# Laptop with a Window Stuck Open **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 3, 2021, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565 "2021-07-03T02:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/1 "2021-07-03T02:10:38Z")
I have an HP laptop, 2 years old, running Windows 10 and I use Google Chrome. A few nights ago I fell asleep, and the laptop was left on. When I woke up, the window I had left open (with 4 open tabs) was still open and I found that I could not exit the tabs, nor could I close the entire Window. I have tried everything I can think of to close it, but it is stuck open, unresponsive. I am able to open other windows and continue to use the computer, however, one of the tabs I have open is Facebook. Even with a new window open, I am not able to log on to Facebook; when I click on the FB icon, it takes me to a sign-in page, but every time I try to sign-in the page glitches. When I am able to get past that page, I am taken to a page that tells me I am using the wrong password. I’m not, but it won’t let me pass. It isn’t a live or die situation, but it is certainly trying my patience. I will be most appreciative for any help you all may offer. TIA ---
**Author:** ![CorpusNeptune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corpusneptune/32/17561_2.png) [@CorpusNeptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorpusNeptune)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/2 "2021-07-03T02:13:17Z")
Try using Task Manager, if you haven’t already. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/3 "2021-07-03T02:41:00Z")
What happens when you reboot the computer? Or are you having trouble getting it to shut down? If it won’t let you shut down or restart, try pressing and holding the power button for a few seconds until it shuts off. Then wait about 10 seconds or so and turn it back on. I would generally expect that a reboot would fix the problem of any program being “stuck open.” ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/4 "2021-07-03T03:19:53Z")
ctrl-alt-delete, choose Sign Out, insist when it asks about apps stopping you that Yes, you really want to sign out. Wait a bit then sign back in. Done. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/5 "2021-07-03T14:56:10Z")
I assume this is a browser window you are having trouble with? Have you tried closing any of the individual tabs first? > [@CorpusNeptune](#): > > Try using Task Manager, if you haven’t already. To expand on this a bit – right click somewhere in the taskbar and select “Task Manager” from the popup menu. Task Manager has two views - the “Fewer Details” view which just lists the apps that are running, and the “More Details” view with multiple tabs. If you see the app you want to close, select it and click the “End Task” button. If you don’t see it, try clicking “More Details” and then looking in the Apps section of the Processes tab. If all else fails, then as **BigT** and **squeegee** suggest, try logging out or rebooting. And even if you do manage to close the window without rebooting, I would still suggest shutting down completely afterwards and restarting. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/6 "2021-07-03T15:11:22Z")
Honestly, unless you’re afraid of losing data, rebooting should always be the first thing you do. Just shut your computer off, wait a minute or two, and turn it back on. If that doesn’t solve it, _then_ you have an actual problem. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/7 "2021-07-03T16:52:16Z")
Worst case is unplug it and pop the battery (or wait for it to run down if, like my POS HP, you can’t). Then restart. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/8 "2021-07-04T05:36:40Z")
If you’re in Chrome, Task Manager will show about six Chrome applications running. End-task all of them. ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/9 "2021-08-02T01:33:03Z")
Thank you everyone. I tried all your suggestions to no avail. So I guess a trip to the computer doctor. I appreciate the advice, thank you again. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/10 "2021-08-02T01:48:51Z")
Were you able to reboot the computer? Was the Chrome window still open after shutdown and startup? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/11 "2021-08-02T13:11:50Z")
It could be malware that restarts when the pc boots. Run a malwarebytes scan. You may need to boot into Safe mode. But I’d try a normal scan first. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/12 "2021-08-02T13:37:35Z")
Booting in Safe mode might clear out that stubborn window. Nothing loads in safe mode except the essential programs. Boot in Safe mode. Shut down and reboot normally. That’s worked for me in the past. [https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124344/how-to-boot-to-safe-mode-in-windows-10](https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124344/how-to-boot-to-safe-mode-in-windows-10) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/13 "2021-08-02T18:49:51Z")
It seems weird to me that a window would still be open after a reboot. Is it perhaps that the window is in the desktop background image? Or the application is set to start automatically on reboot? ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/14 "2021-09-08T00:52:22Z")
Hey there Dewey\_Finn, I’m the woman with the frozen image on my laptop. I had gotten beyond frustrated, so I just set it aside for a bit. I came back and read your message, tried it, and it worked! I am elated, thank you for that bit of advice! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/15 "2021-09-08T00:55:40Z")
Just curious; what worked? Was the image in the desktop background? ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-with-a-window-stuck-open/945565/16 "2021-09-08T04:51:08Z")
Exactly! The solution to the issue was stupid easy once I thought of it as just one image, despite it showing a few tabs still open, lol! Thanks for your help, I was so tired of looking at that open window that wasn’t! As my kids would say, you rawk!