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Windows Program Not Responding: Why Does It Happen & How to Fix It
Relaunch the program or install its latest version
6 min. read
Updated onJuly 12, 2024
updated onJuly 12, 2024
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Resolve multiple Windows PC issues and speed up your PC effortlessly with specialized software.
Do you haveprograms that are not respondingon your computer? Many Windows users are in the same boat.
The good news is, today’ we’ll help you fix all of that. And if you’re curious how we got to these solutions, you can find some info about why this error happens in the first place below.
But first:
How to fix “Program is not responding” Windows error
1. Restart your computer
The first and the simplest thing you should do is restart your computer, mainly if the issue occurred recently. To perform a restart, pressAlt+F4, select the option from the dropdown menu, and clickOK.
Before you move on to more advanced solutions, try restarting the computer and see if the program not responding frequently in Windows starts to work after that.
2. Terminate the program
3. Update your app
This is how you can update the apps you got from Microsoft Store, but if the unresponsive app is from another source, you will need to check its menu for this option.
In the unlikely situation where the app doesn’t have an update feature, head over to the developer’s website and get the latest version.
Also, find out what to do ifMicrosoft Store doesn’t work in Windowssince it would prevent you from updating existing apps and installing new ones.
4. Perform SFC and DISM scans
If you cannot perform this step, checkwhat to do if you can’t access Command Prompt as administratorand fix this problem immediately.
5. Reinstall the program
6. Perform a full antivirus scan
Since we’re talking about antiviruses, you might as well check if your system is infected with malicious software.
7. Disable your antivirus
Windows 10 is infamous for preventing updates within certain apps and software. We want to check if your current antivirus solution conflicts with some of your programs.
8. Reset the PC
When a program does not respond in Windows, it stops interacting with the OS. This happens after Windows sends several messages in a few seconds, and if the program doesn’t respond and the message queue fills up, the error message is encountered.
Windows don’t throw an error when the program is not responding, and in some cases, it might start working again in a while. But, if it doesn’t, you could terminate the program from theTask Managerand then relaunch it.
Why do programs not respond?
There can be a lot of factors causing the problem—from a faulty system, conflicting apps, and bad drivers tomalicious softwareand more.
You can’t pinpoint a single issue in this case, so trying as many solutions as possible is essential.
When a program is not responding, it means it is having problems communicating with Windows properly. This might be because the program is carrying out some background processes or due to some bugs and other issues.
Moreover, here are some error variations that you can encounter, and fix with the same solutions below:
And if you’re unsure why the program stopped working in Windows 10, review each of the solutions presented and see what works for you!
What to do if a program is not responding?
Once again, since this is a widespread issue, we can’t know for sure what caused it. If you have any questions or suggestions, place them in the comments below.
More about the topics:windows 10 fix,Windows 11
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
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Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
