Microsoft has acknowledged a bug in an optional Windows 11 update that prevents the Task Manager from closing properly. After installing the KB5067036 preview update released in October 2025, users find that clicking the close button does not fully terminate the application. Instead, the process continues to run in the background, with multiple hidden instances accumulating over time.
These lingering processes, visible as "taskmgr.exe" in the system details, consume system resources and can lead to performance degradation, including application slowdowns and stuttering. While Microsoft is still investigating a permanent solution, it has provided a temporary workaround. Users can manually end each process via a new Task Manager window or use a specific command in an elevated Command Prompt to force-quit all instances at once.
The KB5067036 update is an optional preview release that also introduced a new Start Menu and security features. It requires manual installation for most users, though it installs automatically for those who have enabled the "Get the latest updates" setting. Despite this issue, the update also resolved several other problems, including a non-functional Media Creation Tool and specific update errors affecting Windows 11 24H2 systems.
Read more...