How to restart an application in Windows

  • Applications may stop working due to updates, outdated drivers, or lack of memory.
  • There are several methods to close a non-responsive program, including the Task Manager.
  • Updating Windows and drivers is crucial for the proper functioning of applications.
  • Restoring the system may be an option if other methods do not resolve the problem.
Daniel Terrasa

7 minutes

restart windows application

Many times we get stuck in front of the computer screen because a program has suddenly stopped working. This may be due to various reasons. It is important to be able to identify them to apply the correct solution and restart an application in Windows.

So in this article we are going to address the issue in the proper order: first we will analyze the causes of the problem and then we will present the different solutions:

Why does an app stop working?

When a program that we are using in Windows stops working for no apparent reason, it can be due to various reasons. These are the most common:

Updates

A program may stop if the operating system on which it runs It is not correctly updated. The opposite case is also possible: that after an update an obsolete program has stopped working. In that case you have to download an updated version of it.

Controladores

Drivers are essential for Windows to function correctly, as they ensure the compatibility of different programs with the system. When they are out of date or stop working, applications may stop and close.

Insufficient memory

The lack of space in the RAM or the storage disk are also frequent causes that explain the failure of a program. Sometimes this can also extend to the rest of the components of our computer, which is why it is so important to check the minimum requirements of any program before installing it.

program conflict

It's not very common, but it can happen. Sometimes, to function, two programs may need to use the same resource. In those cases, the second program we want to use will not work.

Viruses and Antivirus

We already know that when a computer is infected by some type of virus, all kinds of problems occur. It may be a cause. But also the antivirus can work against us: if it identifies a program as suspicious, it will block it and we will not be able to use it.

Close a "frozen" program

this program is not responding

There are three main methods to "unfreeze" a program or application that has been blocked on our computer, with the well-known message of "This program is not responding":

  • 1 method: We right click on the program icon in the taskbar and select the "End or close program" option.
  • Method 2: We click on any blank space on the taskbar. From there we go to the "Task Manager", then to the "Processes" tab and finally, with the right click, we select "End task".
  • Method 3: We use the key combination Control + Alt + Delete and select "Task Manager". There we go to "Processes", right click on the program and choose the "End task" option.

Solutions to restart an application in Windows

Now that we know the most common causes that explain a program malfunctioning or the fact that an application has to be restarted in Windows, let's see what solutions exist. Before trying any of them, it is advisable wait a bit, since sometimes the team needs its time. But if you've already tried that and it hasn't worked, here's what you can do:

Reboot the system and try to open the program again

Restart

It is not a very imaginative solution, but it works in many cases. By restarting the system, all functions of our PC will be restored and occasional errors will disappear. There are two ways to restart your computer: by selecting the corresponding option in the start menu O well forcing restart, pressing the physical on/off button for a few seconds.

After the reboot, we try to run the program again. If it still doesn't work, you have to try another method.

Close other apps

close windows programs

Before restarting an application in Windows that has stopped working, it is advisable to assess whether we are using too many programs simultaneously. Do not forget that when opening a program, different registers, configurations, processes, etc. are executed. at the same time. Multiplying this by all open apps, we run the risk of overflowing the capacity of our PC.

So, if our hardware does not have the capacity to handle that volume of work, a good solution is to close other programs so that the computer has resources to "unlock" the unresponsive program.

Update Windows

Windows Update

It is known that keeping the operating system updated is the best thing we can do to make our computer work better and avoid a lot of errors. It will also help us in these cases. To update Windows 10 this is what we must do:

  1. To start, let's go to Start Menu.
  2. Then we click on "Settings" (the gear icon at the bottom of the start menu), or we use the Windows + I key combination.
  3. Then we select "Update and security".
  4. Then we will "Windows Update".
  5. Select the button "Search for updates".*
  6. Finally, we choose an available update and click on «Download and Install».
  7. We restart the computer and check that the programs work normally.

(*) If there are no updates available, the message "Everything is updated" appears on the screen.

Uninstall and reinstall the program

uninstall programs

When the problem is not in the operating system, but in the application that we want to restart, the most effective thing will be to uninstall it and download it again and install it on our computer. Clean slate. This is what needs to be done:

  1. First we open the menu "Run" and in the box we write «Control panel» + Enter.
  2. select "Programs and characteristics".
  3. We locate the program that we want to reinstall and select it with the right button.
  4. Then we select the option "Uninstall".
  5. Finally, we reinstall the program from scratch.

Update drivers

update drivers

As we pointed out at the beginning of the article, sometimes to restart an application in Windows it is necessary to update the drivers, which ensure that all the programs on our PC are compatible with the system and hardware. For update a specific driver This is what needs to be done:

  1. First we go to Start Menu.
  2. In the search engine we write "Manage Devices". Next, we select this program.
  3. Then we open the option corresponding to the program whose driver we want to update.
  4. We select the driver we want to update by right-clicking.
  5. Finally, we select "Update driver".

restore the computer

The last resort, although to use this option, it is necessary to have previously created several Points of manual or automatic restoration on our PC. If so, all you have to do is go back to a previous point to unlock programs and have them work again as they did at the beginning.

This is how to create a restore point:

  1. Let's go to Start Menu.
  2. In the search box, we type "Create a restore point" and then we select the program.
  3. Then we will "System properties".
  4. There we select the tab "System protection".
  5. Next we select the button "Settings" and we execute these three actions:
    • Activate the system protection option.
    • Select the disk size for backup.
    • Select "Accept".
  6. then we select the disk in which we want to create the restore point (in case there is more than one).
  7. Finally, we choose the option "Create" and click "Accept".