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# Kill unresponsive applications on Linux
- URL: https://mfitzp.ghost.io/kill-unresponsive-applications-on-linux/
- Published: 2012-01-24T08:42:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-06-26T08:43:10.000Z
- Author: Martin Fitzpatrick
- Tags: Linux, Bash, #Import 2024-03-14 08:20, #Import 2026-08-24 14:26

Sometimes things go a bit wrong. Sometimes they go very wrong. XKill is a simple little application that allows you to kill a running X application that has got out of kilter. Think of this as a quick way to get back control of your Desktop.

`xkill` is installed by default on most distributions.

When a program you are running has hung hit Alt + F2 to bring up the Run dialog. Enter `xkill` an press enter.

💡

**Alternatively if you have a terminal window already open you can use that to run `xkill` too.*

Depending on your theme/desktop setup you will now see either an X symbol or a skull and crossbones. Simply hover the mouse of the application that is being naughty and left-click with the mouse. The application should immediately disappear.

💡

**If you find you've run `xkill` by mistake you can right-click to cancel. If the application that has hung is not in the foreground you can use `Alt+Tab` to cycle applications even while `xkill` is running.*