NAS Compares

QNAP x53D 16GB and 32GB Crucial Memory Upgrade Guide

task manager qnap

How to Upgrade the RAM in your QNAP TS-x53D NAS to 16GB or 32GB

Back in early 2020 when the QNAP TS-x53D NAS was first announced, many users were surprised at the maximum memory limit that the manufacturers stated on the specifications. With the Intel J4000 series chip that QNAP TS-x53D NAS arrives with, it did seem odd that the maximum or 8GB of DDR4 2400 memory for this chip was listed firmly in the specification. On the face of it, 8GB seems like plenty. That will comfortably support the NAS tasks of a plex media server, all those productive first-party NAS applications and backups. However, as file sizes grow, as NAS surveillance gets popular, as virtual machine and container station applications grow in popularity, it will not be too long before you will see that memory use ALWAYS above 80% in the task manager. Sadly, we have asked the manufacturers and they continue to stand by the fact that you cannot exceed this limit, officially- understandable, as stability of your system is ESSENTIAL. However, I am pleased to tell you that I have been experimenting with several different sizes of RAM sticks and various brands, and am pleased to confirm that not only can you use non-official own-brand memory in the QNAP TS-x53D NAS (so that is the QNAP TS-253D, TS-453D and TS-653D), but also that you can install two 16GB sticks of DDR4 RAM (one per slot) meaning you can have a QNAP TS-x53D NAS with 32GB of Memory! Read below for my guide, it will detail how to install the RAM, how to check that it is installed correctly and how to test that it is working straight away.

Upgrading your QNAP TS-x53D NAS to 16/32GB of Memory – Pay Attention

Before we continue with the guide, it is worth highlighting that the QNAP TS-x53D NAS manufacturer strongly recommends that you do not exceed the stated memory limit on their specifications page. They also highlight that using non-official memory in your QNAP TS-x53D NAS may invalidate your warranty. We at NASCompares cannot be held accountable for how you use this guide. However below I will show you where to buy the individual memory and QNAP TS-x53D NAS NAS device you will need. Only attempt this upgrade if you are comfortable with the terms laid out above by the manufacturer. Alternatively, you can buy the QNAP TS-x53D NAS with 16GB or 32GB pre-installed from the NAS experts, ensuring your warranty is unchanged.16GB QNAP TS-x53D NAS Memory Upgrade – Step 1, Physical Installation

What you will need:

  • A QNAP TS-x53D NAS – 
  • 2x Crucial 16GB (32GB Total) Memory Upgrade – Link below

VERY IMPORTANT – The Links used in the article below towards the correct unofficial memory are occasionally changed (beyond my control) as it will direct you to the site in your own region/country. MAKE SURE to check that the memory module (especially 16 and 32GB SODIMM modules) are DUAL RANK or ‘ DR ‘, as Synology NAS typically have trouble with SR/SINGLE RANK modules.

  • Small Phillips Head Screwdriver  – (kinda optional but recommended for chassis

task manager qnap

  • (OPTIONAL) Antistatic gloves and Envelope –  useful to eliminate static charges and also to store the removed older official memory sticks)

First, we need to ensure the QNAP TS-x53D NAS is completely powered down/off and the mains power has been disconnected. It is recommended that you remove the Hard Drive or SSD that you have installed before accessing the RAM as it may block the slots. Additionally, you should remove the hard drive media as the unit will be moved around a lot during the memory installation and this could damage the drives. Be sure to keep a note of the drives that you remove and the order they were installed (HDD Bay 1, HDD Bay 2, etc) as installing the drives in the wrong slots could damage any existing RAID you have set up internally. Next, we need to access and remove the existing memory, as the new 16GB / 32GB of memory upgrade for our QNAP TS-x53D NAS will occupy both slots. Be sure you eject the official memory sticks using the clips either side of the slot, as well as only holding the memory sticks by the narrow side edges, never touching the chips or board of the money or NAS

Once you have removed them, they can either be stored away for a later project, installed in a compatible laptop or sold on eBay etc to make a little cash back! Once they are clear, install an 8GB or 16GB DDR4 Crucial Memory stick in each of the now available slots, making sure that you click them both in with the clips either side. Once down, replace the QNAP TS-x53D NAS chassis lid if you removed it for ease of access, as well as the hard drives. You have now concluded the physical installation of 16GB / 32GB of Crucial DDR4 memory in the QNAP TS-x53D NAS.

16GB / 32GB QNAP TS-x53D NAS Memory Upgrade – Step 2, Checking the 16GB Memory is Recognized

  • The QNAP TS-x53D NAS NAS – Obviously
  • DDR4 2400 or 2666mhz SODIMM (non ECC) Memory
  • A web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc) on a Windows, Mac or Android Machine) accessing the QNAP TS-x53D NAS user-interface as you normally would.

Next you need to power up your QNAP TS-x53D NAS NAS and access it as you normally would. If you are buying this NAS first time and have yet to set it up, there are numerous first time set up guides and tips on the SPANTV YouTube channel here – that will get you from the hardware installation to set up the QNAP TS-x53D NAS NAS for use. Once the NAS user interface (UI) is ready to go, head over to the hardware specification page shown here:

task manager qnap

As you can see from this CPU and Memory display, the QNAP TS-x53D NAS has recognized and made available the 16GB of crucial memory. It will be immediately available for use and you will see that the % amount of use of the RAM in the resource monitor will be much, much lower, as there is significantly more memory available for the system!

task manager qnap

16GB QNAP TS-x53D NAS Memory Upgrade – Step 3, Checking the 16GB Memory is Working

There are several ways to check the memory is working on your QNAP TS-x53D NAS correctly. First, you can perform as many actions and processes as possible (scans, copy/pastes, thumbnail generation, transcode a 4K file, RAID changes, synchronisation, etc) at once to see how the task manager and resource monitor behaves in the QNAP TS-x53D NAS. It should spike each time and at a greater height as you do more and more and once it exceeds the memory you had previously installed, this is a good confirmation that the installation is working fine.

task manager qnap

Alternatively, you can temporarily allocate chunks of memory and then that is a much more reliable test. Install the virtual machine application for the QNAP TS-x53D NAS (P.S. for Synology users it is the Virtual Machine Manager and for QNAP it is the Virtualisation station). Then you can create individual VMs (it is alot easier than it sounds and the QNAP TS-x53D NAS VM software is very user-friendly) then allocate 3-4GB of memory to each one. When you have created 3 or 4 individual virtual machine containers on the QNAP TS-x53D NAS software, then you can run them all at once and that will immediately use almost all the memory at once!

task manager qnap

If there are any issues with the memory, it will show here almost immediately. If no problems, then you know the QNAP TS-x53D NAS 16GB or 32GB of DDR4 crucial memory installation as successful. You can then delete the VMs in the virtual machine software and then free up all that memory again.

task manager qnap

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37 thoughts on “ qnap x53d 16gb and 32gb crucial memory upgrade guide ”.

I have buy the ‎Crucial CT2K16G4SFD824A (DDR4 2400 no ecc) installed in TS 453D. Upgrade to 2x16GB and no error.Thank you! REPLY ON YOUTUBE

Hi Guys. I have a QNAP TS-653D with 32GB RAM installed. It is a Hynix HMA82GS6CJR8N 2Rx8 (two pieces of 16 GB each). It works flawlessly. So it doesn’t have to be CRUCIAL 😉 REPLY ON YOUTUBE

i have same QNAP model & i bought Crucial 16gb ddr4 2666 as u show and it didn’t work REPLY ON YOUTUBE

Great video. I’ve just upgraded my TS-453D to 8Gb (1 stick of Crucial DDRM4 8GB). Everything works perfectly but the ssh connection . It is giving a timeout error everytime I try to connect. When I put the original 4 Gb RAM back, it works. Any idea why this may happen and any solution or workaround? REPLY ON YOUTUBE

his video fake … i buy same Ram but its not work my qnap.. REPLY ON YOUTUBE

I upgraded my QNAP 453D from 4GB to 32GB as you explained. Replaced the existing ADATA 4GB DDR4 2666 with 32GB (2x16gb) Cruial DDR4 2400Mhz. It is working fine.. Thank you! REPLY ON YOUTUBE

i love this video but I have a ts464 will the 32g Crucial memory work for it REPLY ON YOUTUBE

Must it be rucial RAM, or will others work? REPLY ON YOUTUBE

Just to confirm that Crucial CT2K16G4SFD8266 32GB Kit does work in TS-453D, however Crucial RAM CT16G4SFRA32A 16GB DDR4 3200MHz does NOT work ( in any combination). Tested 9th Jul 22 REPLY ON YOUTUBE

For those interested only in the results, jump to section named [Conclusion].

