How to Close Windows in Windows 8

October 2022 · 3 minute read

With the introduction of the Metro interface in Windows 8, there are now two distinct types of windows: Apps and traditional desktop windows. Since Metro is designed for both touchscreen and mouse input, the methods for closing apps is...

Method 1 of 3:

Closing an Open App

  • Picture 1 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8 Close an app using your mouse. If you are using a mouse, you can close the app much like you would a desktop window. The app may prompt you to save your work before closing.
  • 8.1 only - Move your mouse to the upper-right corner. Click the "X" that appears. This will close the active app.
  • 8 and 8.1 - Click and drag the title bar to the bottom of the screen. The app will shrink and then close when you release it at the bottom of the screen.
  • Picture 2 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8 Close an app using your finger. If you are using a touchscreen, drag the app from the top of the screen to the bottom. The app will close and you will be returned to the Start screen.
  • This puts the app to sleep so you can quickly open it later. If you want to force it to close, drag and hold the app at the bottom of the screen until it flips over.
  • Picture 3 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8 Use the task bar. Move your mouse to the upper-left corner to display a list of all your open apps. If you are using a touchscreen, swipe in from the left side of the screen.[1]
  • If you are using a mouse, right-click the app you want to close and select "Close"
  • If you are using a touchscreen, drag the app you want to close to the bottom of the screen.
  • Picture 4 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8

    Press .Alt+F4 to close the active app. This is useful if the "X" is hidden, the app is frozen, or you can't figure out how to make the onscreen controls appear.

    • Method 2 of 3:

    Closing Windows in Desktop Mode

  • Picture 5 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8 Click the "X" in the upper-right corner. This will immediately close most windows in desktop mode.
  • The program may prompt you to save your work before closing.
  • Not all programs will close when your press the "X". Instead, the program may minimize to your System Tray in the lower-right corner of the desktop.
  • Picture 6 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8

    Right-click on the window's icon in the taskbar and select "Close window". The taskbar is located at the bottom of the screen, and open windows will have highlighted icons.

  • Picture 7 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8

    Press .Alt+F4 to close the active window. This is useful if the "X" is hidden or you can't move the window.

    • Method 3 of 3:

    Force-closing a Window or App in Desktop Mode

  • Picture 8 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8

    Press .Alt+F4 to force close the active window or app. This will work for windows in desktop mode as well as for Windows 8 apps. This is a useful shortcut for frozen programs that aren't responding to clicking the "X".

  • Picture 9 of How to Close Windows in Windows 8 Press .Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager. This will open a list of all your running processes, and is the easiest way to close any non responsive programs. By default, the Task Manager will open displaying the Processes tab, which shows all of your open apps and running processes.
  • Select the app or process that you want to force close. Frozen apps will say "Not responding".
  • Click the End task button. Task Manager will attempt to force the program to close.
  • If you are still having difficulty closing a program, click here.
    • Samuel Daniel Samuel Daniel

    Update 04 March 2020

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