An app is not responding or keeps crashing

A program that freezes, turns pale, says Not Responding or closes without warning is annoying but usually fixable. Below, you will close it safely and then learn how to stop it happening again, starting with the simplest steps.

Before you start

A program can say Not Responding when it is busy, for example while opening a large file or after you click something that takes time. Wait a minute or two first. If the window still does not react after that, move on.

Closing a frozen program means you can lose changes you have not saved. Some programs recover a draft when you open them again, but not all do.

Close a frozen app

If clicking the X in the corner does nothing, use Task Manager (the Windows tool that lists running programs). This takes about a minute.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Task Manager opens.
2. If you see a small window with fewer options, select More details.
3. On the Processes page, find the frozen app under Apps and select it.
4. Select End task. The window should close within a few seconds.

If the whole screen is frozen and Ctrl + Shift + Esc does nothing, wait a few minutes. If the PC is still stuck, hold the power button until it switches off, wait 30 seconds and turn it on again. Use this only as a last step, because it can lose unsaved work in every open program.

Try these fixes in order

Fix 1: Restart the PC

A restart clears out memory and stuck background processes. Select Start, then the power button, then Restart. Open the app again and test it.

Fix 2: Update the app and Windows

1. Update the app. Look for Check for updates in the app's own Help or About menu. If you installed it from the Microsoft Store, update it from the Store. Otherwise use the app maker's official website.
2. On Windows 11, open Settings then Windows Update and select Check for updates. On Windows 10, open Settings then Update & Security then Windows Update.
3. Install what is offered and restart when asked.

If updates fail, see Windows Update stuck or failing.

Fix 3: Repair or reset the app

Windows can repair many apps without removing them. Repair comes first. Use Reset only if Repair is missing or does not help.

1. On Windows 11, open Settings then Apps then Installed apps. Select the three dots (More) beside the app. On Windows 10, open Settings then Apps then Apps & features and select the app.
2. Select Advanced options. Not every app has this choice.
3. Select Repair if it is offered. Wait for it to finish, then test the app.
4. If Repair is not offered, or the problem remains, select Reset.

For older desktop programs without these options, try Control Panel then Programs then Programs and Features. Right-click the program and select Repair, or Change if Repair is not listed.

Fix 4: Reinstall the app

1. Make sure you can sign in again to the app, and note any license information it needs.
2. Uninstall it from the same Settings list. See how to uninstall programs.
3. Restart the PC.
4. Download the app again from the maker's official website or the Microsoft Store. Do not use download sites that bundle other software. See how to install software safely.

Fix 5: Check Windows system files

If several apps crash, damaged Windows files may be the cause. Microsoft says to run the first command and then the second. They repair Windows files and do not touch your documents. They can take several minutes.

1. Select the search box on the taskbar and type cmd.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Approve the prompt.
3. Type this command and press Enter. Wait for it to finish. It needs an internet connection.

   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

4. Type this command and press Enter. Do not close the window until it says the check is complete.

   sfc /scannow

5. Read the result. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations means the files are fine. If it says it found and repaired corrupt files, restart and test the app. If it says it found corrupt files but could not fix some of them, run both commands again. If that still fails, use the PC maker's support page.

Other things worth checking

• Disk space. A nearly full drive makes apps slow and unstable. See how to free up disk space.
• Only one app crashes, after a recent change. If the problem began right after you installed something, uninstall that item.
• Everything is slow. See PC running slow.
• Malware. Unwanted software can make apps crash. Run a scan in Windows Security. See how to run a malware scan.
• The whole PC crashes. If Windows itself stops with an error screen, see blue screen errors.

If it still does not work

Use the support page on the app maker's website, and search for the app name and the exact message. If the problem affects only one file, try opening a different file. A damaged file can crash an app that is otherwise fine.

Frequently asked questions