@rob I’ve been investigating the TS-453D/TS-653D as well to see what RAM can be installed. I spent a lot of time reading a lot of the different forum posts/articles, and I’ve noticed a lot of contradictions amongst users. After spending more time (with a large focus on Crucial memory), I decided to look at the actual raw specs at Intel to check for why there are discrepancies, as well as investigate the Crucial part code decoding.

Below is what I’ve researched and gathered, and I think this is useful for both your videos/explanations, as well as to users.

[Background] 1. The Celeron J4125 CPU is based on the Gemini Lake processors, and there is a follow-up set of Celeron N-series set of CPUs (N5105 for example) that use this same core architecture.

Gemini Lake processors have limitations that are causing specific SODIMMs to be rejected. Below, I list the exact reference material to help explain the details. 2.A. The total number of address lines is limited to 17. This limits the actual DRAM die size to <= 2Gb per die. Refer to MEM_CH0/CH1_MA[16:0], in Memory Address of Section 2.3.1 Table 2-3. 2.B. Because DDR4 specification requires DQ width of 64-bits for a memory line and the max die size is 2Gb, this means that only SDP/DDP are supported. The max package size is 2GB, and the max number of packages per rank is 4. Refer to Section 3.2 Table 3-4. 2.C. Only Raw Card A and Raw Card B is supported for UDIMM/SODIMMs. Refer to DDR4, in Raw Card Support of Section 3.2 Table 3-2. 2.D. The memory controller operates at exactly DDR4 2400Mhz. There is no overlcoking capability. Refer to System Memory Timing Support, in DDR4 of Section 3.2 Table 3-6. 2.E. Intel Gemini Lake Spec: https://cdrdv2.intel.com/v1/dl/getContent/336560?explicitVersion=true JEDEC specifications that are causing specific SODIMMs to be rejected. Below, I list the exact reference material to help explain the details. 3.A. Bank Group BG1 is not supported on Raw Cards A and B, when using DDR4. Refer to Annex A and Annex B of JEDEC’s JESD21-C. 3.B. JEDEC JESD21-C’s Annex Documents: https://www.jedec.org/document_search?search_api_views_fulltext=so-dimm&order=field_doc_date_published&sort=desc Crucial memory parts and numbering limitations, for SODIMMs. 4.A. All DDR4 memory comes in the form of ARxB. A is the Rank Count in (1,2). B is the Bank-Per-Rank count in (4,8,16). 4.B. Memory from Crucial have a special numbering that exhibit a supply-based selection that does not necessarily adhere to a specific Rank and Bank-Per-Rank count. These models have “SRFA” in the model numbering. 4.C. Modules from Crucial have specific Rank and Bank-Per-Rank count that can be seen for each product. A specific Rank and Bank-Per-Rank can be chosen. 4.D. Crucial SODIMM memory product information: https://www.crucial.com/catalog/memory/ddr4-laptop

[Conclusion] 5. The largest size memory module that is supported is 16GB, in 2 channels, for a total of 32GB. 5.A. Even though the Gemini Lake spec specifies a maximum of 8GB memory, the actual max is 32GB. This is likely because testing at the time for DDR4 SODIMMs did not include such high-density DDR4 die. 5.B. The calcuation goes like this: Max Package Size x Packages Per Rank x Ranks per Channel x Channels = 2GB x 4 x 2 x 2 = 32GB

Use memory of rank-bank sizing: 1Rx8 or 2Rx8. 6.A. Don’t use memory modules of 1Rx16 or 2Rx16. 6.B. Due to the Gemini Lake limitations of 17-bit addressing, Bank-Per-Rank counts of 16 cannot not be used. 6.C. This is why people notice that dual-ranked modules tend to be more compatible. 2Rx16 is very rare on the market, but they DO exist. On the other hand, 1Rx16 is common for smaller memory modules, and people will use this incorrectly. Crucial models to avoid 7.A. Don’t use any with “SRFA” in the model numbering. Even though they are cheaper, Crucial decides what to send based on their supply. And, you will find out the hard way when you get an x16. 7.B. Avoid CT16G4SFRA32A, CT8G4SFRA266, CT2K8G4SFRA266, CT8G4SFRA32A, CT16G4SFRA266, and CT2K16G4SFRA266. Crucial models to use 8.A. Do use dual-channel memory that is bought together. 8.B. Look for CT2K as the prefix in the model numbering. The “2K” implies a 2-kit set. 8.C. Use 2400 Mhz to save on cost. 2666 Mhz are backwards compatible to 2400 Mhz, but the extra speed isn’t usable. 8.D. Examples: 2x16GB (CT2K16G4SFD824A), 2x8GB (CT2K8G4SFD824A), 2x8GB (CT2K8G4SFS824A) 8.E. Note: I have NOT directly tested any of the examples above yet, but these have been referenced in this article or in other people’s successes. Other Memory pointers 9.A. Use standard memory modules that don’t require over-clocking. The key hint is to look for memory that operates 2400Mhz at 1.2V. 9.B. When searching for memory, remember that these are laptop-sized modules. I.e. DDR4 SODIMMs 260-pin. 8.C. Find unbuffered non-ECC memory: Unbuffered Non-ECC SODIMM. This motherboard does not support otherwise. 8.D. Don’t purchase a single memory module over 16GB. A dual-memory-module kit of 32GB (2x16GB) is the max.

has anyone tried 4GB + 32GB configuration? REPLY ON YOUTUBE

@luna, that won’t work. 32GB modules aren’t supported.

has anyone actually checked.. even though the memory is faster at 2666 it is not running at that speed as shown by dmidecode 3.1 Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs. SMBIOS 3.1.1 present.

Handle 0x0025, DMI type 17, 84 bytes Memory Device Array Handle: 0x0023 Error Information Handle: Not Provided Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 16384 MB Form Factor: SODIMM Set: None Locator: A1_DIMM0 Bank Locator: A1_BANK0 Type: DDR4 Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 2400 MT/s Manufacturer: Crucial Serial Number: 22211621 Asset Tag: 9876543210 Part Number: CT16G4SFD8266.M16F Rank: Unknown Configured Clock Speed: 2400 MT/s Minimum Voltage: 1.2 V Maximum Voltage: 1.2 V Configured Voltage: 1.2 V REPLY ON YOUTUBE

Thanks!! REPLY ON YOUTUBE

TS-453D RAM 32GB (2X16G) UPGRADE MODEL : SAMSUNG M471A2K43DB1-CTD 16GB PC4-2666V REPLY ON YOUTUBE

anyone can recommend me what 8gb RAM brand & serial number which compatible to be installed with an existing 4gb for TS253D? REPLY ON YOUTUBE

Hello! Thank you very much for the article and the information you provided. I am happy to report that my newly-purchased TS-453D=4G is now enjoying full 32GB or RAM. Along with the NAS I bought a 2X16GB SO-DIMMS kit (Crucial CT2K16G4SFD8266), I installed and everything went fine. Well, in the beginning the NAS would only see 16GB instead of 32GB, but after shutting it down and re-inserting the memory modules again in the slots, the full 32GB glory appeared.

Many thanks for the research!

