Page Content:
Can't End Process in Windows, Access is Denied - What's the Reason?
Try 5 Methods to Fix Access Denied Error
Prevention: Back Up Your Computer to Avoid Data Loss
Frequently Asked Questions About 'Can't End Task, Access Denied'
User Case:

"Hey, is there any way to kill a process that's running with denied permissions without restarting the server? I've tried force closing it in CMD and PowerShell, but no luck."  - Reddit

"Unable to End Task, Access Denied" is one of the most common errors encountered by Windows users. This usually occurs after an application becomes unmanageable or behaves erratically. Eventually, the application gets out of control, and this error pops up when a user attempts to terminate any running process of that application.

This doesn't mean that the problem is unsolvable or beyond repair, though. If users are still having issues when trying to end processes via Task Manager, there are a few fixes they can try.

Error: Unable to complete the task, access denied.

So, how to fix the "Access is denied - Unable to terminate task" issue? That's what we'll delve into, focusing on finding solutions that help users resolve this problem effortlessly in just a few simple steps. Let's get started.

"Access denied when trying to terminate a process in Windows - Why?"

There can be numerous reasons why a user is unable to terminate a process. It could be due to a lack of administrative privileges or the inability to read and write files. Additionally, this issue can arise when a Windows computer is infected with a virus or is experiencing other software-related problems.

Here are some of the reasons that people offer for why this might be so:

    - ?️ User lacks the required administrator privileges to terminate the process; - ?‍? A third-party security software may block the process from being terminated; - ? Antivirus software might prevent potential threats or unauthorized operations; - ❌ Windows may deny process termination to avoid data corruption or system instability; - ? Windows might restrict the termination of certain processes; - ? The process could refuse to terminate to prevent unauthorized interference with its execution; - ? If the process is owned by another user or a system account, it might not allow the process to be ended.

These are some of the main reasons why this issue occurs in Windows, where users encounter an error stating that they cannot terminate a process and access is denied. Hence, it's crucial to find alternative ways to end processes that might be causing instability in the system.

5 Ways to Fix the "Access Denied" Error

Just because this error is annoying doesn't mean it's unfixable. There are several known ways to resolve this issue, and we'll discuss five solutions. These fixes include using a “Process Hacker” app and running the “wmic process where name processname.exe” command.

These methods will terminate unstable processes in Windows and any third-party apps that might be causing issues, so let's try them out to resolve the Access is denied error.

  1. Solution 1: Kill the Task using CMD
  2. Solution 2: Utilize WMIC
  3. Solution 3: Use the Task Manager
  4. Solution 4: Employ Process Hacker
  5. Solution 5: Restart the Device

Solution 1: End the Task using CMD

The first solution is to use the Command Prompt terminal and commands to try and end the pesky process. This direct approach allows users to easily solve errors such as “Access is denied.”

This is also easy to do, as users only have to copy and paste the commands, so here's how to use CMD to fix it:

Step 1: Run CMD as an administrator and open the Command Prompt.

"taskkill /im process-name /f" This is a Windows command used to forcefully terminate a specified process. The "/im" parameter specifies the image name of the process, and "process-name" should be replaced with the actual name of the process. The "/f" parameter indicates that the termination should be forced.

Replace the name with the app's name

It's as simple as that – you can easily kill any process that's causing problems under any workload. It's important, however, to use the command properly and open the Details tab to see which EXE file is causing the instability. Then, copy and paste its name into the command to terminate it correctly.

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Solution 2: Use WMIC

The next method is to launch the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line, also known as WMIC, which is one of the best ways to stop or remove unnecessary and unstable processes in Windows.

Here are the steps for users to resolve this issue using the WMIC command in CMD:

Step 1: Reopen the CMD.

Step 2: First, type "cd C:\Windows\System32" and press Enter to open the System32 folder.

<Step 3> Type the following command:

"wmic process where name='myprocessname.exe' delete"

Step 4: Replace myprocessname.exe with the name of your application.

Replace with the application name

This will close the program and remove any files or junk that might be preventing the user from closing it. So make sure to copy the command exactly as mentioned above.

