Captain Kill Switch is a free system-tray utility that closes every running application in one click - a clean close request first, then a firm stop within two seconds. An allowlist model protects Windows system and session processes. Tiny native app, auto-updates, 10 languages. Anonymous usage statistics only; see https://captainkillswitch.com/privacy.
Publisher’s description
What is Captain Kill Switch?
Captain Kill Switch by Captain Kill Switch Team is proprietary Windows software in the system utilities category. It is written in Shell.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides MSI installers for 64-bit Windows. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.4.16, released on October 22, 2026. The version history goes back to July 21, 2026: 17 releases, all linked to the official files. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 182 times. Similar programs include AutoHotkey, Bazel and Simplenote.
Project description on GitHub: “Public download host for Captain Kill Switch — binaries + latest.json served via GitHub Pages. Source lives in the private app repo.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Updated in the last two months
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: Captain Kill Switch is a system utilitie tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Captain Kill Switch safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
8F1441118788C8B2ED6B5B6B31BA584B4818C875231B292815BBD68B95B2FC7A· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 17 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4.16Latest | October 22, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 0.4.15 | October 12, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 0.4.14 | October 8, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 0.4.13 | October 7, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 0.4.12 | October 7, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 0.4.11 | October 2, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 0.4.10 | October 1, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 0.4.9 | October 1, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id CaptainKillSwitch.CaptainKillSwitch -echoco install captain-kill-switch -ymsiexec /i captain-kill-switch-0.4.16-windows-x64.msi /qn /norestartmsiexec /x {E558ACBA-B034-477C-A1C3-61EA78A0B67B} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Captain Kill Switch Team
- Category
- System utilities
- Licence
- Proprietary (free)
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Source code
- github.com/captainkillswitch/downloads
- Written in
- Shell
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- MSI
- Version
- 0.4.16
- Released
- October 22, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- July 29, 2026
- Versions listed
- 17
- Chocolatey downloads
- 182
- Website
- captainkillswitch.com
- winget ID
- CaptainKillSwitch.CaptainKillSwitch
- Chocolatey package
- captain-kill-switch
- MSI product code
- {E558ACBA-B034-477C-A1C3-61EA78A0B67B}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Captain Kill Switch free?
Captain Kill Switch is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary (free)). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is Captain Kill Switch safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Captain Kill Switch with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Captain Kill Switch be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does Captain Kill Switch run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Captain Kill Switch?
The versions page lists all 17 versions with links to their official installer files, back to July 21, 2026.
What are alternatives to Captain Kill Switch?
AutoHotkey, Bazel, Simplenote, osquery and Hydrus Network. The alternatives page compares them.