PS: the TS-453D was bought as a replacement to my almost dead TS-419P II. Happy to say that moving the disks from the old NAS to the new one worked like a charm. Next stop in the journey is to convert the volume (currently it’s still legacy, as I carry it from 2012…)

Hi Just to say I succeeded in upgrading my TS-235D from 4 to 32GB with 2x16GB Crucial sticks as specified above. Booted up first time with no problems which was a welcome relief I must say! Many thanx to NAS Compares for your master class and research as always. I’ve only owned the box for less than 12 months. In that time I also has success in installing a third party WiFi 6 card as per one of your articles. It saved me a shed-load of money. I bought the card for Au$60 versus buying the genuine QNAP badged one for over 4 times that! I’m overjoyed once again. The main reason for upgrading RAM was that QSirch is such a memory hog and every time I turned it on, the “lights went dim” 😉 and the box was about as good as a boat anchor. QSirch is handy but if you try to run it with the bog standard config of 4GB it runs so s_l_o_w….

Seems that ct16g4sfra266 will not boot

I bought a TS-653D-4G this week. I added to the stock 4GB ram a Crucial 16GB @2666Mhz – Ref CT16G4SFRA266, and it is working fine, 20GB (19,46GB) recognized and 20GB usable (4+16gb) – Firmware 4.5.4.1741 REPLY ON YOUTUBE

I can confirm that TS-453D (BIOS: Q04MAR12, Firmware: 4.5.4.1723) works with 24GB RAM (1x Crucial CT16G4SFRA266 + 1x Crucial CT8G4SFRA266). Prior to that I was running 2x CT8G4SFRA266 for about four months without any issue at all.

Cheers, Mark

Dear Rob, thank you for this great article. I have just one question: This is clearly about the x53D and which RAM is compatible. But in the list of RAM the reference is the NAS DS920. Is this a mistake or is it something I am not getting. Thanx

I also was not able to get 32GB total to work. The NAS just would not boot up. Running on 16GB just fine. FYI I bought Crucial .

TS-453D with Firmware 4.5.1.1540 Build 20210107 & BIOS Version is Q04MAR12

There seems so little stock around at the moment (especially reasonably priced near rrp) so I thought I’d risk Crucial Ballistix from Amazon: Crucial Ballistix BL2K8G32C16S4B (2 x 8gb) https://amzn.to/31Bsjib – in stock with Prime for £65

Plugged in and worked off the bat – booted fine and 24hrs later no problems (so far).

Yes, I know this is “gaming” ram and the 453D isn’t going to use the 3200MHz speed, but slower speeds were out of stock and more expensive!?! As far as I could spot, this was one of the cheapest branded 2 x 8gb kit available in UK atm.

As it seems the majority of people with problems seem to be trying to run 2 x 16gb sticks, could it be an 8gb limit on each slot issue?

As for other brands – I think I’ve seen a few on the Qnap forum using HyperX and GSkill Ripjaw, but you’ll have to check which sets.

I agree about the 2x8G. I tried several brands of 2x16G with no boot up. I backed of to 2x8G and it boots no problem. As for how others are getting 32G I have no idea. IMO I think 16G will suit my needs for now. I will keep an eye here in case I need to upgrade in the future.

Probably down to the ranks on 16GB sticks. All modules have different ranks so you will have compatibility issues on certain systems if it doesn’t know how to correctly address the memory.

I am curious if it’s the crucial brand or if Qnap blocked the upgrade. Has any one tried a differnt brand of ram other than the crucial?

I’m the bearer of bad news unfortunately…

My TS-453D won’t boot with new Crucial CT16G4SFD8266 (or CT2K16G4SFD8266 if you purchase them in combo) – I have tried 4 different modules separately, none will work. So that removes pretty much the possibility of having a bad module.

Firmware is 4.5.1.1540 Build 20210107

BIOS Version is Q04MAR12

Putting back the original OEM 4GB module makes the TS-453D boot again correctly.

I had the same problem did you get the issue resolved?

Very interesting, indeed! Would you be so kind to check if it can be done with Asustor’s Lockerstor 4 and Nimbustor 4, please? They use the same CPU but maybe there’s more than that to it. Thanks a lot!

Thank you!! Worked for me! I ended up taking my TS-453D from 4GB to to 32GB with https://amzn.to/2LulQNo . Thank you for reassuring me that it would work and for the tip about the importance of Dual Rank (DR).

Links for Crucial 8GB and 16GB lead to the same product -> B071KP8CGJ

Intel specs say the J4125 (in TS-453D) supports max 8GB RAM.(its not just QNAP, I would understand if they go lower than Intel, but they obviously don’t). Is intel lying in this case? Or is it by luck whether it is supported by the CPU and just the guaranteed max is 8GB? How would you explain this discrepancy of 8GB in the CPU spec vs 32 as per your upgrade guide.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/197305/intel-celeron-processor-j4125-4m-cache-up-to-2-70-ghz.html

At the time of release Intel probably only verified 8GB. Since then there have been microcode and firmware updates that would have changed this. It’s nothing new and has been happening for years. They never go back to update the specification pages.

Intel, not QNAP, says that the CPUs in this series will not function properly with more than 8GB of memory. QNAP is simply passing on this information to customers. I suggest that the reason you are able to successfully install the elevated memory is a failure on the part of QNAP to block its recognition.

That is more down to the amount of RAM tested at the CPUs time of release. I have had many systems that exceed the “officially” supported RAM including a DDR2 system that officially only supported 4x1GB modules yet I had it running 4x2GB modules for many years with zero issues. Microcode and firmware updates often increase the limits but Intel don’t retroactively go back to the CPU specification pages to update this. You also have to remember that chipsets and the BIOS have a big part in overall capabilities of a system.

Could you please advise if Kingston HyperX Impact DDR4 16GB x2 (HX426S15IB2/16) will work or not?

Qmanager 4+

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  • 2.9 • 52 Ratings

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Description.

Ever wanted to monitor and manage your QNAP Turbo NAS with your iOS mobile device? The free Qmanager app is the perfect answer. Prerequisites: - iOS 14 or later - QNAP NAS running firmware V4.0 or later Major features of Qmanager: - Monitor your system information, such as CPU usage, memory usage, system event info, online user… - Check your download station, backup task info. You also can manage the download task or backup task remotely. You can pause or run the task. - Turn on/off application services via Qmanager with one simple click. - Check connection status or the current online users to prevent invasion. - Restart or shutdown the Turbo NAS remotely. - Use “Find My NAS” to let your NAS turn on the “Beep” sound.

Version 2.20.0

[Enhancements] - Enhanced compatibility with iOS 17. - Added support for QNE Container Station v3. [Fixed Issues] - Addressed a login issue that would occur when the "Keep me logged in" option was disabled in the previous login. [Other Changes] - To enhance your account security, when Passwordless Login is enabled, entering the password cannot be used as an alternative login method.

Ratings and Reviews

Missing cloud backup job status.

The app would be better if you could see cloud backup job status.

Basic But Helpful

This app is amazing at providing a basic high level overview of the statuses of the multitude of functions of your QNAP device. More detailed data and setup will still require logging in the old fashioned way.

Excellent app to manage my QNAP NASes

Easy to setup. 1. Clear graphical overview of my NAS’s CPU, RAM, Disks, uptime, temperature, etc. 2. Menu options for details as well as every aspect of the NAS’s functions. 3. Notifications for updates, security, etc. You need to setup QNAP cloud account and have your NAS on it. QNAP lets you setup 2 factors authentication as well multiple security options to keep my NAS secure. This app along with fille manager is perfect. Thanks, QNAP!

App Privacy

The developer, QNAP Systems, Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

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The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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Add items to crontab

  • 1.1 Skills required
  • 1.2 crontab
  • 2 Standard crontab jobs
  • 3 Adding entries at the command-line
  • 4 Modifying entries
  • 5 Restart the daemon

See Cron on Wikipedia

Skills required

You must be able to connect to your QNAP device using SSH and edit using a text editor such as vi or nano.

