How to Force Quit Frozen Apps on a Chromebook

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Key takeaways:

  • Use the Chrome OS Task Manager to kill stuck apps
  • Works for any app, not just browser tabs
  • Fast way to recover from a frozen screen

Ever had an app on your Chromebook just freeze up and refuse to close? Yeah, it happens, even though Chrome OS is usually pretty stable. When the usual close button or right-click isn’t working, there’s a trick that gets things moving again. I’ll walk you through how to force quit those stubborn apps and get your Chromebook back to normal.

The classic close button isn’t working and your app is frozen

You’re in the middle of something and suddenly an app just stops responding. The close button is useless, and right-clicking doesn’t do anything. Annoying, right? This is where the Task Manager in Chrome OS comes in clutch.

Opening the Chrome OS Task Manager is your best move

Forget the Windows Task Manager—Chromebook has its own version built right into the system. Here’s how you get to it:

  • Open the Chrome browser
  • Click the three-dot menu at the top right
  • Hover over More tools
  • Click Task Manager

Or, if you want to be quick, just press Search + Esc on your keyboard. That shortcut pops up the Task Manager instantly. If you want more Chromebook keyboard tricks, check out how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook.

Find the frozen app in the Task Manager list

The Task Manager shows every running process—apps, extensions, and tabs. Scroll through until you spot the name of the app that’s frozen. For example, if Gemini is stuck, look for “Gemini” in the list.

Kill the process and watch the app disappear

Click on the app’s name, then hit the End process button at the bottom right. That’s it. The app will close immediately. You might see its window still on the screen, but it’s no longer running. You can close the window, or just reopen the app if you need it again. Everything should be back to normal.

If you’re curious about managing apps or want to clean up your Chromebook, check out how to delete apps on Chromebook.

Why does this work? Chrome OS runs everything as a process

Every app, tab, and extension is its own process in Chrome OS. Killing the process is like pulling the plug. It’s a safe way to shut down something that’s not responding, and won’t mess with your other work.

What if the whole device is frozen?

If even the Task Manager won’t open, you might need to do a hard reset. Hold the Power button until your Chromebook shuts down, then turn it back on. Most of the time, though, the Task Manager trick works.

Tips to avoid frozen apps in the future

More Chromebook tricks worth knowing

FAQs

How do I open Task Manager on a Chromebook?

Press Search + Esc or go to Chrome’s menu > More tools > Task Manager.

Will force quitting an app delete my data?

Usually, no. But if you haven’t saved your work, you might lose unsaved changes.

What if Task Manager doesn’t list my app?

Make sure you’re looking for the right name. Some apps show up as their process name, not the app icon.

Can I force quit Android apps this way too?

Yep, if they’re running as a process in Chrome OS, they’ll show up in Task Manager.

My Chromebook is still frozen after this. What now?

Hold the Power button to force a shutdown, then restart. If it keeps happening, check for updates or consider a powerwash.

👍 That’s the move for frozen apps on Chromebook. No more waiting around for something to respond—just take control and get back to what you were doing.