How to Fix or Bypass the “Unable to Terminate Process” Error on Windows
Task Manager is a handy system utility for terminating unwanted apps and processes on Windows. Although it usually works as expected, there are times when Task Manager malfunctions and displays the “unable to terminate process” error on Windows.
If you’re unable to terminate apps or processes due to this error, here are some ways you’re able to either fix the error message or bypass it using a different method outside of Windows' Task Manager.
1. Use the Alt + F4 Keyboard Shortcut
At times, temporary glitches with an app or program can trigger the “unable to terminate process” error on Windows. If it’s nothing major, you should be able to close the unresponsive program with theAlt + F4keyboard shortcut. Switch to the app or program you want to close and pressAlt + F4together on your keyboard to close it.
Check outhow to force close a program without the Task Managerfor more ways to close an app without using this tool.
2. Open Task Manager as an Administrator
Not running Task Manager as an administrator could prevent you from terminating certain system processes. If that’s the case, use the following steps to open Task Manager with elevated rights and then strive to terminate the process again.
3. Use the Taskkill Command to Terminate the Process
Using the Task Manager isn’t the only way to terminate processes on Windows. If you’re comfortable using Command Prompt, you can run the “taskkill” command to easily stop an unwanted process on Windows.
for terminate a process with the taskkill command, you’ll need to know the exact name of the process. To find out, switch to theDetailstab in the Task Manager window and locate the process you want to kill. Note down its name from the first column.
Once you have the name of the process, use the following steps to terminate it.
Once you run the above command, you should see a confirmation message indicating that the process was terminated successfully.
4. Terminate the Process With WMIC
WMIC (or Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line) is another powerful tool for terminating processes on Windows. Again, you’ll need to know the exact name of the process you want to kill. Once you have that, use the following steps to terminate the process with WMIC.
5. Use a Task Manager Alternative
Finally, if none of the solutions help with the “unable to terminate process” error, you can consider using aTask Manager alternative on Windows. If you’re looking for something with more power, Process Explorer is a solid choice.
Your Tasks, Terminated Successfully
By applying the fixes in the article, you should be able to fix the “unable to terminate process” error on Windows. However, be cautious when terminating processes via Task Manager, as some may cause your system to freeze or crash if terminated.
Some Windows processes can freeze or crash your system if terminated. We’ll show you which Task Manager processes you should leave alone.
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