The crontab can be used to execute tasks (scripts) based on a recurring schedule. The crontab is used, for example, to restart the webserver during the night.

To view the content of your crontab, login to your QNAP via SSH and type:

You will see a (small) list of crontab entries.

Standard crontab jobs

The following table contains the standard QNAP jobs that run on schedules.

This list is by no means complete. Jobs may depend on the firmware version, start times may vary. If you find a job on your QNAP, that is missing from the table, add it. The list could help to identify unwanted jobs that regularly wake up your harddisk(s).

Adding entries at the command-line

Here are a couple of examples that append new entries to the crontab file:

Modifying entries

Do NOT edit crontab the usual way!

On a desktop or server distribution, you would edit a user's crontab with:

However, due to the way the QNAP firmware updates crontab, it will be overwritten on the next reboot. Obviously, you want your automation to survive reboots, so edit the crontab file directly with your text editor:

Restart the daemon

When you're done, reload the crontab file and restart the cron daemon:

Don't forget to make your scripts executable! Otherwise they will silently fail! You tested your script, right?

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Can't delete or add tasks [Solved]

Post by cpeacock » Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:30 pm

Re: Can't delete or add HTTP tasks

Post by cpeacock » Sun Jan 22, 2012 10:07 am

Post by japex » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:20 pm

Post by cpeacock » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:29 pm

japex wrote: But i also found out that when i add a task, qnap does the download althout it doesnt shows in dl task list.

Post by cpeacock » Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:23 pm

Find the reset button on the back of NAS. Press it for 10 seconds and release until you hear 2 beep sounds. This action will reset your admin password, network application and share folders as default. The share folder data will be kept on NAS and you can manually create it back.
The admin password and network configuration reset to the factory default.

Post by cpeacock » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:46 pm

Post by japex » Sun Feb 05, 2012 11:02 pm

** wrote: All resolved and working again. The download station 'task list' is stored in a SQLite database which sits at /mnt/HDA_ROOT/ds.db I couldn't find any utilities to query the database (sqlite3) so I deleted the above file. This immediately flushed the list in qget, but new entries wouldn't take. At this stage I rebooted and it all came good. I suspect you can probably kill the BTD daemon, but I haven't tried it. [ Edit : after deleting /mnt/HDA_ROOT/ds.db, do a "/etc/init.d/btd.sh restart" to restart download station and rebuild the database ]

Re: Can't delete or add HTTP tasks [Solved]

Post by cpeacock » Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:08 pm

Code: Select all

Re: Can't delete or add tasks [Solved]

Post by japex » Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:49 am

Post by cpeacock » Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:38 pm

rm: cannot remove `/mntHDA_ROOT/ds.db': No such file or directory

Post by r8wagon » Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:26 pm

Post by matzl9 » Sun Mar 01, 2015 10:36 pm

Re: Can't delete or add tasks

Post by ivy » Sat Nov 07, 2015 4:55 pm

Post by palichx » Tue Nov 10, 2015 7:03 am

Post by ivy » Thu Nov 12, 2015 6:04 pm

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How-To Geek

How to end a task using windows 10's task manager.

Have a stubborn or frozen application in Windows that won't close the usual way? End the task using Task Manager. Here's how.

If you need to force a frozen or buggy application to close in Windows 10, you can end a task easily using Windows' built-in Task Manager utility . Here's how to do it.

First, open Task Manager . To do so, right-click the taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the pop-up menu. Alternately, you can press Ctrl+Shift+Escape to open it, or press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select "Task Manager" from the screen that appears.

Related: Seven Ways to Open the Windows Task Manager

Right-click on the taskbar and select

If Task Manager opens in simple mode and you see the name of the task you'd like to end listed, simply select the app name from the list and click the "End Task" button.

Warning: If you end a task without first saving your work you could lose data. It's best to close the application normally, if possible.

In the simple Task Manager view, select the app you'd like to close, then click

The task will end. If the task isn't listed in simple mode or if you'd like to take a deeper look at what's going on first, click the "More details" button.

Related: Windows Task Manager: The Complete Guide

In Task Manager, click

After expanding Task Manager to show more details, you'll see a list of processes (programs running on your computer) with information about how much CPU , memory , disk activity, and network bandwidth they are using.

In the list of processes, select the task you'd like to force to quit, then click the "End Task" button in the lower-right corner of the window.

Warning: You could lose unsaved work in an application if you end the task without saving your work. Additionally, you can use this window to end important operating system tasks. If you do, Windows may behave unusually until you reboot it.

Select the process in Task Manager and click

After that, the program will close. If you find yourself frequently ending the task of a particularly troublesome app, consider updating the app or Windows itself , both of which might solve an underlying bug that is causing the problem. Good luck!

If this document does not correspond to your current software version, you can go to Download Center to find other available document versions.

Accessing the NAS Using Qmanager

To download Qmanager, go to the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

  • Open Qmanager.

Qmanager automatically searches for all QNAP NAS devices on the network.

  • Locate the NAS in the list, and then tap the name or IP address.
  • Specify your username and password.
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How to Open the Task Manager in Windows 10

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, right-click the Start button or the taskbar, or search for it

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In This Article

Jump to a Section

  • An Overview of the Methods
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc
  • Other Keyboard Shortcuts
  • More Ways to Open Task Manager
  • Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc is the fastest way to open Task Manager in Windows 10. Ctrl + Alt + Delete also works.
  • Or, right-click the Start button , or anywhere on the taskbar , to access the Task Manager shortcut.
  • Task Manager's real location is in the System32 folder. You can open it there, too, or with the taskmgr command.

Task Manager is an excellent tool for keeping track of system processes, monitoring resource usage, and forcing memory-hogging applications to close. Microsoft has introduced several improvements to Task Manager over the years, but luckily, accessing it on Windows 10 hasn’t changed much from Windows 7.

How Do I Open Task Manager in Windows 10?

From the Start menu to keyboard shortcuts, there are multiple ways to open Task Manager in Windows 10. Here are the most common ways to do it:

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
  • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete
  • Open Power User Menu by pressing Win+X
  • Right-click the taskbar
  • Use File Explorer
  • Create a shortcut

What Is the Fastest Way to Open Task Manager?

The easiest (and fastest) keyboard shortcut for opening Task Manager is Ctrl + Shift + Esc . This takes you directly to the utility in just a moment or two.

Other Ways to Get to Task Manager on a Keyboard

Here are a few other keyboard shortcuts to open up Task Manager quickly:

Ctrl+Alt+Delete

Ctrl+Alt+Delete is a popular shortcut across multiple generations of Windows, and up until Windows Vista, it brought you directly to Task Manager. The shortcut’s functionality has changed a bit with successive versions of Windows, as it now opens the Windows Security screen.

Once the Windows Security screen is open, select Task Manager from the menu to open it.

Modern versions of Windows include a feature called Power User Menu that can be accessed by pressing Win + X . This menu provides quick access to a number of advanced system utilities, including Task Manager.

How Do I Open Task Manager Without Keyboard Shortcuts?

If you're more of a mouse user, you're in luck! There are several other ways to access Task Manager in Windows 10.

Right-Click the Taskbar

This method is pretty self-explanatory. All you need to do is right-click anywhere on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, and select Task Manager .

Use the Run Box or Start Menu

You can use Windows 10 search functionality to access Task Manager in a couple of ways. 

Pressing Win + R will bring up the Run box, which has been a Windows OS fixture for decades. Enter taskmgr into the field provided and then press OK to open Task Manager.

You can also use the Windows 10 Start menu’s search box. Type taskmgr and press Enter .

Locate Task Manager in File Explorer

If a manual search is more your style, you can look for the Task Manager executable directly in File Explorer.

Open File Explorer .

Select This PC .

Open C drive .

Open the Windows folder.

Go into System32 .

Type taskmgr in the search bar and press Enter .

Open Taskmgr .

Create a Shortcut

If you find yourself needing to use Task Manager a lot, it might be a good idea to create a shortcut. There are a couple of methods for doing this.

