Computers · Repair guide

How to fix a program that is not responding

Error messageNot Responding

8 fixes, easiest first3 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Wait a minute, then press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, right-click the stuck program on the Processes tab and select End task. On a Mac, press Option-Command-Esc, select the app and click Force Quit.

What it means

"Not Responding" in a window's title bar means Windows has stopped getting answers from that program, usually because it is busy, waiting on something or stuck. The rest of the computer often still works. You can wait, close the program with End task (Windows) or Force Quit (Mac), and then fix whatever makes it freeze.

Common causes

  • The program is busy with a large file or task
  • A hidden dialog box is waiting for an answer
  • Not enough free memory with many programs open
  • A bug fixed by an update to the program or Windows
  • A faulty add-in or plug-in
  • Damaged program files

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Wait and look for a hidden boxEasy

  1. Wait a minute or two without clicking. A program working on a big file can show Not Responding and then recover.
  2. Press Alt + Tab to cycle through open windows. A message box waiting for an answer can stop the program until you respond.
  3. If you were printing, saving or syncing, give that task time to finish.

Why it helps: Ending a program that would have recovered loses unsaved work for nothing.

02End task in Task ManagerEasy

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. You can also right-click Start and select Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager.
  2. Select the Processes tab.
  3. Right-click the program marked Not responding and select End task.
  4. Anything unsaved in that program will be lost. Only end programs you recognize: ending a Windows system process can make parts of Windows stop working.

Why it helps: End task closes the stuck program without restarting the whole PC.

03If you're on a Mac, use Force QuitEasy

  1. Press Option-Command-Esc, or choose Apple menu > Force Quit.
  2. Select the app that isn't responding and click Force Quit.
  3. See the separate guide on how to force quit on a Mac for more options.

Why it helps: Force Quit is the Mac's version of End task.

04If the whole computer is stuck, restart itEasy

  1. On Windows, if the screen is blank or black, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B to wake it.
  2. If you can reach the desktop, select Start > Power > Restart.
  3. If nothing responds, press and hold the power button until the PC turns off, wait a few seconds and turn it on.
  4. On a Mac, choose Apple menu > Restart, or hold the power button for up to 10 seconds if the Mac won't respond.

Why it helps: A restart clears memory and any background task that was blocking the program.

05If you lost unsaved Office work, open Document RecoveryEasy

  1. Open the same Office app again, such as Word or Excel.
  2. If a Document Recovery pane appears, look at the dates in the Available Files list and open the newest version.
  3. Save any recovered file you want to keep under a new name.
  4. If you close the pane before checking every file, choose Yes, I want to view these files later so they aren't removed.
  5. To avoid losing work next time, save files to OneDrive with AutoSave turned on if you have Microsoft 365.

Why it helps: Office keeps recovery copies of open files and offers them after a program closes unexpectedly.

06Install updatesEasy

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates and install what is offered, then restart.
  2. Update the program itself: use its own Check for updates option, the Microsoft Store, or the maker's website.
  3. On a Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update, and check the App Store for app updates.

Why it helps: Freezing bugs are often fixed in newer versions of the program or the system.

07Repair the programMedium

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Select the More button (...) next to the program and choose Advanced options if it is offered, then select Repair if it is there.
  3. For older desktop programs, search for Control Panel and open it, select Programs > Programs and Features, right-click the program and choose Repair, or Change if Repair isn't listed.
  4. For Microsoft Office, right-click Start, select Installed apps, select ... next to Microsoft 365 or Office and choose Modify. Pick Quick Repair and select Repair. If that doesn't help, run Online Repair. Some Office versions show Change your installation instead: select Repair, then Continue.

Why it helps: Repair replaces damaged program files without removing your documents.

08Reset or reinstall the programAdvancedBack up first

  1. Warning: resetting or reinstalling a program can remove its settings and any data stored inside the program. Back up important files first.
  2. To reset a Store app, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select ... next to it, choose Advanced options and select Reset.
  3. To reinstall, select ... next to the program and choose Uninstall, restart the PC, then install the latest version from the Microsoft Store or the maker's website.
  4. On a Mac, delete the app and download it again from the App Store or the developer's site.

Why it helps: A clean install replaces anything that repair couldn't fix.

Check it's fixed

  • The program opens and works without "Not Responding" in the title bar.
  • Task Manager shows the program using normal amounts of CPU and memory.
  • You can open, edit and save a file in it several times without a freeze.

When to get help

If many different programs freeze, or the whole PC hangs often, the problem is likely Windows, a driver or hardware rather than one program; see the guide for a computer that keeps freezing, or contact the PC maker or a repair shop.

Questions

What is the shortcut to end a task?

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then right-click the program and select End task. On a Mac, Option-Command-Esc opens the Force Quit window.

Does End task delete anything?

It doesn't delete the program or saved files, but anything you hadn't saved in that program is lost.

Is it safe to end any task in Task Manager?

Only end programs you opened and recognize. Ending a Windows system process can make parts of Windows stop working until you restart.

What if End task doesn't close the program?

Wait a few seconds and try again. If it still won't close, restart the computer.

Related fixes

How to force quit an app on a MacPress Option, Command and Esc together, select the frozen app in the Force Quit window, then click Force Quit. You can also choose Apple menHow to fix a computer that keeps freezingRestart the PC, install all Windows updates, then open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and close or uninstall whatever is using the mosWhat to do when something frozeWait a minute first, then close the stuck app (Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows, Option-Command-Esc on Mac). If the whole device is stuck, force a How to fix Microsoft Word not respondingGive Word a minute, then end it in Task Manager and reopen it to use Document Recovery. If it keeps crashing, start it with winword /safe; iHow to fix Excel not respondingCheck the status bar for a running task and let it finish, then restart Excel. If it keeps freezing, start it with excel /safe; if that work

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