Windows 11 24H2/25H2 Flaw Keeps Task Manager Running After You Close It

Microsoft has acknowledged a persistent bug affecting Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 that prevents Task Manager from properly terminating when users close the application. The issue causes multiple instances of the system monitoring tool to accumulate in the background, potentially degrading device performance over time.

The problem occurs when users close Task Manager using the standard Close button, after which the process continues running invisibly and reappears when Task Manager is reopened, with several taskmgr.exe instances visible in both the Processes tab and the Details tab under their executable name. While a few lingering instances have minimal impact, the cumulative effect can slow other applications and reduce overall system responsiveness.

Microsoft has provided two temporary workarounds—ending the Task Manager process from within Task Manager, or using Command Prompt to force close all running Task Manager instances with taskkill.exe /im taskmgr.exe /f—while engineers investigate the underlying cause. The company has promised to share additional information as the investigation progresses.