Application Not Responding
Microsoft Windows
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
A program froze and Windows can't wake it up. You can force it to close using Task Manager. If it keeps freezing, something deeper is causing the problem.
Affected Models
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
- Windows 8.1
- Windows 7
Common Causes
- The program ran out of memory and got stuck
- A background task or antivirus scan slowed the PC to a crawl
- The program has a bug that causes it to freeze under certain conditions
- The hard drive is nearly full, slowing everything down
- Outdated drivers (especially graphics drivers) are causing conflicts
How to Fix It
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager right away.
This works even when the frozen program is blocking the screen.
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Find the frozen program in the list. It will usually say Not Responding next to it.
It may be under the Apps section at the top.
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Click the program once to select it, then click End Task.
Windows will force-close the program. Any unsaved work will be lost.
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Restart the program and try again. If it freezes again, restart the whole PC first.
A full restart clears memory and often resolves temporary freezes.
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If it keeps freezing, check for updates for that program and your Windows version.
Open the program's settings and look for a Check for Updates option.
When to Call a Professional
Call a professional if your PC freezes constantly across many programs. This can signal failing hardware like a bad hard drive or faulty RAM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my work if I force-close a frozen program?
Yes — anything you haven't saved will be gone. Some programs like Word auto-save every few minutes. Check if the program has a recovered file next time you open it.
Why does the same program keep freezing?
It could be a bug in that specific version of the program. Check the developer's website for updates or known issues. Sometimes reinstalling the program completely fixes it.
Can low RAM cause programs to stop responding?
Yes — if Windows runs out of memory, programs freeze or crash. Close other programs you're not using to free up memory. Adding more RAM is a permanent solution if this happens often.