A misbehaving app is a common error that happens when using a computer. You get the option of either closing it or waiting. Some applications may recover after a few minutes and start working, but some may get stuck and stop working for a long time.
Applications stop responding for many reasons. There may be a conflict between your computer hardware and that program causing it to act up. Other times when the system resources are not there, the application may also freeze.
Lastly, if your application has software bugs, you may also get this problem. However, such issues can be fixed in several ways. Below, we will take you through the steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the misbehaving app.
Using Task Manager to Force Quit
Once your applications start acting up, the first step you should take is to abort and restart the misbehaving app through the Task Manager. The Task Manager allows the user to end processes quickly.
To open the task manager key in the Ctrl+ Shift+ Esc. Once you find the option on the left corner of the Task Manager, go to “More Details” to get a better view of the Task Manager. After opening it, click on Options and tick the “Always on top.” Doing this will ensure that every time you open Task Manager, it opens over the unresponsive program This will help you to close it easily. Right-click the frozen application on Task Manager, and then click “End task” to kill it.
Check Your Computer for Viruses
Sometimes viruses may cause some programs to misbehave on your computer. Therefore, it is crucial to run a scan to check for viruses. There are numerous antiviruses on the market, and you can shop around to find the best one based on your needs. If the Windows Defender fails to detect any malware, an antivirus may help you with this.
Update Your Operating System
Failing to update your Windows may cause some applications to misbehave. Therefore you need to constantly update your operating system to ensure that it is running smoothly. To update it, press Win + I to get to the settings. Click “Update & Security” for the update to start running. If your computer has any bug fixes, they will resolve when updating. After installing the updates, restart your computer to check if the misbehaving application is working.
Resolve using the Built-in Troubleshooter
To access the built-in troubleshooter, open settings through Win + I, input “System maintenance” in your search box, and then click on the option “perform recommended maintenance tasks automatically.” Continue by clicking Next and follow the given instructions. After scanning the computer, restart it and see if your problem has been resolved.
Clean Booting
A clean boot will help you find out why your computer has a particular problem because of the application. To run a clean boot:
Open your Run dialog box by pressing Win + R.
Type “msconfig” without the quotes.
Click on the Boot tab and ensure the “Safe Boot” option is unchecked.
Open the General Tab and click on the “Selective startup.”
Uncheck the option on the Load startup items and open the Services tab.
Hide the Microsoft services by checking Hide all Microsoft Services.
Uncheck the remaining services.
Click the Startup tab and open Task manager.
Disable every item in the Task Manager, and once you have finished restart the computer. Check and see if you’re still having hanging issues with your app. You will then enable all the items again, though I suggest turning on a few at a time. If the problem persists, check the application you’ve just re-enabled. Once you’ve pinpointed which app or service is causing your problem, reinstall that app, and the one that’s freezing.
Update Your Drivers
Your Windows may freeze because of the old and outdated drivers. You can update the drivers by typing “Device Manager” in the computer search box located at the bottom side of the screen. Select the application which seems to launch it. Select every hardware option one by one and right-click on them to get the option “Update driver.” Once you have updated the drivers, you can restart your computer and continue using the application.
Re-Register The Misbehaving App
If the mischievous application is a Windows 10 built-in app, for instance, the Calculator, you may re-register it to make it work. Re-registering an application will require you to do a Powershell command. You can run the Powershell command in your Windows 10 by typing PowerShell in the search bar and right-clicking it. Tap on the Run as administrator option and input
Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
command in that Powershell. Once you enter, your applications will be re-registered, and you can reboot your computer to check if the application is still misbehaving.
Final Thought
One of these solutions will help you solve your application issues and allow you to use it. If the not responding message appears immediately after installing a new app, probably your computer is incompatible with the application. But if the application has stopped working suddenly, then your programs may be conflicting with it, or a file may be corrupt.
Technician at Computer PRO Unltd, father of one, gamer.