While Task Manager is running, create a shortcut in the Taskbar by right-clicking the Task Manager icon and selecting Pin to Taskbar .

You can also create a desktop shortcut using the following steps:

Right-click an empty space on your desktop and select New .

Select Shortcut .

Enter this path to Task Manager in the System32 folder , and then press Next :

Type Task Manager as the name for the new shortcut and then press Finish .

macOS doesn't have a Task Manager, but you can access Task Manager-equivalent functions in two places. First, the Force Quit Applications dialog is where you can force malfunctioning programs to quit. To access the Force Quit dialog, select the Apple menu , then click Force Quit . Or, press Command+Option+Esc to bring up the Force Quit dialog. If you need to access information about memory consumption or process data, you'll need to open the Activity Monitor. To access the Activity Monitor, click Spotlight Search (the magnifying glass on the top right of your screen), and type in Activity Monitor .

To open a Chromebook's task-management tool, click the Menu icon > More Tools and select Task Manager . For more data, select  Stats for Nerds .

An easy way to do this is to open Task Manager on your primary monitor, then use Windows+Shift+left arrow or right arrow to move the application window from one monitor to the other.

To run Task Manager as an administrator, navigate to Task Manager using one of the methods described above. Then, right-click on Task Manager and select Run as Administrator . Enter the administrator password when prompted, then you'll open Task Manager as an administrator.

To use the Google Chrome Task Manager , open Chrome and select Menu (three dots), then select More Tools > Task Manager . With Chrome's Task Manager, view a list of every open tab, process, and extension, as well as key statistics about memory usage, CPU usage, and network activity. 

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XDA Developers

AMD's NPUs will finally get support from Windows' Task Manager

  • Microsoft will soon support AMD NPUs in Task Manager.
  • NPUs aid AI-based processes, separate from CPUs and GPUs.
  • NPU implementation is important for monitoring and optimizing system performance when training or using AI.

For a little while now, Microsoft and Intel have enjoyed a good partnership. DirectML is coming to Intel NPUs , and for a little while, those with AMD processors were seemingly left in the cold. Now, Microsoft has finally shown the Intel rival some attention by giving AMD support for the Task Manager.

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G review: The best gaming CPU for those on a budget

Amd npu support is making its way to microsoft's task manager.

As reported by Neowin , AMD NPUs will finally show up in Windows' Task Manager. If you're not sure what an NPU is, it's a new component to computers to aid with processing. Much like how the CPU handles regular processes and GPUs are dedicated graphics processors, NPUs are specially used for AI-based processes.

With this agreement, AMD's NPUs will now use the Microsoft Compute Driver Model (MCDM). Part of this implementation means you can keep tabs on how the NPU is doing and how much processing power it's using via Task Manager, which will be particularly important when people begin using their NPUs for strenuous AI-based tasks. As AMD puts it:

Being able to track how resources are allocated in real-time and which system components are under load is useful for monitoring application behavior. This kind of tracking is particularly important in notebooks where end users may choose to maximize battery life by controlling where certain workloads run or adjusting global power settings either via the Windows Settings menu or in an OEM-provided application.

NPU implementation is going to be vital in the coming months. With AI PC s entering the consumer market, Microsoft will ideally support as many different NPU brands as possible so people aren't left out because of their choice of hardware.

AMD's NPUs will finally get support from Windows' Task Manager

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How to use Qmanager to manage a QNAP NAS

Qmanager is a mobile app that lets you monitor and manage your qnap nas at anytime and anywhere., starting qmanager, resource monitor, privileges settings, system logs, backup station, download station, system tools.

  • How to use Wake on LAN (WOL)?

Push Notification

How to use 2-step verification to log in to a nas using qmanager.

task manager qnap

  • You can see detailed information for online users and can also block unwanted IP addresses to protect your NAS.

task manager qnap

You can manage the access rights of users, user groups and shared folders.

task manager qnap

  • Shows apps and services of QTS. You can enable/disable and install apps from here.
  • Select “More Apps” to see third-party apps that you have installed on your NAS. You can also enable/disable them.

task manager qnap

  • Connection Logs shows information about HTTP, FTP, Telnet, SSH, AFP, NFS, SMB, and iSCSI connections.
  • Event Logs displays warnings, errors and other messages regarding your NAS.

You can also use the drop down list to filter messages.

task manager qnap

Monitor and manage your NAS backup tasks.

  • View detailed backup information.
  • Start/Stop the backup schedule.
  • Start/Stop backup tasks.

task manager qnap

  • You can remove a blocked IP address by clicking the trash can icon.

task manager qnap

How to use Wake on LAN

You can see the WOL function in Qmanager by clicking the ">" next to the NAS connection and by going to the "Server Settings" page. This will appear after the first successful login.

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The push service lets you receive notification messages on Qmanager if a warning or error event occurs - allowing you to quickly receive first-hand information from your NAS and instantly react to keep your data safe. For more information, please refer to the tutorial: " How to use push service? ".

•  Note:

  • Qmanager iOS version must be 1.8.0 or above.
  • Qmanager Android version must be 2.1.0 or above.

For more information about how to enable 2-step verification, please refer to " How to enhance account security using 2-step verification? ".

  • After enabling 2-step verification on your NAS, install Google Authenticator on your mobile device and configure it.
  • Connect to the NAS using Qmanager.

task manager qnap

  • Verify another way: If your mobile device with Google Authenticator is unavailable, you can use your chosen alternative verification method.

task manager qnap

  • Return to Qmanager, enter the security code, and select “Login”.

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Best free task management software in 2024

Mehdi Punjwani

Sierra Campbell

Sierra Campbell

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Published 7:24 a.m. UTC Feb. 15, 2024

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A good task management software will give you the tools you need to organize projects for your business and help individuals, teams and businesses stay organized and productive. They offer a range of features and capabilities depending on the complexities of your business and projects, allowing you to set deadlines, assign tasks to team members, allocate resources and track and report on progress.

Finding the best task management software for your business means considering a range of factors, like the core features on offer, the customer service you’ll get and the ability to scale up according to your needs. We’ve tried and tested some of the biggest platforms available to give you our list of best task management software in 2024.

Featured project management software offers

task manager qnap

Via Monday.com’s site

Monthly fee

$10 per user, with a minimum of three users

Free version

Yes, for two users

24/7 customer support

Yes, with paid plans

task manager qnap

Via Clickup’s website

$10 per user

Yes, for unlimited members

Best free task management software

  • Notion : Best for flexibility.
  • ClickUp : Best for customization.
  • Trello : Best for automation.
  • Hive : Best for collaboration.
  • Zoho Projects : Best for startups using Zoho.
  • Teamwork : Best for client task management.
  • Monday : Best for individuals and freelancers.
  • Asana : Best for complex tasks.
  • Podio : Best for app building.
  • GoodDay : Best for scaling up.

Why trust our small business experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 62 companies reviewed.
  • 164 products reviewed.
  • 2,028 data points analyzed.

Best for flexibility

Notion

Cheapest paid plan (billed monthly)

Number of users, number of projects/tasks, what you should know.

Notion is a versatile task management platform that gives you a high degree of control and customization even on its free plan. With an abundance of views and formats, including Kanban boards, Gantt charts, calendar views and to-do lists, it offers users multiple ways to track and organize projects. You can also make use of thousands of templates built by Notion and its users, catering to an array of health and fitness, work and office and day-to-day home management needs.

You won’t need to pay anything to get unlimited pages and workflows as an individual, but you’ll need to upgrade to give multiple users full functionality. While you can upload unlimited files on the free plan, you’ll be limited to 5 MB per file, as well as a seven-day history and one synced database.

We’d recommend it if you want to use one platform to manage a variety of project and task types with flexible views and displays; it’s particularly good for content creators.

