How to Close All Open Apps in Windows 11 at once

Sometimes you have many apps open on your Windows 11 computer. You want to close them all quickly without shutting down your PC. This guide shows you simple steps to close all open apps at once using tools built into Windows.

What Are Open Apps?

Open apps are programs running on your computer. Examples include your web browser, music player, or games. They might show on your taskbar or run quietly in the background.

Why Close All Apps at Once?

Closing all apps can help your computer run faster. It can also fix problems caused by too many apps running at the same time.

How to Force Close All Open Apps Using Command Prompt

Command Prompt is a tool where you type commands to control your computer. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button and type Windows Terminal.
2. Press Enter to open it.
3. Click the down arrow (˅) next to the plus (+) tab at the top.
4. Choose Command Prompt from the menu.
5. Copy and paste this command into the Command Prompt window:
   
   PowerShell -Command "Get-Process |? {$_.MainWindowTitle -ne "" -and $_.Id -ne $PID -and $_.ProcessName -ne "explorer"} | Stop-Process -Force"
6. Press Enter to run the command.

This command closes all apps except File Explorer and Windows Registry Editor.

How to Force Close All Open Apps Using PowerShell

PowerShell is another tool similar to Command Prompt but more powerful. Here’s how to use it:

1. Click the Start button and type Windows Terminal.
2. Press Enter to open it.
3. Click the down arrow (˅) next to the plus (+) tab at the top.
4. Select PowerShell from the menu.
5. Copy and paste this command into the PowerShell window:
   
   Get-Process |? {$_.MainWindowTitle -ne "" -and $_.Id -ne $PID -and $_.ProcessName -ne "explorer"} | Stop-Process -Force
6. Press Enter to run the command.

This also closes all running apps except File Explorer and Windows Registry Editor.

Summary

• You can close all open apps in Windows 11 quickly using Command Prompt or PowerShell.
• These commands close all apps except important system programs like File Explorer.
• This method frees up your computer’s memory and can help fix problems caused by many apps running at once.
• Warning: Use these commands carefully. Any unsaved work in your apps will be lost.

If you want a step-by-step guide with screenshots on how to open Command Prompt in Windows Terminal or PowerShell in Windows 11, check out these helpful tutorials.