Windows has many useful features to streamline the use of its interface on computers. Some are more overlooked than others, but can be useful in certain situations. If you want to save time and close all your open programs at once, with just a few clicks, this article tells you how.
The Windows keyboard shortcuts, which come preconfigured from the factory, are very useful. For example, just press CTRL + C to copy text and CTRL + V to paste it, CTRL + P to print, or ALT + Tab to switch between open windows. The list of options is quite long and you can see it on the Microsoft support page. In jobs where you often use several apps at the same time (multitasking), it is common to need a quick and easy way to close them all simultaneously.
With a shortcut like this in Windows, to instantly close all apps on your PC, we can optimize time and efficiency at work. This is a good option for professionals who work with multiple programs open simultaneously, allowing them to close quickly when the workday is over. It also helps maintain privacy when you don't want anyone to see what you're doing; or it could be helpful if your computer is running slowly and you want to close everything immediately.
As someone who works with a computer and also uses it to stream series or play video games, a few days ago I looked into setting up a shortcut like this that would instantly close everything in Windows. Now, I know it's a practical tool everyone should try. Once you start using this shortcut on your devices, you'll notice a significant time saving at the end of your workday. That's why, today in this post, we're showing you how to activate it.
How do I activate the shortcut to close apps?
The only keyboard shortcut in Windows for quickly closing programs is ALT + F4. Pressing these two keys is like clicking the cross that appears in the top right corner of the app. Text editors, the web browser, design tools, analysis software, work chat... With so many apps, all we have to do is press the aforementioned shortcut several times to close them automatically.
Another option is to access the Windows Task Manager. You can do this from the operating system's search bar or by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC. This will open a new tab with all the currently open programs. There, just click on the programs you want to close and click "End Task." They will close automatically.
How to close multiple apps at once?
If you tend to use the same apps all the time—for example, your web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari), an editing program (Adobe Photoshop, Premiere), or Microsoft Office tools—there's a much simpler trick to close everything at once. The first thing you'll need to do is find the file names of the programs you use. To do this, open Task Manager and click "Details", which appears when you click the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner.
Just type the application name, and the manager will give you the file name. For example, for Microsoft Edge, it's 'msedge.exe'. Write it down somewhere, then open Notepad. You'll need to type the command 'taskkill /f /im + file name', like a list, with all the programs you usually have open. For example:
taskkill /f /im msedge.exe
taskkill /f /im Canva.exe
taskkill /f /im chrome.exe
Once you've created the list in Notes, you'll just need to copy the text and paste it into the Windows Command Prompt. This program opens by pressing the Windows key + R. So, you'll just need to use that shortcut and execute (CTRL + V) the "taskkill" command. This will close everything and you'll be able to shut down your computer quickly.
Using the 'taskill' command with the '/f' parameter will close all apps immediately. Windows won't ask you if you want to save a project first. Therefore, before activating this feature from the Command Prompt, remember to save it, or you'll lose everything.