Enable End Task Option in Windows 11 Taskbar Context Menu

This article will help you in adding a hidden secret “End Task” option to the Taskbar context menu (right-click menu) in Windows 11. If you are an advanced user and regularly use “End Task” option to kill or forcefully close not responding programs and services in Windows, this new “End Task” shortcut will definitely help you.

Once you activate and enable the secret “End Task” option, you can access it by right-clicking on any running program’s Taskbar button as shown in following screenshot:

As you can see in the above screenshot, new “End Task” option is available in the jumplist or context menu of Taskbar program button. Users can use this secret option to quickly and easily close apps and programs directly from the Taskbar without opening Task Manager or Command Prompt window.

End task option immediately kills or terminates the running program without saving any data. It might become useful if a program is not responding or stuck/hung and you want to close it.

Expert users use Command Prompt or Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to kill not responding programs and services. This new context menu option will provide a quick and easy way to end any desired app or program.

Related: Create Shortcut to Kill All Not Responding Programs on the Fly in Windows

Since “End Task” is an advanced feature, it’s not enabled by default and interested users need to manually enable it using Windows 11 Settings app.

If you also want to enable and use “End Task” feature in Windows 11 operating system, following steps will help you:

STEP 1: The new “End Task” feature was added in the recently released feature update for Windows 11. So first make sure to download and install the latest updates available for your Windows 11 device. You’ll need to enable “Get the Latest Updates as Soon as They’re Available” toggle option on Settings -> Windows Update page to receive the latest Windows 11 update right now.

STEP 2: Once you install the latest updates in your Windows 11 device, open the Settings app from Start Menu or by pressing WIN+I keys together and select “System” section in left-sidebar. In right-side pane, scroll down and click on “For Developers” section.

STEP 3: On Developers settings page, look for “End Task” option with “Enable end task in taskbar by right click” description. To enable hidden secret “End Task” option, set the toggle option to ON i.e. enable the “End Task” option.

That’s it. Now try to right-click on any program’s shortcut button on Taskbar and you’ll get the new “End Task” option in the context menu.

PS: In future, if you decide to remove the “End Task” option from Taskbar context menu, disable the above mentioned option.

Also Check:

Restarter: Restart Explorer, Uxsms Service and Kill Not Responding Tasks in Windows