Pros and cons

  • Multiple views, including Kanban boards, Gantt charts and to-do lists.
  • Thousands of versatile templates for things like health and fitness, work and home.
  • Free version offers individuals unlimited pages and workflows.
  • Custom automation features only available on paid plans.
  • Maximum file upload of 5 MB on free plan.
  • Limited admin and security features on free plan.

Best for customization

ClickUp

ClickUp’s free platform gives you a highly capable and customizable task management platform with an unlimited number of tasks and members. It also offers 24/7 customer service on all plans. You’ll be able to view tasks in unlimited lists, boards and calendars, but you’ll only get 60 uses of Gantt charts, timelines and workloads.

The free plan also allows custom statuses and up to 20 custom task types, as well as other useful features like multiple assignees, checklists, dependencies and a basic custom field manager. However, you’ll only be able to create five “spaces” as part of the free plan — unlimited spaces are only available on paid plans. There are also no time-tracking features and very limited other reporting capabilities.

  • Free version offers unlimited free plan members and tasks.
  • A range of views, including Kanban boards and Gantt charts.
  • 24/7 customer support on all plans.
  • Limits on how many views, custom fields and workloads you can use.
  • No time tracking features.
  • Only five ‘spaces’ on free plan.

Best for automation

Trello

While Trello’s free platform only offers its Kanban-style board view, its two main highlights are its automation services and unlimited power-ups. With its Butler automation, you’ll be able to create rules, buttons and commands, and repetitive actions are recognized with suggested automations that help increase productivity. Third-party apps you can integrate include Slack, Jira, Gmail, Microsoft Teams and Google Drive.

You’ll be limited to 10 MB file uploads and only 10 boards per workspace, though with unlimited storage and workspaces for all plans, this isn’t too restrictive. It’s not ideal if you want to see projects and tasks in calendar or timeline views, but as a basic task manager with smart automation tools, it can be a useful platform for individuals and small businesses.

  • Very straightforward and easy to use.
  • Built-in automation features, including an automation bot called Butler.
  • Unlimited power-up feature lets you integrate third-party apps.
  • File uploads are limited to 10 MB per file.
  • You only get up to 10 boards per workspace.
  • Limited view options.

Best for collaboration

Hive

Hive comes with its own native communication tools, allowing for straightforward collaboration with up to 10 workspace members on its free plan. As a task manager, it’s fairly capable, offering unlimited tasks and subtasks as well as multiple views such as Kanban, Gantt, calendars and tables. However, you’ll only get two pages and 100 workflows, and while Kanban views are unlimited, the free plan only offers 100 uses of Gantt, calendar and table views.

Your ability to customize projects and tasks will also be fairly restricted with no custom fields or labels, and your storage limit on the free plan will be 200 MB overall. Its free plan also comes without a few other features, such as AI assists, custom dashboards and analytics. We’d recommend it as a simple free task manager for small teams working together that will benefit from its native collaborative tools.

  • Native collaboration and communication tools.
  • Multiple views and layouts.
  • Unlimited tasks and sub-tasks.
  • 200 MB storage limit.
  • 10 projects and two pages on free plan.
  • No custom project fields or task labels.

Best for startups using Zoho

Zoho projects.

Zoho Projects

Zoho offers a project manager as part of its larger suite of tools and products, offering a free version for up to three users as well as a 10-day free trial on its paid plans. You’ll be able to manage two projects, create feeds, share documents and custom statuses and set up task dependencies within projects. It’s particularly useful for startups already making use of other Zoho products like CRM, Meeting and Sprints, all of which integrate into the free platform.

You can also use third-party app integrations for Microsoft Teams and Office 365, Slack, Dropbox, Zendesk and Zapier. However, there are some significant limitations to the free version, including limited customization — you can’t create custom fields or views, and there are only basic reporting capabilities.

  • Integrates with Zoho CRM, Meeting and Sprints.
  • Straightforward and easy to use.
  • Offers useful core features, including document sharing, subtasks and custom statuses.
  • Only three users and two projects on free plan.
  • No Gantt charts, custom views, time tracking or custom fields.

Best for client task management

Teamwork

Teamwork will be particularly useful for agencies needing to manage client tasks, as it comes with built-in billable time-tracking features and estimated time management. It also offers client-level insights and client-company management, though you’ll only get client users with premium paid plans. With Teamwork, you’ll also get a range of automation features, including automatic Slack updates, HubSpot deals and Microsoft Teams messages.

It does have drawbacks in the shape of limited reporting capabilities — while all plans come with a dashboard, only premium paid plans offer reports on status, portfolio health, time, utilization and profitability. You also won’t have any phone, live chat or email support options on its free plan.

  • Billable time-tracking and invoicing features useful for agencies.
  • Client views and management features.
  • Wide range of automation features.
  • No phone, live chat or email support.
  • Limited reporting and customization options.
  • No client users on free plan.

Best for individuals and freelancers

Monday

Monday is a popular task management platform with businesses worldwide, but we’d recommend its free plan specifically for individuals and freelancers managing their businesses. It offers a straightforward Kanban interface only, with over 200 templates available, so you’ll be able to create up to three boards with two users and unlimited documents.

However, Monday’s free plan is missing a number of wider features like timeline, Gantt and calendar views, as well as offering no integrations or automations. It’s a relatively simplistic platform compared to others, so we’d recommend it more for individuals than teams that will need more advanced collaboration and reporting capabilities.

  • Over 200 templates available.
  • Apps for iOS and Android.
  • Intuitive and easy to use interface.
  • No integrations on free version.
  • Only offers Kanban view.

Best for complex tasks

Asana

We’d recommend Asana’s powerful platform as an ideal choice for small businesses managing complex tasks or projects with plenty of moving parts. With unlimited tasks, projects, file storage, assignees and messages alongside multiple views such as boards, calendars and lists all included on its free plan, it’s a capable piece of software. You’ll also have access to over 100 free third-party integrations such as Microsoft Teams, Adobe Creative Cloud, Okta and Tableau.

However, you won’t be able to use timelines, Gantt views, goals or portfolios with the free plan, nor time-tracking, workflows or various automation features. The free plan is also fairly limited when it comes to reporting, with only status updates and CSV and PDF exports available.

  • Unlimited project management essential features.
  • Multiple views available.
  • Over 100 free integrations.
  • Limited reporting features.
  • No 24/7 support.

Best for app building

Podio

Podio offers a unique solution for businesses that will benefit from building their own customized project management apps to suit their specific needs. As well as the ability to design a bespoke task manager for your team, you’ll have access to hundreds of user-created apps online. It allows you to keep all important aspects of your business and projects in one central place, depending on the requirements of you and your team.

However, its free version is limited in the other features it offers — including the number of items and client users you can support. It also doesn’t offer automated workflows or visual reports, so keep this in mind if you’re considering Podio.

  • You can build your own customizable apps for project management.
  • You’ll also have access to hundreds of pre-made apps.
  • Live chat support available.
  • Limited features on the free plan.
  • Takes a while to set up and customize to your exact specifications.

Best for scaling up

GoodDay

With a robust set of features and capabilities as well as relatively affordable price plans for upgrading, we’d recommend GoodDay for businesses looking to scale up their operations. Its free version is already quite powerful, offering unlimited projects and tasks for up to 15 users, with views including lists, boards, tables, calendars, event summaries and portfolios. You can customize views, priorities, workflows and statuses, as well as set up dependencies, reminders and to-do lists.

Other customization options are only available on paid plans, such as task, project and user fields, as well as task types and IDs. Additionally, many security features and all CRM features are only available when you upgrade, but with the next price plan up only costing $6 per month, it’s an affordable choice for scaling up.

  • Unlimited projects and tasks.
  • Unlimited views, with most available on free plan.
  • Powerful features for big businesses with affordable plans for scaling up.
  • Many customization options unavailable on free plan.
  • No finance, time tracking, chats or automation.

Best task management software comparison

Methodology

We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.

We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. We use the same rubric to assess companies within a particular space so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the best free task management software.

