The Strange Case of the Never-Ending Task Manager: Windows 11 Bug Duplicates Process Instead of Closing It

If you’re experiencing Task Manager issues on Windows 11, avoid the latest OS update

Windows 11 users who rely on the Task Manager tool should steer clear of Microsoft’s most recent OS update. Reports from Reddit users and tech journalist Tom Warren indicate that a bug in the optional Windows 11 KB5067036 update is causing Task Manager to duplicate itself when users try to close the application, negatively impacting computer performance.

Task Manager bug preventing proper shutdown

The bug in question is affecting the functionality of the “X” button used to exit Task Manager. Instead of closing the app as intended, the bug keeps Task Manager running in the background. This issue leads to multiple instances of Task Manager being generated with each attempt to open and close the application, causing excessive consumption of CPU and RAM resources.

Microsoft acknowledges the problem

Microsoft has recognized the issue and provided information on a support page, stating that the bug results in numerous lingering instances of taskmgr.exe that can degrade device performance by consuming system resources. The company is actively working on a solution and promises to share more details as they become available.

Temporary workaround for Task Manager issue

To address the Task Manager bug temporarily, Windows Latest and Reddit user BNSoul have discovered a workaround. Users can individually close Task Manager instances by selecting the “End task” button within the app instead of using the “X” button. Alternatively, running taskkill /im taskmgr.exe /f in the Windows 11 Command Prompt can shut down all Task Manager instances simultaneously. Microsoft endorses these solutions as well.

Update, October 31st: Added details from Microsoft.