Multitasking is common for many of us, and it is common to have several programs or applications, files, documents of all kinds, etc. open at the same time and, when the time comes to close them, we want the maximum possible efficiency. Therefore, we are going to see how close applications in Windows 11 in one go.
It's very simple and will save you a lot of time, because you will no longer have to go through them one by one. In the end, you will gain a few very valuable minutes in your day that you can dedicate to other tasks that actually have value.
Multitasking in Windows 11, a source of advantages
Having several applications open at the same time can increase our productivity, and has the following advantages:
- Allows for seamless multitasking. Because we can quickly switch from one application to another.
- Visual organization. Windows 11's window docking and grouping system allows us to better organize the space on the desktop, avoiding dispersion and making it easier to concentrate on specific tasks.
- Higher productivity. Since we have all the information in sight, the amount of time we need to search for a file or access certain information is reduced, and this makes us more productive.
- Improve time management. If we divide the screen into several windows, and even open virtual desktops, we can customize our way of working to the maximum.
- More personalized experience. Windows 11 is quite flexible when it comes to multitasking, because it allows us to customize the layout and size of the windows, adapting to our preferences.
In addition, the Microsoft operating system has functions that make it easier to work with different applications at the same time:
- Window coupling. Which allows us to divide the screen into sections and assign a window to each section.
- Coupling groups. They allow you to group several related windows and switch between them quickly.
- Virtual desks. To organize tasks and projects in a more efficient way.
- Task view. It shows us an overview of all open windows and allows us to quickly switch between them.
If you want to get the most out of multitasking, we recommend:
- Use keyboard shortcuts to switch between windows to another and perform actions more quickly.
- Customize the taskbar with your favorite applications so you can access them faster.
- Experiment with different window layouts to see which one best suits your workflow.
- Don't overload yourself. Although you can have many windows open at once, it is important not to overload the screen or you will end up getting overwhelmed. As far as possible, close all the windows that you do not need for the task you are doing at any given time.
How to close apps in Windows 11 in one go
Is it time to put an end to multitasking? If so, you should know the different ways to close all open windows at once.
Close all applications with the taskbar
From the taskbar we manage all open and pinned programs and, therefore, It is the easiest way to close all the ones we don't need. What you have to do is the following:
- Go to the taskbar and choose an application that currently has multiple windows open.
- Right-click the application icon in the taskbar and choose “Close all windows” from the context menu.
- All active windows of that application will be automatically closed.
Close all applications with Resource Monitor
The Resource Monitor is a tool that offers us a detailed view of the computer's performance. It is like a control panel where we can see in real time everything that happens in the system.
Among the information it gives us is that related to the processes. It shows us a list with all the processes that are running at that moment.
There are several ways to access the Resource Monitor:
- From Task Manager. Open Task Manager and go to the “Performance” tab and click “Open Resource Monitor”.
- From the search bar. Type “Resource Monitor” and select the application.
- From the Start menu. Find this application directly in this menu and access it.
To close applications in Windows 11 from the Resource Monitor you have to:
- Go to the “General Information” tab.
- Check the checkboxes for the programs that are active and that you want to end.
- Right-click on each of the selected programs and choose “End Process” from the pop-up menu.
Close all open applications with a batch file
A batch file is a small program that contains commands that are executed sequentially. To create a batch file that will close all open applications at once, do the following:
- Open notepad.
- Paste this code:
@ Echo off
taskkill /F /IM *
Or this other:
- taskkill /f /im Chrome.exe /T > null
- Save the file.
In the “Save As” dialog box, give your file a name that will help you identify it. Add the “.bat” extension to the end of the file name.
In the “Save as type” box, choose “All files.”
To run the batch file, double-click on the one you just created. This will open a command window that will execute the commands in the file. This means that it will close all open applications.
Close all open applications in Windows using Command Prompt
The Command Prompt allows you to interact directly with the operating system, and from it you can start or cancel the execution of programs.
What you have to do in this case is the following:
- Open Command Prompt and run it as administrator. To open it, type “cmd” in the Start menu.
- In the message that appears about controlling user actions, select “yes.”
- Type the code taskkill /f /im app.exe (replacing “app” with the name of the application you want to close).
ALT + F4
This is a somewhat slower method, but also effective. It involves pressing ALT+F4 in each of the open applications.
There are multiple ways to close apps in Windows 11, which one do you prefer?