How to kill any process in Ubuntu ?

Sometime we stuck on a application when it does not respond and we would being work on multiple applications. So, how to close it?

There can be multiple way to close it. Either we can wait until it responds, or we can close it forcibly. To quit forcefully we have two options.

1. Run a kill command on terminal.
2. Any GUI application to kill any program. (easiest way)

1. Run a kill command on terminal

To kill any program using terminal we should know the exact process name from which it is running. Sometimes it may be ambiguous and mistakenly we might kill another process. So it require some expertise on Ubuntu and may not be suited to new learner. Because some users recognise any program to its icon(logo).

Let see how we can use kill command on terminal to close a application-
First open terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T. It will open terminal window.
Check all running programs/processes by typing-

 ps -A 

It will show all running programs with process IDs. Note down the process ID of program that you want to kill, and Type

kill <processidofprograme>      

Let see by example -

Here I typed ps -A in terminal.
I got the list of all running programs.
I have to close the Thunderbird program which has 19177 process ID.
Then I typed kill 19177 to kill the Thunderbird.
You can also type kill -9 19177 to quit forcibly, if above command does not work.

2.  GUI application to kill any program.

Like Task Manager in Windows OS, There is also an application available in Ubuntu called System Monitor, that provides same facilities as Task Manager in Simple and easy way.

Press Windows key and type System Monitor in filter-

Click on System Monitor package. System Monitor GUI will be opened.

1. Click on Processes.

2. Find your desired processed to be closed, select it. (I have selected Thunderbird)

3. Press End Process button.

4. Confirm box will be appeared, again click on End Process button.