How to End All Unnecessary Tasks Windows 11

Windows / By

Windows 11 is the latest operating system that has been recently released by Microsoft. It has been equipped with much advanced features than its earlier versions and guarantees the users an enhanced experience of computing. However, one of the greatest issues that always keep troubling the Windows users is an unresponsive and slow performance of their systems. When you have multiple applications and tasks running on your machine simultaneously, it could be frustrating if the system begins freezing or crashing. If you are also facing the same problem, don’t worry, you can end all unnecessary tasks and processes. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the best ways to end all unnecessary tasks on Windows 11 to improve the performance of your computer.

Video Tutorial:

Why You Need to End All Unnecessary Tasks on Windows 11

The latest version of Windows 11 is very powerful, but it still is not a miracle worker. Your computer has limited resources, and when you have too many applications running simultaneously, your system’s performance can drop sharply. Ending all unnecessary tasks will free up vital processing power as well as help you identify the program causing the slow performance of your machine. The following are some of the reasons why you might need to end unnecessary tasks on Windows 11:

  • The performance of your computer is constantly crashing or freezing.
  • You are not able to open the new applications or windows smoothly.
  • You are not able to work on your applications efficiently due to slowing performance.
  • You want to improve overall system performance and quickly launch your favorite applications.

Method 1: Task Manager

Windows 11 has a built-in tool called Task Manager, which can be used to end all unnecessary tasks and performance-hogging processes. Here is how you can end all unnecessary tasks on Windows 11 with the Task Manager:

  1. Press the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" keys at once to open the Task Manager Window.
  2. You can also right-click on the Taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the menu.
  3. Click on the "Processes" tab in Task Manager
  4. Find the program or task that’s causing the slow performance of your computer.
  5. Select the task and click on the "End Task" button.
  6. If the task does not respond to the first attempt, click on the “End Task” button again.
  7. You can also right-click on the task and select "End Task" from the drop-down menu.

Pros:

  • It’s quick and easy to use.
  • It’s built into Windows 11, so no additional software needs to be installed.
  • It gives you control over all running processes on your computer.

Cons:

  • If you accidentally end an important task, it may cause other problems.
  • You may end up terminating processes that you don’t understand, which may lead to further problems.
  • You can’t see what other users are running in the background.

Method 2: PowerShell

You can also utilize PowerShell to end all unnecessary tasks and processes on your computer. PowerShell is a powerful command-line tool that can be used to automate all kinds of Windows tasks. Here is how to end all unnecessary tasks on Windows 11 using PowerShell:

  1. Press the Windows Key + X to open the Quick Link menu and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  2. Now type the command Get-Process to display all running processes.
  3. Find the process you want to kill, note down its Process ID.
  4. Type Stop-Process -Id process_head (replace "process_head" with your noted process ID).
  5. Hit the Enter key to kill the process with the given Process ID.

Pros:

  • You can end multiple processes at once with a few commands.
  • You can also end processes remotely using PowerShell.
  • You can utilize PowerShell Scripts to automate repeating tasks.

Cons:

  • PowerShell commands are quite complex for non-technical users.
  • A single mistake may cause severe damages to your operating system.
  • You have to be sure what process is essential for the functioning of the OS and applications.

Method 3: Services

Services are an essential part of Windows 11, and some of them are required to run the OS. Windows services are background processes, and some of them run automatically without user intervention. However, you can manipulate these services in the service management console to end unnecessary tasks on Windows 11. Here is how you can utilize services to end all unnecessary tasks on your computer:

  1. Press the Windows Key + R simultaneously to open the Run Dialog box.
  2. Type services.msc in the Run box and click on the OK button.
  3. Find the service that you want to stop and double-click on it.
  4. Choose the "Stop" button to end the service.
  5. You can also set the "Startup Type" to "Disabled" to prevent the service from starting automatically.
  6. Once done, click on the "Apply" and "OK" button to save the changes.

Pros:

  • You have more control over the tasks and processes that run on your computer.
  • You can stop services that you don’t need, freeing up system resources.
  • This method is more secure than using the Task Manager or PowerShell.

Cons:

  • You need to be careful as there are some essential services you shouldn’t terminate.
  • The services that are not running can sometimes cause other issues on the computer.
  • Disabling or stopping the services of some critical applications can crash the system.

