How to Close All Open Apps at Once on Windows 11

When your desktop starts feeling cluttered with too many open apps, Windows 11 doesn’t offer a one-click “Close Everything” button. But the good news is that you can still close all open apps at once using built-in shortcuts, Task Manager tools, command-line methods, and a few clever tricks. Whether your system feels slow, you want a clean workspace, or you’re troubleshooting an issue, these methods help you shut everything down instantly without wasting time closing one window at a time.

In this guide, we walk you through all the ways you can close all apps at once on Windows 11.

Close All Open Apps at Once on Windows

To follow this guide, you’ll need a Windows 11 PC and basic access to system tools like Task Manager, Command Prompt, and File Explorer. Some methods may close apps without saving progress, so make sure you save your work before using bulk-close techniques. Once everything is saved, you’re ready to try the methods below.

1. Use Alt + F4 to Close All Windows Quickly

Although Alt + F4 closes only the currently active window, you can use this shortcut repeatedly to close everything fast.

1. Press Alt + Tab to highlight your first open window.
2. Press Alt + F4 to close it.
3. Continue pressing Alt + Tab and Alt + F4 to shut down each app.

It’s not technically a single action, but it’s still the fastest manual method when you need to close everything quickly.

2. Use Task Manager to Force-Close All Running Apps

Task Manager lets you terminate multiple apps at once.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Hold Shift or Ctrl and select all the apps you want to close.
4. Click End Task at the top-right.

This method instantly closes apps, including ones that are unresponsive.

3. Use Task Manager’s “Restart” Option to Close Everything

There’s a simple trick that most people don’t know: restarting Windows Explorer resets your desktop environment, which closes many open windows automatically.

1. Open Task Manager.
2. Look for Windows Explorer under the Processes tab.
3. Right-click it and choose Restart.

This refreshes the desktop and taskbar, which closes many open app windows. It won’t close everything, but it clears a lot of clutter instantly.

4. Close All Apps at Once Using a Batch Script

You can create a batch file to close every open program with one click. This is one of the most powerful bulk-close methods.

1. Open Notepad.
2. Paste the following script: @echo off taskkill /F /FI "STATUS eq RUNNING"
3. Save the file with a .bat extension, such as closeall.bat.
4. Right-click the file and choose Run as administrator.

This force-closes all running apps instantly. Be sure to save your work before using this method.

5. Use Command Prompt to Kill All User-Launched Apps

You can also shut down all apps using a single command in CMD.

1. Press Windows + X and choose Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. Run the following command: taskkill /F /FI "USERNAME eq %USERNAME%" /FI "STATUS eq RUNNING"

This command kills every running app that was launched by your user account.

6. Use Windows PowerShell to Close All Apps

PowerShell gives you more control when closing applications.

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Windows Terminal (PowerShell).
2. Run the command: Get-Process | Where-Object {$_.MainWindowTitle} | ForEach-Object {Stop-Process -Id $_.Id -Force}

This closes all open windows with visible interfaces.

7. Use Startup or Shutdown Scripts to Close Apps Automatically

If you want Windows 11 to close certain apps automatically when you log off or restart:

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Go to:
   Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Scripts.
3. Add a shutdown or logoff script that includes apps you want closed automatically.

This is useful if certain apps remain open every time you shut down your PC.

8. Close All Apps by Signing Out of Your Account

Signing out of Windows instantly closes everything.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click your profile icon.
3. Select Sign out.

Windows ends all running apps, background processes, and unsaved sessions, leaving you with a clean workspace when you sign back in.

9. Restart or Shut Down the PC

Restarting or shutting down Windows 11 is the most universal way to close all apps and refresh your system.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click the Power icon.
3. Choose Restart or Shut down.

This closes every running app and starts the system fresh.

Wrapping Up

Windows 11 doesn’t include a one-click “Close All” button, but there are several reliable ways to shut down all open apps at once. Whether you prefer using Task Manager, batch scripts, PowerShell, or a simple sign-out, each method helps you clear your workspace quickly.

After saving your work, you can use any of these approaches to instantly close everything and give your system a fresh start. If you frequently need this ability, creating a batch script or using Command Prompt is the fastest long-term solution.