The best task management software has positive user reviews on customer review sites and app stores. Task management software companies should provide customers with fast and reliable support. Using a combination of phone support, live chat and knowledge bases, customers should be able to quickly resolve issues 24/7.

Task management software should have role assignment features, timelines and dependencies. It should also allow businesses to use customizable templates, track expenses and track milestones.

And the best task management software should offer client access, billing and invoice capabilities and budgeting features.

What is task management software and how does it work?

Task management software is a digital tool you can use as an individual or a business to manage, organize and prioritize tasks. While levels of features and capabilities will vary between platforms, many also offer the ability to communicate between team members, share files and updates and track progress toward objectives. 

You’ll be able to use task management software to create and assign tasks, set deadlines, allocate resources and allow for collaboration between colleagues. These tools can help you and your business increase productivity and efficiency. However, it’s important to be aware of how complex your needs are. 

Some task management programs can be complex and could end up reducing your productivity and organization, which is why it’s so important to find the right platform for your needs.

Benefits of free task management software

Using task management software can offer a number of benefits for individuals and businesses, including:

  • Free forever: A good free task management software will offer unlimited projects or workflows without any extra costs — not just a free trial before you have to pay.
  • Productivity: Task management platforms can increase your team’s productivity through automation, progress tracking and reporting, saving time on repetitive tasks.
  • Centralized workflow: You can use task management software to keep all workflows centralized, allowing easy access for all team members and collaborators to stay updated and informed.
  • Collaboration: You’ll be able to clearly assign roles and allocate resources on projects and tasks to different team members, and many platforms also allow team members to work together and communicate. 
  • Manage big projects: Complex and lengthy projects can be broken down into separate tasks and workflows with multiple teams and team members. 
  • Remote workers: If you rely on remote workers or freelancers, many task management platforms allow all team members to collaborate online from any location.

Who needs task management software?

Task management software can prove useful for a variety of individuals and businesses. You might be a freelancer with a number of client tasks to manage or a hobbyist running a side hustle — in which case, a free task manager will be ideal. 

Likewise, small teams and businesses can also benefit from using task management software to organize and track workflow progress for team projects. A free plan or trial period offers a great way to try out different platforms and products so you can find one that suits your needs best before committing to a paid plan with more features and capabilities required by your business.

How to choose the best task management software

Choosing the best free task management software for your business means considering a range of factors and how each of these will best suit your needs. You will need to think about the core features offered by each platform, as well as whether it plugs into any existing software you have and how easy and intuitive it is to use. 

Additionally, you should look into the customer support options each platform offers, as this will be crucial in case things go wrong and your work is at risk.

Key features to look for

Levels of complexity and customization will vary between platforms, but in general, you should look out for the following features as part of your task management software:

  • Sub-tasks: Key to keeping big projects organized, task managers should allow you to split tasks and assign different deadlines and workers to each sub-task.
  • Views and visualizations: You should also be able to see your tasks and projects in different views, like Kanban dashboards or Gantt charts. You may find these to be limited in free versions of some platforms, so check price plans to ensure you’re getting what you need.
  • Integration: If you have any existing software or hardware in use for your business, such as finance and accounting apps, design tools or communication platforms, it’s worth seeing if these will plug into the task management software you want. It helps keep everything synchronized and centralized.
  • Tracking and reporting: Your task manager should also allow you to track task and project progress against deadlines and objectives, as well as generate reports. 
  • Automation: Some platforms will even offer automation services that let you set up automatic tracking and reporting.
  • Collaboration: Lastly, if you’re managing a team’s workload, it’s vital they can work together, so look for task management software that allows for communication and role delegation.

Ease of use

Some task management tools will be relatively simple and easy to use, with intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces that allow for straightforward organization. However, others offer more complex capabilities, including multiple views like Gantt charts, calendars, lists and galleries, automated reporting and collaboration between multiple team members. 

Consider what you’ll need the software for, how many people and tasks you’ll be managing and what kind of insights you’ll want when making your choice.

Security 

You should also factor in any security requirements you might have, especially if you’re a big organization or you use third-party apps, providers or even freelancers. Being able to control access on multiple levels may be particularly important. Additionally, consider things like two-factor authentication, secure sharing and data protection when choosing platforms.

Customer service

If something goes wrong with your task manager, it can affect your business’s ability to complete projects and assure stakeholders of progress. Customer service is a key part of being able to resolve issues, so look for providers that offer both round-the-clock availability and instant contact by phone or live chat as a priority.

How much does task management software cost?

When looking for free task management software, consider whether it’s truly free forever — meaning you’ll have access to all the features on the free plan forever without having to pay. 

While this might mean many advanced features are hidden behind paywalls, you’ll at least be able to rely on the software for your basic needs without restriction. This is in contrast to free trials that often give you access to the entire platform for a limited time, after which you won’t be able to use it without paying.

If you’re looking to try a free plan in order to get a feel for a specific task management software before committing to a paid plan, you’ll likely be more on the lookout for usability as well as scalability. Consider which paid plans offer the most bang for your buck to narrow down your options, but focus on which free software feels the most natural to use for your business. 

You may find that some software platforms offer prices on a per-user basis while others offer a set number of users for each plan. Others may even have a minimum-user requirement, so if they charge a set price per user and require at least three users, you’ll need to pay three times the price you see given as a minimum.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The best free task management software will depend entirely on your needs and requirements as an individual or business. ClickUp and Notion both offer great customization features, with Notion especially good for content creators.

Paid task management software plans offer a range of extra benefits, including more users or projects, additional features and advanced integrations and security. These will often be more useful for bigger teams and companies managing complex projects with multiple moving parts and stakeholders that need to be kept informed. 

When prioritizing tasks in project management, you should consider the resources available, any dependencies on the task being completed and the urgency of the request. 

Task management software lets you manage multiple tasks at work by allowing you to create, organize and assign tasks, set deadlines, track progress and, if required, add sub-tasks. All tasks are kept in one place and accessible for anyone who needs to see them, often in digestible formats like calendars, boards and timelines.

Improving task management skills will require you to be disciplined and attentive to detail in order to get the best from task management software and boost your productivity. You should: 

  • Focus on prioritizing tasks on your to-do list.
  • Create a manageable schedule for delivery with realistic deadlines. 
  • Ensure you’re communicating with stakeholders to keep everyone on the same page.

The best software will make this easy and help you manage your workload efficiently and effectively — but it’s made even easier when you know you’ve picked the right task management software for your requirements.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Mehdi Punjwani

Mehdi is a writer and editor with many years of personal finance expertise under his belt. He's a spirited money-saver, with a passion for making personal finance accessible and manageable. When he isn't writing, Mehdi likes to read about history and travel, hike along coastlines and in forests, and watch his beloved team Manchester United underperform.

Sierra Campbell is a small business editor for USA Today Blueprint. She specializes in writing, editing and fact-checking content centered around helping businesses. She has worked as a digital content and show producer for several local TV stations, an editor for U.S. News & World Report and a freelance writer and editor for many companies. Sierra prides herself in delivering accurate and up-to-date information to readers. Her expertise includes credit card processing companies, e-commerce platforms, payroll software, accounting software and virtual private networks (VPNs). She also owns Editing by Sierra, where she offers editing services to writers of all backgrounds, including self-published and traditionally published authors.

How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

How to start a small business: A step-by-step guide

Business Eric Rosenberg

IMAGES

  1. How to use Qmanager to manage a QNAP NAS

    task manager qnap

  2. QNAP TS-451+ & QTS 4.2 Review

    task manager qnap

  3. QNAP SMB Solution

    task manager qnap

  4. QNAP TS-231P2 NAS Quick Review

    task manager qnap

  5. QNAP TS-569 Pro Review

    task manager qnap

  6. QNAP Virtualization Station es mejor en todos los aspectos que Virtual

    task manager qnap

VIDEO

  1. How to open task manager 5 ways

  2. Standard BitTorrent Client on Qnap Turbo Nas

  3. Task Manager

  4. Task manager is the ultimate #pcgaming

  5. Task Manager web application part01

  6. Hide Processes from Task Manager with S12URootkit

COMMENTS

  1. How to use Qmanager to manage a QNAP NAS

    Enter a name for the connection. Enter the host name or the IP address of the NAS. To connect to the NAS from the Internet, make sure the NAS is properly configured for remote access. Enter your user name. Enter your password. Select this option to let Qmanager remember your password.