Solution 3: Process Explorer

Process Explorer is an official Microsoft program that's sometimes offered to users via a Pro version of Windows Update. Average or occasional users need to download it manually to their computers, and it's one of the best options for terminating any unstable processes.

So you download this thing called Process Explorer, and you use that to kill the process.

Step 1: Download and unzip the Process Explorer file.

Step 2: Run the app as an administrator.

Step 3: Find the offending app, and then double-click it.

4. Next, go to Security > Permissions > Advanced.

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Step 5: On your computer, choose Primary Account, then tap Edit.

Select Primary Account

Step 6. Check Full Control, Read, and Write.

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Step 7: Now, click on the process, and then click End Process.

Click “End Process” (if available).

This will easily end the process and stop the unstable program. This is one of the best and simplest ways to fix problems and close unresponsive apps.

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Solution 4: Use Process Hacker

Process Hacker is a third-party tool that enables users to terminate any process on their Windows PC. It's one of the best programs or third-party tools to use for unstable applications that won't close normally. It's also very lightweight, so it doesn't require any download or installation time.

Therefore, downloading and using the Process Hacker app is another good method to fix this issue. Here's how to download and use it to resolve the problem:

Step 1: Download Process Hacker from its website on your computer.

Step 2: Right-click on the annoying program.

Step 3: Tap and hold End Process.

Locate and click "End Task." Locate and click 'End Task.'

This will end the process and terminate any applications that might be causing the issue. This is why it's important to download and allow this app to end or close any unresponsive programs or processes.

Solution 5: Restart your device

Sometimes, simply restarting the device can fix unresponsive apps, and that might be enough for many users encountering this issue. It might even obviate the need for further tinkering with CMD commands or third-party apps.

Here's how to use the Start menu option to restart your computer easily:

Step 1: Click the Start menu.

Step 2: Press the power button.

<Step 3> Touch <Restart> now to restart your computer.

Click "Restart" to proceed. Click to Restart

A clean boot of the computer is likely to resolve the error and fix the issue for the user. Hence, it's essential to try this method first before moving on to other solutions to see if it works.

Prepare for the worst: back up your computer's data

Errors like “task not completed” or “access denied” are frustrating, and worse, they can result in the loss of data. If a system becomes unstable, a sudden crash can cause data to be lost.

Unless users rely on high-quality third-party backup tools like Todo Backup, one of the favorites for both professionals and regular users, as it can help them easily back up their important data in such cases.

Here are some features of Todo Backup that tell us why it is the best backup option and safeguard against data loss:

    • One-click backup and instant recovery options for speedier processes;
    • Up to 250 GB of cloud storage for data backups;
    • The ability to back up hard drives to another drive and to back up Windows and other files;
    • Assistance in restoring these files from anywhere.

This means you can back up and restore files or Windows on different hardware. Here's how to create a backup of your PC with the tool to prevent data loss:

Conclusion

These are the most likely and effective ways to fix “Cannot End Task, Access Denied” on Windows. If one doesn't work, be sure to try them all, as it's very likely that at least one of these methods – or all of them – will effectively stop the unresponsive process.

However, before attempting any of these, users must also back up their data, which prevents unnecessary data loss, and Todo Backup is the best software for the job. So, make sure to create a backup before trying the above fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions About "Access Denied" When Terminating a Task

Here are some common questions about the “Can't quit” and “Access denied” errors:

Why can't I end a task in Task Manager?

The user might be attempting to end a process that is protected by a Windows service. Hence, the Task Manager doesn't terminate it because it is programmed not to interfere with any Windows or essential processes. However, if the application or service is not part of Windows, it could potentially be a virus.

2. What is the error code for "Access denied"?

A common error code in this issue is 5, or there may be no code at all. However, this error rarely displays any kind of error message.

How do I end unnecessary tasks in Windows?

You can do this by blocking certain apps from running at startup through the Task Manager. You can also open MSCONFIG through “Run,” and prevent all non-Microsoft services from running at startup.

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