Manager: Alternatively, right-click the listing and click End task from the context menu.
5. Tap End task from the bottom-right. The app should close within a few seconds.
Use the title bar context menu.
1. Hold down and release the title bar of the app.
2. Choose × Close. It's at the bottom of the menu.
Use the taskbar app icon context menu.
1. Press and hold the taskbar.
2. Ensure there is a check mark next to Show app icons. If not, tap it.
3. Locate the icon of the app you wish to close.
4. Hold down and release the app icon.
5. Tap ✕ Close window. It's the option closest to the icon.
  1. Note: The option will be listed as ✕ Close all windows if the app has multiple windows open and you've configured the icons to combine. You can configure this setting in "Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > "Combine taskbar buttons" dropdown".

Lesley Montoya

Update 04 March 2020

You should read it

May be interested

Turn on / off the prompt 'Do you want to close all tabs?' in Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
when closing microsoft edge when opening multiple tabs, you will be asked 'do you want to close all tabs?' by default. this tutorial will show you how to turn on or off the 'do you want to close all tabs?' in microsoft edge for accounts on windows 10.
7 Old Windows Apps You Need to Stop Using Right Now
windows has a lot of beloved built-in apps that are hard to stop using. but microsoft is always looking to replace them, often with something much better.
7 best weather apps for Windows 10/11
windows 11 has a built-in weather widget that shows basic weather information, including temperature, forecast for next week, and precipitation. but a good weather app can do so much more.
Steps to run Android apps on Windows 11
microsoft has officially launched the feature to run android applications on windows 11. however, the software giant has only stopped at the level of testing on a small group of users in the us.
9 best drawing apps for Windows 10
if you're a professional illustrator or just a beginner looking to start your manga series, there are so many digital drawing apps out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed.
6 best apps to customize Windows 11
microsoft has brought many handy user interface (ui) changes to windows 11. when you upgrade to windows 11, you'll get a brand new start menu, redesigned taskbar, and modern file explorer.
How to Install Apps from the Windows Store in Windows 8
windows 8 introduces a new generation of apps, built on new technologies. these apps are called windows store apps. windows store applications are downloaded through the windows store. this quick tutorial will teach you how to install...
Steps to reset all apps on Windows 10
when the computer encounters many difficult-to-resolve errors, you can reset (reset) all applications on windows 10 operating system to default to their original state.
Steps to remove installed apps from Store on Windows 10
windows 10 introduces a new generation of apps built on new technology. these apps are called windows store apps and this article will show you different ways of uninstalling them.
How to add / remove 'Lid close action' from Power Options in Windows
this tutorial will show you how to add or remove lid close action settings under power buttons and lid in power options for all users in windows 7, windows 8 and windows 10.