How to Close All Open Apps in Windows 11 at once
Want to quickly clear out all your open applications in Windows 11?
Open apps are the programs currently running on your PC, like your web browser or a document editor. Sometimes, dozens of these can pile up, slowing down your system.
Closing them all at once frees up system resources and can fix small software glitches. This method is especially useful when you need a clean slate before starting a demanding task or want to speed up your PC.
We’ll show you how to access and use the built-in Task Manager to achieve this efficiently.
Open Windows Terminal, select Command Prompt or PowerShell, and run the command “Get-Process |? {$_.MainWindowTitle -ne “” -and $_.Id -ne $PID -and $_.ProcessName -ne “explorer”} | Stop-Process -Force”. This closes all apps except essential system processes. Be aware that unsaved work will be lost.
How to Force Close All Open Apps Using Command Prompt
You can close all apps in Windows 11 at once using the Command Prompt, a simple tool that lets you type commands to control your PC.
- Click the Start button and type Windows Terminal.
- Press Enter to open it.
- Click the down arrow (˅) next to the plus (+) tab at the top.
- Choose Command Prompt from the menu.
- Copy and paste this command into the Command Prompt window:
PowerShell -Command "Get-Process |? {$_.MainWindowTitle -ne "" -and $_.Id -ne $PID -and $_.ProcessName -ne "explorer"} | Stop-Process -Force" - Press Enter to run the command.
This command closes all apps except File Explorer and Windows Registry Editor.
How to Force Close All Open Apps Using PowerShell
Closing all apps in Windows 11 is also possible with PowerShell, a more advanced command-line tool that gives you greater control over your computer.
- Click the Start button and type Windows Terminal.
- Press Enter to open it.
- Click the down arrow (˅) next to the plus (+) tab at the top.
- Select PowerShell from the menu.
- Copy and paste this command into the PowerShell window:
Get-Process |? {$_.MainWindowTitle -ne "" -and $_.Id -ne $PID -and $_.ProcessName -ne "explorer"} | Stop-Process -Force - 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.
Quickly closing all open apps in Windows 11 can be done using either Command Prompt or PowerShell, freeing up your computer’s memory and potentially fixing performance issues.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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