# Is there a keystroke in Windows to close all applications? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281 "2004-02-26T13:38:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ReverseCowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/1 "2004-02-26T13:38:30Z")
I know Alt + F4 closes the current application. Is there a key combination that closes all applications that are running? ---
**Author:** ![cj\_finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@cj\_finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cj_finn)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/2 "2004-02-26T13:48:01Z")
> [@ReverseCowgirl](#): > > I know Alt + F4 closes the current application. Is there a key combination that closes all applications that are running? Sorry I can’t help you on this command. But can you imagine the chagrin that would be caused in the person who accidentally hits this key combination, thereby losing their entire thesis? This is one of those things that I would imagine could be done, but probably wouldn’t be done as it could lead to many, many problems. cj ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/3 "2004-02-26T13:51:37Z")
Ctrl+Alt+Supr twice, it closes everything and restarts the computer; the restarting thingy may not be what you´re looking for, though… ---
**Author:** ![tubbytreats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@tubbytreats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tubbytreats)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/4 "2004-02-26T13:55:34Z")
“Supr”??? What’s that? ---
**Author:** ![ReverseCowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/5 "2004-02-26T14:02:17Z")
> [@cj finn](#): > > But can you imagine the chagrin that would be caused in the person who accidentally hits this key combination, thereby losing their entire thesis? Well shoot, the same can happen if you hit Alt-F4 when your thesis is the active application. Of course, most apps will still ask you if you want to save any unsaved work. Which brings us to reality check number 2: You wouldn’t really be typing your entire thesis in one sitting, and without saving frequently, would you? I’ll spare you the colorful sexual metaphor that comes to mind for someone who would do that . . . > [@Ale](#): > > Ctrl+Alt+Supr twice, it closes everything and restarts the computer; the restarting thingy may not be what you´re looking for, though… Right. I’m looking for when the boss comes in and I’ve got a no-no in a minimize window. I don’t want to max the window to close the app, but I don’t want that app to continue running. And yes, I know, I shouldn’t be running that app at work in the first place. But I am . . . ---
**Author:** ![StinkPop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@StinkPop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StinkPop)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/6 "2004-02-26T14:37:58Z")
On Windows 2000, I can right-click on the application’s button on the taskbar and select “Close”. The application goes away without bringing its window back to the screen. If it needs to ask you to save the file, most seem to just put up a message box and don’t bring the window up. I don’t know if it works this way on all versions of Windows. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/7 "2004-02-26T14:42:25Z")
[QUOTE=ReverseCowgirlRight. I’m looking for when the boss comes in and I’ve got a no-no in a minimize window. I don’t want to max the window to close the app, but I don’t want that app to continue running.[/QUOTE] Start Task Manager. Resize it so that it covers all your screen, and about the top half of your tool bar. Enable the “always on top” option in Task Manager. Then just minimize it and surf away. If your boss comes in quickly you can just click on the (already running) Task Manager on the toolbar, which will promptly jump up and fill the entire screen, and the top half of your toolbar. You can then either chose the app you want to close from the TaskList in Task Manager, or just right-click on the half of the toolbar icon that you can still see below the Task Manager. Once you right click, you can chose “close”, and the app will close. Incidentally, if your app is minimized, you can right-click on the toolbar icon to close it and the app will not maximize - it will just close - you don’t need Task Manager. The Task Manager thing is handy though, if you have your CV open in Word, still maximized, behind the thing you’re working on. Right-click on the toolbar icon for _that_, and you’re fucked cause it will jump to the front of all maximized docs / apps. This is when you should use my super patented “Task Manager Boss Confustigator”. Better than all of these though - just surf your porn from home… ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/8 "2004-02-26T14:58:39Z")
