Windows 10: Windows 11. Why would pressing Alt-F4 will close an App/Window that is in the background...

I thought this was only to do with FoxitPDF as it generally opens to be the last app/window in the list of open apps Alt-Tab; however, as I am paying more attention I am certain it is occurring with other apps as well.

:)

 

Why is ALT+F4 closing my background apps?

As the title says. After I updated my Windows 11 to the latest version, pressing ALT+F4 is now closing my background apps instead of the active app in front of my screen.

 

Alt-F4 change back to close window

Alt+F4 will shut down whatever app/window currently has focus. If that is a window for an app then that app will close, bringing up it's closing dialog if needed (eg Notepad's 'Do you want to save changes.....?' prompt).

But if you first click on an empty part of your Desktop or Taskbar before using Alt+F4 then the 'app' that currently has focus is the Windows UI (user interface) - and asking that to close down will bring up the Windows UI closing dialog....





So just make sure that you have clicked on the window that you want to close before using Alt+F4 and it should work as you expect.

 

Windows 8 Clubhouse

Metro apps don't close, they just move to the background. You can kill them with Alt+F4 but there's no close button. To "exit" an app just press the start button.