  2. "Task manager"

    Hi, been looking for a task manager GUI for Qnap. Run some beta apps like Kodi 15.1 that hang on me from time to time. Manually killing processes in terminal works but Is a "non wife friendly" way of doing things A graphical interface to let you monitor running tasks and kill them in a easy user friendly way whould be great. //Johan.

  3. Essentials

    Discover new and convenient ways of using your NAS with QNAP Utilities. From quick set up, to easy access, secure back ups, fast restoration, simple file sharing and synchronization - there's a utility for all of your everyday tasks. There are also specialized utilities to assist with optimal management of virtualization environments and surveillance systems. Check out the QNAP Utilities now.

  4. Task manager

    Re: Task manager. In Control Panel, System Settings, System Status you will find several tabs with information, much of it similar to what can be found in the Windows Task Manager. RAID have never ever been a replacement for backups. Without backups on a different system (preferably placed at another site), you will eventually lose data!

  5. A way to kill a process

    3 QNAP TS-809 Pro - 1 QNAP TS-869 Pro - 1 QNAP TS-879 Pro - 1 QNAP TS-1079 Pro. Top. pwilson Guru Posts: 22533 ... Anyway, simple click and kill like in windows Process Manager is what I'm looking for. 3 QNAP TS-809 Pro - 1 QNAP TS-869 Pro - 1 QNAP TS-879 Pro - 1 QNAP TS-1079 Pro. Top. pwilson Guru Posts: 22533 Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:20 am

  6. A simple Task Scheduler (possibly with a web interface)

    The weakness in the QNAP isn't the scheduler, it is the interface to control the scheduler, or lack thereof. If you want to help the QNAP NAS Community, please simply make a Web GUI that can manipulate the standard " /etc/config/crontab " file, to add/remove/edit entries. Cron itself, is well documented, so once you are comfortable with the ...

  7. Task Bar

    Logout: Logs the user out of the current session. 8. More. Click the button to view the following menu items: Help: Displays links to the Quick Start Guide, Virtualization Guide, QES Help, and online tutorials page. Language: Opens a list of supported languages and allows you to change the language of the operating system

  8. Better Control Over Background Tasks In File Station

    Many small files and fast disks (even SSDs in full or for caching) => parallel is usually better. Large files and slow disk (rust and maybe even SMR) => sequential is better. There should be an option for admins or users to decide. "option", because there is no way for QNAP to know use case and hardware in advance, so they cannot make a good guess.

  9. QNAP x53D 16GB and 32GB Crucial Memory Upgrade Guide

    Install the virtual machine application for the QNAP TS-x53D NAS (P.S. for Synology users it is the Virtual Machine Manager and for QNAP it is the Virtualisation station). Then you can create individual VMs (it is alot easier than it sounds and the QNAP TS-x53D NAS VM software is very user-friendly) then allocate 3-4GB of memory to each one.

  10. Qmanager

    The free Qmanager app is the perfect answer. Prerequisites: - Android 7.0 or later. - QNAP NAS running firmware V4.2 or later. - Best resolution: 480 x 800. Major features of Qmanager: - Monitor your system information, such as CPU usage, memory usage, system event info, online user…. - Check your download station, backup task info.

  11. ‎Qmanager on the App Store

    The free Qmanager app is the perfect answer. Prerequisites: - iOS 14 or later. - QNAP NAS running firmware V4.0 or later. Major features of Qmanager: - Monitor your system information, such as CPU usage, memory usage, system event info, online user…. - Check your download station, backup task info.

  12. Add items to crontab

    The crontab can be used to execute tasks (scripts) based on a recurring schedule. The crontab is used, for example, to restart the webserver during the night. To view the content of your crontab, login to your QNAP via SSH and type: crontab -l. You will see a (small) list of crontab entries.

  13. Accessing Console Management

    Accessing Console Management. Before you can access Console Management, you must first enable SSH using the NAS or Qfinder Pro. A third-party software is also required on Windows platforms but not on Mac platforms. Accessing Console Management from Windows. Accessing Console Management from Mac. Parent topic: Console Management.

  14. Grundlagen

    Werfen Sie jetzt einen Blick auf die QNAP-Dienstprogramme. Deutschland - Deutsch Anmelden. QNAP ID ... Mit dem QNAP External RAID Manager können Sie den Status Ihrer externen QNAP-RAID-Geräte (z. B. das TR-004) einrichten, überwachen und anzeigen. Alle Geräteereignisse werden aufgezeichnet, und im Fall eines Systemalarms werden Desktop ...

  15. Can't delete or add tasks [Solved]

    I am unable to delete this job in either QGet for Windows 2.1.0.907 or via the HTTP Download Manager. I can right click -> Delete Download Task. It asks to either keep the file already downloaded or to remove the task including all downloaded files. Either option will return a dialog box 'Please wait' and then disappear. However the task remains.

  16. Download Center

    Download Center. Select your product to download operating system, utility, applications, document and check compatibility. Go to QNAP Software Store or the Best-selling Softwares for more licenses that take your NAS to the next level. Compatibility. Help Desk.

  17. How to End a Task Using Windows 10's Task Manager

    If you need to force a frozen or buggy application to close in Windows 10, you can end a task easily using Windows' built-in Task Manager utility. Here's how to do it. First, open Task Manager. To do so, right-click the taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the pop-up menu. Alternately, you can press Ctrl+Shift+Escape to open it, or press Ctrl ...

  18. Installing HA Manager

    Task Bar. Main Menu. Options. Basic Operations. Dashboard. Getting Started. Control Panel. System Settings. ... Transferring a License to the New QNAP License Server. Deleting a License. QuLog Center. Monitoring Logs. Monitoring Event Logs. ... Enter HA Manager. The HA Manager application appears in the search results.

  19. Accessing the NAS Using Qmanager

    Open Qmanager. Tap Add NAS. Qmanager automatically searches for all QNAP NAS devices on the network. Locate the NAS in the list, and then tap the name or IP address. Specify your username and password. Optional: If your mobile device and NAS are not connected to the same subnet, perform one of the following actions. Tap Add NAS manually ...

  20. How to Open the Task Manager in Windows 10

    From the Start menu to keyboard shortcuts, there are multiple ways to open Task Manager in Windows 10. Here are the most common ways to do it: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete. Open Power User Menu by pressing Win+X. Right-click the taskbar.

  21. AMD's NPUs will finally get support from Windows' Task Manager

    Microsoft will soon support AMD NPUs in Task Manager. NPUs aid AI-based processes, separate from CPUs and GPUs. NPU implementation is important for monitoring and optimizing system performance ...

  22. How to use Qmanager to manage a QNAP NAS

    Nick name. Enter a name for the connection. Host/IP. Enter the host name or the IP address of the NAS. To connect to the NAS from the Internet, make sure the NAS is properly configured for remote access. Useful references: Assign the NAS a fixed IP and set up the DDNS. Set up port forwarding on your router. User Name.

  23. Upcoming Windows Task Manager Update Will Add NPU ...

    Viewed in the long term, the decision to integrate NPU tracking into Task Manager reflects the way Windows software has grown to keep pace with the added complexity of PCs. Over the last few decades, Microsoft has steadily increased the number and type of system components it can simultaneously monitor. Adding NPU support to the CPU, GPU ...

  24. Best Free Task Management Software in 2024

    ClickUp: Best for customization. Trello: Best for automation. Hive: Best for collaboration. Zoho Projects: Best for startups using Zoho. Teamwork: Best for client task management. Monday: Best for ...