> [@ReverseCowgirl](#): > > Right. I’m looking for when the boss comes in and I’ve got a no-no in a minimize window. I don’t want to max the window to close the app, but I don’t want that app to continue running. > > And yes, I know, I shouldn’t be running that app at work in the first place. But I am . . . If the real purpose is to close the app without maxing it, why don’t you just right click the app on the task bar, and choose close? You can minimize all apps by pressing win+m, but I doubt there’s one for closing all apps. ---
**Author:** ![ReverseCowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/9 "2004-02-26T15:03:41Z")
> [@naita](#): > > If the real purpose is to close the app without maxing it, why don’t you just right click the app on the task bar, and choose close? > You can minimize all apps by pressing win+m, but I doubt there’s one for closing all apps. I know the right-click on the task bar trick, but every once in a while, I find that the app pops up in the process of closing. Which is exactly what I don’t want to happen. > [@achilles](#): > > Better than all of these though - just surf your porn from home… I wish my life were that exciting. Mainly what I am trying to conceal is my addiction to this board. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/10 "2004-02-26T15:07:25Z")
> [@ReverseCowgirl](#): > > I wish my life were that exciting. Mainly what I am trying to conceal is my addiction to this board. Well then my patented “Task Manager Boss Confustigator” should do the trick… ---
**Author:** ![ReverseCowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/11 "2004-02-26T15:12:51Z")
> [@Achilles](#): > > Well then my patented “Task Manager Boss Confustigator” should do the trick… I’m checking it out right now. Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/12 "2004-02-26T15:16:49Z")
Better than that, y’all need to download and install [ghostzilla](http://www.ghostzilla.com/home.html) - a freeware browser that inhabits your current application’s frontmost window that disappears when you move the mouse away from the window, returning the correct contents in an instant. It also has various hiding levels so that you can make the text gray, or hide the graphics completely. (Though it seems the creators have got a wee bit [paranoid](http://www.ghostzilla.com/) about it.) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/13 "2004-02-26T15:18:07Z")
Oh. Didn’t read the warning properly. It’s no longer available as a free download. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/14 "2004-02-26T15:25:26Z")
[http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/enditall/](http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/enditall/) ---
**Author:** ![ReverseCowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@ReverseCowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReverseCowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/15 "2004-02-26T15:52:38Z")
Good fixes all around. I knew I could count on Dopers. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Lagged2Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lagged2Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lagged2Death)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/16 "2004-02-26T16:09:39Z")
Why not just set the task bar itself to “auto-hide?” (Right click on an empty part of the task bar, pick properties, check “auto-hide”.) Minimized windows are then invisible in the first place (until you move the mouse to the bottom of the screen). I can’t believe I’m helping someone malinger at work. Not like I can throw any stones from this glass house, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/17 "2004-02-26T16:10:05Z")
> [@tubbytreats](#): > > “Supr”??? What’s that? That´s a translation slip, my Spanish keyboard says “Supr” (Suprimir) instead of “Del” (Delete). :o ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/18 "2004-02-26T17:22:40Z")
In addition to auto-hiding the taskbar, keep your thumb on Alt and your finger on Tab. A quick alt-tab will switch to a different app. (My keyboard is worn in tell-tale places) ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/19 "2004-02-26T21:27:51Z")
On Windows 2000 at least, Ctrl-Alt-H _appears_ to close all open applications immediately. However, all it really does is close (not just minimize) the windows, leaving the actual processes running, with no way to reactivate the applications - you need to kill the old processes and relaunch the applications, or restart Windows. But if you want to instantly clear all incriminating evidence off your taskbar it’s one way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Lagged2Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lagged2Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lagged2Death)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281/20 "2004-02-27T14:17:17Z")
> [@Usram](#): > > On Windows 2000 at least, Ctrl-Alt-H _appears_ to close all open applications immediately. I’ve just tried this on Win2k Pro and WinXP Pro, and it doesn’t appear to do anything. Maybe you’re running some special utility (a debugger?) to do this? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-keystroke-in-windows-to-close-all-applications/231281.md?page=2)