Method 4: Control Panel

The Control Panel is another effective method that can be used to end all unnecessary tasks on Windows 11. Here’s how you can access the Control Panel to end unnecessary tasks on your computer:

  1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run Dialog Box.
  2. Type Control and click OK to open the Control Panel.
  3. Click on System and Security and then click on Administrative Tools.
  4. Choose the Task Scheduler option.
  5. Once you open Task Scheduler, click on Task Scheduler Library.
  6. Find the task that you want to stop and right-click on it. Choose the "End" option.

Pros:

  • You can see all the tasks and services running on the system.
  • It’s relatively easy to use.
  • You can access other administrative functions from the Control Panel.

Cons:

  • The interface can be overwhelming for some users.
  • You need to know what tasks you want to end and have some technical knowledge of control panel.
  • You may encounter errors when terminating some essential services and processes.

Method 5: Registry Editor

The Windows Registry is a database used to store low-level settings for the operating system. The Registry Editor is a powerful tool that can be used to end unnecessary tasks and optimize the performance of your computer. However, using Registry Editor to manage all the processes on your computer requires extensive technical knowledge. We will only recommend you to use this method when you are experienced in editing the Windows registry.

Steps to End Unnecessary Tasks:

  1. Press Windows Key + R and type regedit to open the Registry Editor.
  2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Run.
  3. Find the program or task you want to delete and right-click on it.
  4. Choose the "Delete" option to remove it.
  5. You can close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Pros:

  • You can end some tasks that you may not be able to disable using other methods.
  • You can do a deep customization of your Windows settings via the Registry.

Cons:

  • The registry editor is not easy to use for non-technical users.
  • You run the risk of damaging the operating system if you do not use it correctly.
  • If you delete the wrong registry entry, it may cause serious problems for your computer.

What to Do If You Can’t End Unnecessary Tasks

Sometimes, you may face some issues while trying to end unnecessary tasks. Below are the solutions you can implement if you can’t end unnecessary tasks on Windows 11:

  1. Restart Your Computer: If you cannot end the unnecessary task, it may be that the task is not responding. In this case, the best solution is to reboot the computer.
  2. Force Shutdown: If the computer is not responding, you can forcefully shut it down by holding the power button for several seconds.
  3. Run in Safe Mode: Booting in Safe Mode loads a minimal set of drivers and services and may help you end all unnecessary tasks easily.
  4. Use a Third-Party Task Manager: You can install third-party task manager software, Task Manager Enhancers, to end all unnecessary tasks and processes.
  5. Update Your Antivirus: Viruses and malware may interfere with your computer’s system and processes, preventing you from ending unnecessary tasks. Update your antivirus software and run a full scan of your system.

Bonus Tips

  1. You can change the priority of the task to allocate the system resources to only the critical tasks. You can do this in the Task Manager window under the "Details" tab.
  2. Regularly clean the hard disk and free up some space by deleting unnecessary files and programs installed on your system.
  3. You can improve your system’s performance by disabling the visual effects used in the Windows 11 operating system. This can be done in the System Properties section under the Performance Options tab.

5 FAQs

Q1. What is Task Manager, and how does it work?

A: Task Manager is a built-in Windows Utility that can be used to monitor running processes, tasks, and resource utilization. It allows the user to manage and end all processes on the computer. To open Task Manager, the user can press the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" keys altogether. To utilize it, the user can select the process to end and click on the "End Task" button.

Q2. What does it mean when a task is unresponsive?

A: An unresponsive task is a program that is stuck or not responding to user’s input. It is usually identified by a visible message "Not Responding" near its title in the Task Manager. The user can try to wait for few seconds, but if the task does not respond, the user can forcefully end it.

Q3. Which processes should I not end using the Task Manager?

A: Critical processes such as explorer.exe, system, winlogon.exe, svchost.exe, and lsass.exe should not be terminated because they run essential functions to run the operating system properly.

Q4. Can ending tasks speed up my computer?

A: Yes, ending unnecessary tasks will free up some processing power, memory, and disk space, leading to faster performance by the computer.

Q5. Can I disable all Background Processes?

A: It is not recommended to disable all background processes. Some Microsoft processes are essential for the functioning of the operating system. Disabling some of them may cause the system to malfunction. However, disabling processes that you do not need can free up some valuable system resources.

Final Thoughts

If you experience slow performance or unresponsive tasks on your Windows 11 PC, it’s essential to end unnecessary tasks and free up system resources to improve the overall performance of your computer. The above-described methods can help you end all unnecessary tasks and improve your computer’s speed. However, while using these methods, you should be careful and not end critical tasks that are needed for the functioning of the operating system.