How to End a Process Task in Windows 8 and 8.1
InformationIf you notice a running process task (ex: app) is reducing your computer's performance because it's hung, not responding, uses a high percentage of CPU resources, or uses a large amount of RAM, then you can end the process to stop and close it.
This tutorial will show you how to quickly end a process as needed in Windows 8 and 8.1.
This tutorial will show you how to quickly end a process as needed in Windows 8 and 8.1.
WarningBe careful when ending processes. If you end a process associated with an open program, such as a word-processing program, that program will also close and you will lose any unsaved data. If you end a process associated with a system service, some part of the system might not function properly.
OPTION ONE
To End a Process in Task Manager
1. Open Task Manager in more details view, and do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. To End Task in Processes tab of Task Manager
NoteThe Processes tab will show you a list of all apps, background processes, and Windows processes that are currently running under only your user account.
If you end a parent process, it will also end all child processes of the parent process.
If you end a child process, it will only end that process.
If you end a parent process, it will also end all child processes of the parent process.
If you end a child process, it will only end that process.
2A) Click/tap on the Processes tab, do step 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, or 2G below, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshots below)
2B) Right click or press and hold on a parent task (ex: Internet Explorer), and click/tap on End task.
OR
2C) Click/tap on a parent process (ex: Internet Explorer), and click/tap on the End task button.
OR
2D) Click/tap on a parent process (ex: Internet Explorer), and press the Delete key.
OR
2E) Expand a parent process (ex: Windows Explorer), click/tap on a child process (ex: This PC), and click/tap on End task.
OR
2F) Expand a parent process (ex: Windows Explorer), click/tap on a child process (ex: This PC), and click/tap on the End task button.
OR
2G) Expand a parent process (ex: Windows Explorer), click/tap on a child process (ex: This PC), and press the Delete key.
NoteIf you like, you can use Switch To or Bring To Front to determine which window belongs to the child process of an app.
Switch To = Minimizes Task Manager, and brings to front the window of the selected task as the active window.
Bring To Front = Has the window of the selected task as the active window displaying up front and on top of any other windows.
Switch To = Minimizes Task Manager, and brings to front the window of the selected task as the active window.
Bring To Front = Has the window of the selected task as the active window displaying up front and on top of any other windows.
3. To End Process in Details tab of Task Manager
NoteIf you are signed in as a standard user, the Details tab will show you a list of all the processes that are currently running under only your user account and a description of each process.
If you are signed in as an administrator, the Details tab will show you a list of all the processes that are currently running on the computer from all users.
If you are signed in as an administrator, the Details tab will show you a list of all the processes that are currently running on the computer from all users.
3A) Click/tap on the Details tab, do step 3B, 3C, or 3D below. (see screenshot below)
3B) Right click or press and hold on a process name (ex: explorer.exe), click/tap on End Process (only this parent process) or End Process Tree (this parent process and all child processes), and go to step 3E.
OR
3C) Click/tap on a process name (ex: explorer.exe), click/tap on the End Process button, and go to step 3E.
OR
3D) Click/tap on a process name (ex: explorer.exe), press the Delete key, and go to step 3E.
3E) Click/tap on End process to confirm, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
4. The process/task will now be ended. Sometimes it may take a moment, and sometimes you may need to end the process again before it will actually end. If the process will not end, then you could use OPTION TWO below to forcefully end the process.
OPTION TWO
To Forcefully End a Process in Command Prompt
2. In the command prompt, type tasklist, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NoteThe tasklist command will display a list of all the processes that are currently running on the computer from all users.
Make note of the Image Name or PID of the process you want to end.
Make note of the Image Name or PID of the process you want to end.
3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.
4. To Forcefully End Process using Image Name of Process
A) In the command prompt, type the command below you want, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshots below)
(To end this process only)
taskkill /IM ImageName /F
(To end this process and any child processes started by it)
taskkill /IM ImageName /T /F
NoteSubstitute ImageName with the actual image name (ex: iexplorer.exe) from step 2 above.
If you would like to end more than one process at once, then you can add /IM ImageName for each one. For example:
(for two)
taskkill /IM ImageName /IM ImageName /F
OR
(for three)
taskkill /IM ImageName /IM ImageName /IM ImageName /F
If you would like to end more than one process at once, then you can add /IM ImageName for each one. For example:
(for two)
taskkill /IM ImageName /IM ImageName /F
OR
(for three)
taskkill /IM ImageName /IM ImageName /IM ImageName /F
5. To Forcefully End Process using Process ID (PID)
A) In the command prompt, type the command below you want, press Enter, and go to step 6 below.
(To end this process only)
taskkill /PID ProcessID /F
(To end this process and any child processes started by it)
taskkill /PID ProcessID /T /F
NoteSubstitute ProcessID with the actual PID (ex: 5476) for the process (ex: iexplorer.exe) from step 2 above.
If you would like to end more than one process at once, then you can add /PID ProcessID for each one. For example:
(for two)
taskkill /PID ProcessID /PID ProcessID/F
OR
(for three)
taskkill /PID ProcessID /PID ProcessID /PID ProcessID/F
If you would like to end more than one process at once, then you can add /PID ProcessID for each one. For example:
(for two)
taskkill /PID ProcessID /PID ProcessID/F
OR
(for three)
taskkill /PID ProcessID /PID ProcessID /PID ProcessID/F
6. If you get an access denied error message, then it means that you must use an elevated command prompt to end the process(es) instead.
7. When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Attachments
Last edited: