How to Open Task Manager in Windows 10

Windows Task Manager is an advanced utility tool that helps you manage your apps that are running.

Task Manager lets you see which apps are open and which you're using. You can also see which apps are running in the background that you didn't open yourself.

One important reason that you might want to open Task Manager is to stop apps that are making windows unresponsive.

There are a few different ways to open Task Manager. So in this article, I will walk you through 7 ways you can open Task Manager on Windows 10.

1. How to Open Task Manager with Windows Search

The easiest way to find anything on a Windows machine is to search for it. Task Manager is not an exception.

  • Click on the search icon then type "Task Manager" in the search bar.
  • Task Manager will pop up as a search result, and you can open it from there.

search

2. How to Open Task Manager with Keyboard Shortcuts

Some apps might go rogue and stop Windows from responding, so you might not have access to Windows Search in such situations.

Windows has two different key combinations with which you can open up Task Manager in case you want to see running apps or stop an app.

  • You can open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc all together. This opens Task Manager straightaway
  • You can also open Task Manager from the GINA screen by pressing and holding Ctrl + Alt + Del .

Some apps might prevent you from accessing Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, but pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del will always open up the Graphical Identification and Authentication (GINA) screen for you so you can select and open Task Manager from there.

gina-screen

3. How to Open Task Manager through the Control Panel

You can use the Control Panel search option to open Task Manager.

Type "Task Manager" in the search bar and you will see a link to Task Manager under "System".

ControlPanel

4. How to Open Task Manger through the Start Menu

A lot of people prefer opening apps from the start menu. You can open Task Manager from there too.

  • Click on the Windows icon, or press the WIN Key on the keyboard.
  • Scroll to the bottom and open up the Windows system folder
  • Task Manager will be shown alongside some other apps – just select it there to open it.

startMenu

5. How to Open Task Manager with the Run Command

Many apps and folders can be opened with the run dialogue on Windows 10. There's a command for opening Task Manager from there too.

  • Press the WIN + R keys on the keyboard to open the run dialogue
  • Type "taskmgr" and click "Ok" to open the Task Manager.

runCommand

6. How to Open Task Manager from the Taskbar

You can open the Task Manager from Taskbar too.

Right-click on an empty space in the taskbar then select "Task Manager".

taskbar

7. How to Open Task Manager from the Windows Power User Menu

In addition to the 6 methods we've already seen, you can open Task Manager by right-clicking in the Windows logo and then selecting "Task Manager" from the menu that pops up.

You can also get there by pressing and holding the Win + X keys on the keyboard and then selecting “Task Manager” from the menu.

powerUser

Windows Task Manager is a very powerful tool that can greatly increase your productivity. With it, you can see which apps are running and stop those that are causing issues.

In this article, you've learned about several ways to open Task Manager on Windows 10 so you can have a better experience using it.

Thank you for reading, and have a nice time.

Web developer and technical writer focusing on frontend technologies. I also dabble in a lot of other technologies.

If you read this far, thank the author to show them you care. Say Thanks

Learn to code for free. freeCodeCamp's open source curriculum has helped more than 40,000 people get jobs as developers. Get started

task master windows

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game New
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Operating Systems

How to Open Windows Task Manager: Menus, Shortcuts, & More

Fast and easy ways to see running apps and services in Windows

Last Updated: September 5, 2023 Fact Checked

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Ctrl + alt + del, taskbar menu, power user menu, windows search, control panel, run dialog box, command prompt, file explorer, pin to the taskbar, make a desktop shortcut.

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Smith . Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 464,264 times.

Trying to open the Windows Task Manager to end a process or check your computer's performance? The Task Manager allows you to view various activities that occur on your PC. You can monitor running applications, CPU and RAM usage, startup apps (Windows 8 and 10 only), and services. You can also end unresponsive or frozen applications! This wikiHow article will show you various ways to open the Task Manager in Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11, including quick keyboard shortcuts.

Things You Should Know

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to immediately open the Task Manager.
  • Alternatively, right-click the Taskbar and select "Task Manager" to open it.
  • You can also press Windows Key + X to open the Power User menu and select "Task Manager."

Step 1 Press the Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc keys together.

  • You're ready to look through your processes and end tasks! Clearing tasks that you don't need to run is a great way to speed up a slow windows computer .

Step 1 Press the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys together.

  • You're done! You're ready to close unresponsive programs and change process priorities .

Step 1 Right-click on the Start icon button.

  • You can also press ⊞ Win + x together to do this.

Step 2 Choose Task Manager from the list of options.

  • Alternatively, press the T keyboard key.

Step 1 Launch the search feature.

  • Windows 8.1 : Press ⊞ Win + Q . [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source

Windows 7 Start

  • Windows XP : This method will not work.

Step 2 Type task manager.

  • You'll need to scroll down past the folders, which are always placed at the top.

Step 6 Right-click the Task Manager icon in the Taskbar.

  • In Windows 11, you may need to click Show more options to access the Create shortcut option.

Step 7 Double-click the Task Manager shortcut.

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • For more helpful Windows features, check out how to take a screenshot and how to zoom out the screen . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

task master windows

Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

You Might Also Like

Shut Down Your PC with a Shortcut Key

  • ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts

About This Article

Luigi Oppido

  • Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Anonymous

Mar 16, 2018

Is this article up to date?

task master windows

May 5, 2017

Am I a Narcissist or an Empath Quiz

Featured Articles

How to Comfort Someone Physically

Trending Articles

Everything You Need to Know to Rock the Corporate Goth Aesthetic

Watch Articles

Cook Fresh Cauliflower

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

Keep up with tech in just 5 minutes a week!

How to open Task Manager on Windows

Here's how to open Task Manager on Windows 10 and Windows 11

A laptop running Windows 11, representing an article about how to use task scheduler on windows

PC newbie or veteran, you may not know how to open Task Manager on Windows. Why would you want to open the Windows Task Manager anyway? Well, this feature does a lot more than its name suggests.

Task Manager not only lets you manage tasks (who'd have guessed?) — but also shows a whole bunch of useful information, such as your computer’s current performance or which apps are taking up the most resources on startup.

Even if you have one of the best Windows laptops or best gaming PCs , this info can still come in handy.

There are a few ways to open Task Manager on Windows 11 and Windows 10, as we cover in our simple guide below.

Ready? Here's how to open Task Manager on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Esc

It requires some finger gymnastics, but this is the easiest and quickest way to open Task Manager on Windows. 

2. You can also right-click the taskbar , then click Task Manager . 

This is a useful method if you don't have a working keyboard to hand. Unfortunately, this only works in Windows 10 as it was removed from Windows 11 for some reason. If anyone from Microsoft is reading this: bring back this feature, please! 

3. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete , then click Task Manager .

The third, and probably most familiar, way to open the task manager is through the Ctrl + Alt + Delete menu. This is the classic way to get to the task manager that most of us will recognize, though step 1 above is a much more efficient alternative. 

4. Press Win + R to open a command prompt, then type in "taskmgr" and hit enter .

You can even open the Task Manager from a command prompt. This is the best choice if you want to impress your friends by appearing like a hacker or character from The Matrix.

And there we are. Now you can summon Task Manager in four different ways. With this knowledge, you’re invincible. Now you know how to open Task Manager on Windows, take a look at how to enable God Mode in Windows 11 or 10 or how to change the Windows 11 Start menu back to Windows 10 . Or for another Windows guide, check out how to factory reset on Windows 10 .

Get the BEST of Tom’s Guide daily right in your inbox: Sign up now!

Upgrade your life with the Tom’s Guide newsletter. Subscribe now for a daily dose of the biggest tech news, lifestyle hacks and hottest deals. Elevate your everyday with our curated analysis and be the first to know about cutting-edge gadgets.

Dale Fox

Dale Fox is a freelance journalist based in the UK. He's been a tech nerd ever since childhood, when he used the money from his first job as a paperboy to buy a subscription to GamesMaster magazine. Dale was previously a presenter and editor in China, where he also worked as a copywriter for OnePlus at its Shenzhen HQ.  

Apple Vision Pro on a plane — this Microsoft exec is blown away

Urgent Windows update fixes loads of security flaws including two zero-days — install this patch right now

Walmart reportedly acquiring Vizio TVs for $2 billion to fight Amazon Fire TV and Roku

Most Popular

By Dan Bracaglia February 11, 2024

By Tony Polanco February 11, 2024

By Camilla Sharman February 11, 2024

By Cynthia Lawrence February 11, 2024

By Camilla Sharman February 10, 2024

By Olivia Powell February 09, 2024

By Peter Wolinski February 09, 2024

By Sam Hopes February 09, 2024

By Richard Priday February 09, 2024

By David Crookes February 08, 2024

  • 2 Stanley Black Chroma Collection — where to find the new Quenchers
  • 3 Samsung Galaxy S24 display fix on the way through major software update
  • 4 Apple Vision Pro on a plane — this Microsoft exec is blown away
  • 5 Urgent Windows update fixes loads of security flaws including two zero-days — install this patch right now

12 Ways to Open the Task Manager in Windows 10

Did you know there are a dozen ways to open the Task Manager in Windows?

Windows 10 provides you with several ways to launch the Task Manager utility on your PC. You can use a keyboard shortcut, a Start menu icon, Windows search, or even the Windows taskbar to open this utility on your computer.

In this guide, we’ll show you many of these ways to open Task Manager in Windows 10.

1. Use a Keyboard Shortcut

The easiest and quickest way to launch Task Manager is to use the tool’s keyboard shortcut. When pressed, this shortcut quickly opens the Task Manager utility on your Windows 10 PC.

To use this method, press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously on your keyboard. Task Manager screen will immediately open.

Related: Windows Keyboard Shortcuts 101: The Ultimate Guide

2. From the Start Menu

Windows 10’s Start menu consists of nearly all of the apps you have on your computer, including Task Manager. You can navigate to the Task Manager directory in the Start menu and then launch the tool from there.

  • Press the Windows key to bring up the Start menu.
  • In the Start menu, click Windows System .
  • From the options under Windows System, click Task Manager .

Use Start menu to launch Task Manager

3. From Windows Search

The  Windows search feature helps you find all the apps, files, and folders stored on your hard drives. You can use this search function to find and open Task Manager, too.

  • Click the search box at the bottom-left corner of your Windows PC.
  • Type Task Manager in the search box.
  • In the search results that come up, select Task Manager to open the tool.

Launch Task Manager from Windows Search

4. From the File Explorer

If you’re inside a File Explorer window, you don’t have to come out of it to open Task Manager. Using a command in the address bar, you can launch Task Manager from within the Explorer.

Here’s the quick way to do that:

  • While you’re in a File Explorer window, click the address bar at the top.
  • Type taskmgr in the address bar field and press Enter .
  • Task Manager should open.

Launch Task Manager from File Explorer

Another way to open Task Manager from File Explorer is to navigate to the tool’s actual directory:

  • In File Explorer, navigate to the following path. If you haven’t installed Windows 10 on the C drive, replace C with the letter of the drive where Windows is installed on your PC. C:\Windows\System32
  • Find Taskmgr.exe in the directory that opens, and double-click it.
  • Task Manager will open.

Open Task Manager's executable file

5. From the Windows Security Screen

The Windows Security screen offers various options, like locking your PC and signing out of your user account. This security menu includes the option to launch Task Manager, too.

To use this method:

  • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard.
  • On the screen that opens, select Task Manager .

6. Use the Windows Power Menu

The  Windows Power Menu gives you quick access to some of the useful utilities installed on your Windows 10 PC. This includes the option for Task Manager, too.

To proceed with this method:

  • Open the Power User Menu. To do so, either press Windows key + X at the same time or right-click the Start menu icon.
  • In the menu that opens, choose Task Manager .

Open Task Manager from the Windows Power Menu

7. From the Taskbar

If you keep the taskbar visible on your PC (you can hide the taskbar ), it’s a quick way to launch Task Manager. You just have to right-click the taskbar and select an option:

  • Right-click the Windows taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen).
  • Select Task Manager from the menu that opens.

Use taskbar to launch Task Manager

8. Use the Command Prompt

If you’re someone who prefers using command-line methods, you can use Command Prompt to launch Task Manager on your PC. There’s a command that specifically triggers the Task Manager executable file.

To use this:

  • Open the Start menu, search for Command Prompt , and select the Best match.
  • On the Command Prompt window that opens, type taskmgr and hit Enter .
  • You may now close the Command Prompt window.

Use Command Prompt to launch Task Manager

9. Use the Windows PowerShell

If you prefer using Windows PowerShell , there's a command you can run from this utility to open Task Manager on your PC.

Here’s how:

  • Launch the Start menu, search for Windows PowerShell , and select the Best match.
  • Type taskmgr on the PowerShell window and press Enter .
  • Close the PowerShell window as you no longer need it.

Use PowerShell to open Task Manager

10. From the Run Box

Windows Run dialog allows you to launch various apps and tools installed on your PC. You can use this box to open Task Manager, too, and we’ll show you how:

  • Press Windows key + R at the same time to open Run.
  • In the box, type taskmgr and hit Enter .

Use Run to open Task Manager

11. From the Control Panel

If you’re modifying your settings in Control Panel, you don’t have to exit it to launch Task Manager. There’s an option to open this utility from within Control Panel.

  • Launch Control Panel if it isn’t already open on your PC.
  • In Control Panel, click the search box at the top-right corner.
  • Type Task Manager in the box and press Enter .
  • From the search results, select Task Manager beneath System .

Open Task Manager from Control Panel

12. Create a Desktop Shortcut

Like other apps, you can create a desktop shortcut for Task Manager on your desktop. This way, you can quickly access the utility right from your PC’s main screen.

To create this shortcut:

  • Access your PC’s desktop.
  • Right-click anywhere blank on the desktop and select New > Shortcut from the menu.
  • On the Create Shortcut window, enter the following path in the box. Then, click Next at the bottom. If your Windows installation is not in the C drive, change the drive letter in the command below. C:\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe
  • Windows will ask you to choose a name for your shortcut. Here, type Task Manager or any other name of your choice. Then, click Finish at the bottom.
  • You can now double-click the newly added shortcut on your desktop to launch Task Manager.

Create a desktop shortcut for Task Manager

Almost Every Way You Could Launch the Task Manager in Windows 10

As you can see above, there are over a dozen ways to launch Task Manager on Windows 10. The next time you need this utility, you can open it from pretty much anywhere on your computer.

site logo

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview

Everything that you need to know

Author avatar

The Task Manager is a powerful Windows 11 utility that provides detailed real-time information about the software and hardware on your PC. It’s also indispensable when troubleshooting applications, monitoring hardware resource usage, and managing startup programs.

In this in-depth guide and overview, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the Task Manager in Windows 11, including ways to use it effectively.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 1

Opening the Windows 11 Task Manager

In Windows 11, you can launch the Task Manager just like any other program by selecting Start > All Apps > Windows Tools > Task Manager . However, the most convenient way to invoke it is through the Power User menu (right-click the Start button and select Task Manager ). 

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 2

If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc will quickly bring up the Task Manager. If the operating system appears stuck, you can still get to it by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete (which opens Windows 11’s Security Screen) and then selecting Task Manager .

The Default Task Manager

The Windows 11 Task Manager appears as a stripped-down version of the full user interface by default. It’s tiny, features no menu options, and simply shows a list of active apps on your computer.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 3

You can choose any app within the list and forcibly shut it down by selecting the End task button. That’s the quickest way to quit unresponsive programs.

Right-clicking any app within the list also reveals multiple contextual options as follows:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 4

  • Switch to: Immediately brings the app into focus.
  • End task: Forcibly shuts down the app. It’s the same as selecting the End task button.
  • Provide feedback: Provide feedback to Microsoft.
  • Create dump file : Generate a dump (.DMP) file of the program, which is often requested by support engineers for troubleshooting purposes. You can also analyze dump files yourself .
  • Run new task: Launch a new program, folder, or document with or without elevated privileges in Windows .
  • Always on top: Place the Task Manager on top of other apps. This option also works in expanded view, which then helps you track resource usage in real-time.
  • Go to details : Automatically select the executable file related to the program within the Details tab in the expanded view.
  • Open file location: Opens the directory of the program’s main executable file in a File Explorer window.
  • Search online: Perform an online search using Bing. If you don’t recognize a program, use this option to learn more about it.
  • Properties: Brings up the program executable’s Properties dialog box. You can then check or modify its general, compatibility, and security settings and view additional details such as the version, publisher, etc.

The Expanded Task Manager

Select the More details button at the bottom left corner to expand the Task Manager’s user interface. You can always select Fewer details to go back to the stripped-down version whenever you want.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 5

The expanded Task Manager consists of multiple tabs— Processes (default), Performance , App History , Startup , Users , Details , and Services . You can change the default tab that appears when you open Task Manager by selecting Options > Set default tab on the menu bar.

Task Manager – Tab Overview

You’ll go through each tab in more detail below, but here’s a brief overview:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 6

  • Processes: Offers a rundown of all active, background, and Windows processes on your computer, including performance stats per process.
  • Performance: Provides real-time monitoring of the CPU (central processing unit) , memory, storage drive, network adapter, and video card.
  • App History: Displays the resource usage history of Microsoft Store apps (default view) and traditional programs (optional).
  • Startup: Lists programs that launch at startup and the related performance impact on your PC.
  • Users: Displays the processes and resource usage on your computer for each user.
  • Details: Provides a comprehensive list of processes and the relevant executable files in traditional format.
  • Services: Features native and third-party services, along with options to start, stop, and restart them.

Task Manager – Menu Options

In the expanded view, you’ll find a list of menu options to the top of the Task Manager— File , Options , and View .

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 7

  • File > Run new task : Open a program, folder, or document with or without administrative privileges.
  • File > Exit : Exit the Task Manager.
  • Options > Always on top : Keep the Task Manager on top of other windows.
  • Options > Minimize on use : Hide the Task Manager while using the Switch to right-click option on an app or process.
  • Options > Hide when minimized : Hide the Task Manager in the system tray while minimizing it.
  • Options > Set default tab : Change the default tab that you see each time you open the Task Manager. 
  • Options > Show full account name : Display each user’s entire account name (profile and email ID) under the Users tab.
  • Options > Show history for all processes : Reveal the history for both Microsoft Store apps and non-Store apps under the App History tab.
  • View > Refresh now : Immediately refresh all tabs within the Task Manager.
  • View > Update speed : Determine the Task Manager’s refresh speed— High , Normal (default), or Low . Selecting Paused lets you stop all updates.
  • View > Group by type : Group or ungroup processes under the Processes tab.
  • View > Expand all : Expand all processes to reveal sub-processes under the Processes tab.
  • View > Collapse all : Collapse all expanded processes under the Processes tab.

The Processes Tab

The Processes tab in the Windows 11 Task Manager features a list of live processes on your PC, along with real-time usage stats under separate columns.

Processes Tab – Name Column

The Apps section at the top of the Name column sports a list of all open programs in Windows 11. The Background processes section features apps that run in the background (e.g., the system tray). A third section—labeled Windows processes —lists processes related to the operating system. 

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 8

If you want, you can merge the sections list by unchecking View > Group by type on the Task Manager menu. However, that makes it harder to locate specific apps and processes.

By default, the Task Manager groups and hides the sub-processes related to each program. To reveal them, simply double-click a program’s name or select the tiny arrow icon next to it.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 9

Optionally, use the View > Expand all and Collapse all menu options to expand and collapse all sub-processes under the Processes tab.

Right-clicking a process reveals multiple options, similar to what you get in the Task Manager’s simplified view. An exception is the integral Windows Explorer process, which features a Restart option instead of End task . That allows you to troubleshoot File Explorer-related issues by restarting it. 

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 10

Processes Tab – Other Columns

The Processes tab contains additional columns that provide real-time system resource usage stats and insights for each process and subprocess, along with colors that shift between yellow and red to indicate minor to heavy resource usage.

The CPU , Memory , and Disk columns are arguably the most important since they let you spot programs that consume lots of resources. Selecting a column enables you to sort processes from the most resource-intensive to the least and vice-versa. This can be useful, for example, in figuring out things like which apps are causing the most CPU or Disk activity.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 11

  • Status: Displays a leaf-shaped icon to denote if Windows 11 has suspended the process to conserve power.
  • CPU: Current CPU resource consumption of each process in percentage terms. An aggregate value is listed at the top of the column.
  • Memory: Current memory usage in megabytes for each process, along with the total amount as a percentage at the top.
  • Disk: Disk usage for each process.
  • Network: Live network activity of each process in megabits per second .

Processes Tab – Additional Columns

Right-clicking any column also gives you the option to activate additional columns:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 12

  • Type : Displays the process category— App , Background process , or Windows process . 
  • Publisher: Reveals the publisher of the related program or service—e.g., Microsoft. 
  • PID: Unique decimal number assigned to each process, helpful in distinguishing between multiple instances of the same program.
  • Process Name: This shows the filename and extension of the process.
  • Command Line: Displays the full command line, options, and variables related to the process.
  • GPU: GPU activity in percentage terms for each process.
  • GPU Engine: Displays the GPU engine in active use by the process— 3D , Video Decode , Video Processing , etc. 
  • Power Usage: Power consumption of a process on a scale of Very Low , Low , Moderate , High , and Very High at any given moment.
  • Power Usage Trend: Power usage of a process as an average. This is a better indicator since it accounts for time.
  • Resource values : This lets you change the Memory , Disk , and Network columns to display values instead of percentages.

The Performance Tab

The Performance tab in the Task Manager lets you monitor total real-time utilization of the CPU, memory, disk, network, and GPU in Windows 11. Select each hardware component on the sidebar to view the relevant information.

Performance Tab – CPU

Displays CPU utilization by all processes over 60 seconds on a scale of 0-100. On multi-core CPUs, right-click the graph and select Change graph to > Logical processors to display separate charts for each logical processor . Hovering your cursor over a processor will reveal if the operating system has “parked” it to conserve power.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 13

Underneath the graph, you’ll find the following information:

  • Utilization : CPU utilization as a percentage.
  • Speed : Current speed of the CPU.
  • Processes : Total number of processes handled by the CPU.
  • Threads : Thread count for all processes handled by the CPU.
  • Handles : Total number of associations with shared resources (files, programs, memory locations, etc.).
  • Up time : Time since you last turned on your PC.

The rest consists of general information related to the CPU, such as the processor model, base speed, and virtualization status .

Performance Tab – Memory

Displays total RAM usage in graphical format over 60 seconds on a scale of 0-100. In addition, a separate graph labeled Memory composition reveals a snapshot of the memory consisting of the following in different shades of color:

  • In use : Memory in active use by processes, drivers, and the operating system.
  • Modified : Memory that must be written to the disk before it can be repurposed.
  • Standy : Memory consisting of cached data not in active use.
  • Free : Memory that’s immediately available for use.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 14

Underneath both graphs, you’ll see the following information as numeric values:

  • In use : The amount of memory actively used by processes, drivers, and the operating system.
  • Available : Memory available for use by the operating system (the sum of the Standby and Free categories in the memory composition graph).
  • Committed : Displays a couple of values related to the page file in Windows .
  • Cached : The sum of the Modified and Standby categories in the memory composition graph.
  • Paged pool : Kernel and device driver memory that can be moved from RAM to the page file.
  • Non-paged pool : Kernel and device driver memory that must stay in RAM.

The rest is general information about the physical memory modules—speed, the number of RAM slots used, and the form factor.

Performance Tab – Disk

Depending on the number of partitions and removable drives on your PC, you may see multiple disks listed under the sidebar. Each consists of two graphs that display disk utilization over 60 seconds on a scale of 0-100. 

The Active time graph reveals the read and write requests, while the Disk transfer rate graph displays transfer rates between the drive and the operating system.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 15

In addition to general drive-related information such as capacity, model, and type (HDD or SSD), you’ll see the following information:

  • Active time : Percentage of time the disk spends reading or writing data. Higher percentages may indicate bottlenecks (often the case with mechanical hard drives).
  • Average response time : Average amount of time to complete read and write requests.
  • Read speed : The disk drive’s current read speed in kilobytes per second.
  • Write speed : Current write speed of the disk drive in kilobytes per second.

Performance Tab – Wi-Fi/Ethernet

Reveals network information such as the adapter name, SSID, connection type, send and receive speeds (in Kbps), IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and signal strength.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 16

The graph displays total network utilization by apps and the operating system. Right-clicking the chart and selecting View network details will reveal extra information regarding network activity.

Performance Tab – GPU

Displays the GPU model, utilization, and other information regarding your PC’s video card, such as the amount of dedicated or shared memory and driver version. However, this section may not show up on computers with integrated graphics.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 17

You can switch the default graph to display activity by GPU engine ( 3D , Video Decoding , Video Processing , etc.) by right-clicking and selecting Change graph to > Multiple engines . 

Note : Windows 11 also includes an advanced hardware monitoring utility dubbed the Resource Monitor. Select Open Resource Monitor at the bottom of the Performance tab to get to it.

The App History Tab

The Task Manager’s App History tab displays the total CPU and network usage stats for Microsoft Store apps. If you want, you can include non-Store apps within the list by selecting Options > Show history for all processes on the menu bar.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 18

You can reset the count for all columns by selecting Delete usage history at the top of the screen.

App History Tab – Default Columns

The App History tab displays the following columns:

  • Name: The name of the program.
  • CPU time: The total time the program has utilized the CPU since the last reset.
  • Network: The total bandwidth (in megabytes) consumed by the program.
  • Metered network: The total amount of data the program has consumed on metered networks .
  • Tile updates: Data consumption related to live tile updates in the Start menu. This option is irrelevant since live tiles aren’t present in Windows 11. However, you may still see activity in the column with older apps that attempt to trigger updates in the background.

App History Tab – Additional Columns

Optionally, you can right-click any of the existing columns to activate the following columns:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 19

  • Non-metered Network: Total data usage on non-metered networks.
  • Downloads: Overall data usage related to downloads performed by apps.
  • Uploads: Overall data usage related to uploads performed by apps.

App History Tab – Contextual Options

Right-clicking an app reveals the following options:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 20

  • Search online: If an app appears unfamiliar, select this option to perform a cursory check online.
  • Properties: Open the Properties pane of the app’s main executable file.

The Startup Tab

The Startup tab in the Task Manager lists every app that loads at computer startup. Since multiple start programs can adversely impact the operating system’s performance, you can use this tab to manage them.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 21

Startup Tab – Default Columns

The startup tab lists the following columns:

  • Name: The name of the startup program.
  • Publisher: The program’s publisher.
  • Status: The program’s status ( Enabled or Disabled ).
  • Startup Impact: The startup impact of the program ( Low, Normal, High, or Very High ).

Startup Tab – Contextual Options

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 22

  • Enable / Disable : Enable or disable the startup program.
  • Open file location: Opens the program’s executable file in a File Explorer window.
  • Search online : Perform a search of the program online.
  • Properties : Open the Properties pane of the program’s executable file.

Startup Tab – Additional Columns

You can also right-click an existing column to activate any of the following columns:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 23

  • Startup type: The startup source of the program (the system registry or the Startup folder in Windows ). 
  • Disk I/O at startup: The amount of disk activity in megabytes related to the process at startup.
  • CPU at startup: The impact on CPU usage at startup.
  • Running now: Reveals if the program is running at the moment or not.
  • Disabled time: The time since you last disabled the program.
  • Command line: Displays the program’s command line path, including any options and variables related to it.

The Users Tab

The Users tab in the Task Manager displays a list of all users on your computer. It’s similar to the Processes tab, except that you can view resource usage by user.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 24

Users Tab – Default Columns

You can find the following columns within the tab:

  • User : Lists the names of signed-in users. Double-click a name to reveal all processes related to the user.
  • Status : Displays the status of each process for a user, including if the processes are suspended or not.

The CPU , Memory , Disk , Network , GPU , and GPU engine are essentially the same compared to what you see on the Processes tab.

Users Tab – Additional Columns

Right-clicking an existing column allows you to activate additional columns:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 25

  • ID: The user’s ID.
  • Session: The session duration of the user.
  • Client Name: The user’s hostname (if the user connects to your PC via a remote connection).

Users Tab – Contextual Options

Right-clicking a user reveals the following contextual actions:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 26

  • Expand : Reveal processes related to the user account.
  • Connect : Switch to the user account by inserting its password.
  • Sign off : Forcibly signs off the user and may result in data loss.
  • Send message: Send a message to the user. Enter a title and message and select OK .
  • Switch user account : Switch to the user account.
  • Manage user account : Opens the User Accounts screen in the Control Panel .

The Details Tab

The Details tab offers an expanded view of all processes on your computer, including those from other user accounts. It’s similar to the Processes tab from the Task Manager in Windows 7 and earlier. 

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 27

Details Tab – Default Columns

The Details tab is broken down into the following columns:

  • Name : Name of the process.
  • PID : Unique number assigned to each process.
  • Status : Status of the process— Running or Suspended .
  • User name : What initiated the process—you, another user, the operating system, etc.
  • CPU : CPU activity related to the process.
  • Memory : The amount of memory used in kilobytes.
  • Architecture : Architecture of the process – 32 or 64-bit .

You can also activate a host of additional columns by right-clicking an existing column and selecting Enable additional columns . However, these are highly technical and best suited for power users, so we won’t go over them here.

Details Tab – Contextual Options

Right-clicking a process reveals the following options:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 28

  • End task: Forcibly shut down the process.
  • End process tree: End the entire process tree related to the process. This is similar to ending a group of processes in the Processes tab.
  • Set priority : Determine the priority given by the CPU to the process compared to others. Options include Realtime , High , Above Normal , Normal , Below Normal , and Low .
  • Set affinity: Specify the CPU core or cores used by the process.
  • Analyze wait chain: Identify and end other processes that the process is using or waiting to use.
  • UAC virtualization: Change the UAC virtualization status. If enabled, it allows processes to write into a virtualized location instead of areas where they don’t have permissions. That could improve compatibility with legacy apps.
  • Create dump file: Create a memory dump for troubleshooting purposes.
  • Open file location: Open the executable file’s location.
  • Search online: Search online for more details about the process or task.
  • Properties: Access the executable file’s Properties pane.
  • Go to services: Highlight related services within the Services tab.

The Services Tab

The Services tab details every native and third-party service on your PC, such as those related to Windows Update , Bluetooth, the Print Spooler , etc. It lets you start, stop, and restart services.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 29

Services Tab – Default Columns

The services pane consists of the following columns:

  • Name : Name of the service.
  • PID : Process ID of the service (helpful in identifying the service-related process).
  • Description : Brief description of each service.
  • Status : Status of the process ( Running or Stopped ). Some processes may show up as Starting if they appear to be stuck.
  • Group : Reveals any related group that a service is a part of.

Services Tab – Contextual Options

Right-clicking a service will reveal the following contextual options:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 30

  • Start : Start the service.
  • Step : Stop the service.
  • Restart : Restart the service.
  • Open Services : Opens the Services applet (a utility that provides configuration options for each service).
  • Search online : Search online for details about the service.
  • Go to details : Switches to the Details tab and highlights the relevant executable (useful for troubleshooting).

Put the Task Manager to Good Use

The Task Manager in Windows 11 is instrumental in identifying how your PC’s various programs and hardware work. Despite being filled with lots of information and options, however, getting a brief understanding of what it takes to shut down troublesome apps and manage resource-heavy processes alone can positively impact day-to-day usage.

' src=

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn't hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube. Read Dilum's Full Bio

Read More Posts:

task master windows

OnMSFT.com

6 effective ways to open Task Manager in Windows 10 or Windows 11 

Shaant Minhas

October 19, 2021

task master windows

Looking for more How To posts? Check out our How To Page for all the latest tips on Windows, Microsoft Teams, LinkedIn, and more!

In this article

If you’ve been a Windows user for a while, I’m sure you would’ve come across the Windows Task Manager at least once by now. Some users often find it difficult to open Task Manager in Windows 11, which is a major setback considering how important it is.

The last line of defense for every Windows user, the Task Manager is usually called upon when all your programs stop responding and your PC is stuck still and simply won’t budge from inactivity.

While the Task Manager can be used for much more than clearing non-responsive tasks and errors, here we’ll focus on how to open Task Manager so as not to digress from our topic.

Moreover, there’s not just one, but multiple ways that you can open the Windows Task Manager in your Windows. Let’s start with the simplest one.

1. Open the Task Manager with a keyboard shortcut

One of my personal favorites and probably the simplest one on this list, you can launch the Task Manager simply by pressing Ctrl + All + Delete together. When you press the shortcut keys, you’ll see the Windows Security screen pop open on your screen.

From there, click on Task Manager , and the Task Manager window will open up. From here, you’re free to use Task Manager however you’d like.

opening the task manager in windows 10

2. Use the Power user menu

You can also open the Task Manager from the Power User menu on your Windows computer. Put briefly, the Power User menu is a central place to access some of the most widely used Windows features.

To get started, press the Windows key + X option to open the Windows power menu. From there, select the Task Manager option, and you’ll have the Task Manager window in front of you.

opening the task manager from power user menu

3. Launch Task Manager from the taskbar

Navigate and  right-click on the taskbar of your Windows 10 PC, or on the Windows icon in the taskbar on a Windows 11 PC and select the Task Manager from the diverse set of options available on your screen.

launching windows task manager from task bar

4. Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut

Another shortcut on our list, the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut, is slightly different from the Ctrl + Alt + Delete shortcut we’ve used above.

Pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc will open Task Manager in just a few seconds on your screens, as opposed to Ctrl + Alt + Delete, where you’ll have to first go through the Windows Security menu. Use this one if you’re rushing and want to quickly launch the Task Manager.

5. Use the “taskmgr” from the Start menu search bar

To open Task Manager in Windows 10/11 from the taskmgr EXE file, do the following:

  • Go to Start menu search bar, type “taskmgr.exe,” and select the Best match.

The Task Manager will be launched on your screen. Alternatively, you can also enter “taskmgr.exe” in the Run dialog box and hit Enter to launch the application.

opening task manager from run dialog box

Related: Task Manager Not Responding? Here are 4 Ways to Fix It

6. Use the Control Panel

This is a rather long-winded way, but you can also make use of the Control Panel to open Task Manager.

To get started, go to the Start menu search bar, type in “control panel,” and select the best match.

In the Control Panel, go to the search option in the top-right corner, type in ‘task manager’ in the search bar, and select the Task Manager option when it comes up.

opening the task manager from control panel

If you’re also looking to refresh the look of your Task Manager in Windows 11, we have a separate post highlighting what the Task Manager is and what it’s used for.

We also invite you to check out our expert guide on how to enable dark mode in the new Task Manager . Be sure to also check out our guide on how to fix the Task Manager in case you run into trouble and it’s not functioning properly.

Open Task Manager in Windows 10/11

The Task Manager is another one of the free utilities from Windows that makes our day-to-day Windows workflow hassle-free.

Apart from helping you fix random hang-ups of Windows that pop up from time to time, it can also help you see and fix the processes that are running behind your PC, while at the same time, showing the app history, user, and service details of your Windows.

Microsoft Authenticator adds autofill support for addresses and payment details

Dragon ball fighterz, age of empires iv, and more are coming to xbox game pass this month.

OnMSFT.com is built on:

Wordpress GeneratePress Azure

Theme thanks to heather.

task master windows

Home About Contact Us

Join our team, © copyright 2014 - 2024 onmsft.com llc.

logo

  • Password Tools For Windows Password Genius Windows Password Genius Windows 10 Password Genius Windows 7 Password Genius RAR Password Genius ZIP Password Genius SQL Password Genius Chrome Password Genius WiFi Password Genius For Office Office Password Genius Word Password Genius Excel Password Genius PowerPoint Password Genius Access Password Genius Outlook Password Genius Outlook Email Password Genius PDF Password Genius For Removing Office Password Remover Word Password Remover Excel Password Remover Workbook Unprotect Genius PowerPoint Unprotect Genius Word Unprotect Genius

iphone passcode genius

  • More Utilities Data Recovery BitGenius Word Repair Genius Excel Repair Genius PowerPoint Repair Genius Office Repair Genius Photo Data Genius Android Data Genius BitLocker Tools BitLocker Genius for Mac BitLocker Genius for Windows More Tools Product Key Finder SafeUSB Genius ISO Genius All Products
  • Support Support Center FAQ & Contact Resource Center How-to Articles Blog Blog, News & Guides

9 Ways to Open Task Manager in Windows 10

By  Achilles Hill  | Last Updated January 03, 2024

In the Task Manager (see picture below), you are able to check all the running tasks, end any task and so forth. Thus, it is necessary to learn how to open it on your PC. For your convenience, this text lists 9 methods to open Task Manager in Windows 10 .

Windows 10 task manager

Video guide on how to open Task Manager in Windows 10:

9 ways to open Task Manager in Windows 10:

Way 1: Open the app through taskbar.

Right-click blank area on the taskbar, and choose Task Manager in the context menu.

choose task manager

Way 2: Turn on Task Manager from Quick Access Menu.

Right-tap the lower-left corner to open the menu, and then select Task Manager on it.

select task manager on quick access menu

Way 3: Open Task Manager in Start Menu.

Step 1 : Tap the bottom-left Start button and choose All Apps in the menu.

choose All Apps

Step 2 : Open the Windows System folder.

open Windows system folder

Step 3 : Click Task Manager to open it.

click task manager

Way 4: Open this program in Control Panel.

Step 1 : Enter Control Panel .

Step 2 : Input task manager in the upper-right search box, and tap Task Manager in the results.

select task manager

Way 5: Start Task Manager via Run.

Press Windows+R to open Run dialog, enter taskmgr and tap OK .

enter taskmgr

Way 6: Open the program from Search panel.

Step 1 : Press Windows+C to open Charms Menu, and choose Search on it.

choose Search

Step 2 : Enter task and click Task Manager .

Tip : There are two options named Task Manager on the Search Panel, and you can choose either of them.

click task manager

Way 7: Access Task Manager with the help of Command Prompt.

Step 1 : Click the Start button , enter cmd in the empty box and tap Command Prompt .

access command prompt from start menu

Step 2 : Type taskmgr and press Enter .

type taskmgr

Way 8: Open it through Windows PowerShell.

Step 1 : Tap the Search button on the taskbar, type windows powershell and click Windows PowerShell to enter it.

enter Windows PowerShell via search button

Step 2 : Input taskmgr and hit Enter .

input taskmgr

Way 9: Open Task Manager from Ctrl+Alt+Del options.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and choose Task Manager from the choices.

choose task manager in Ctrl Alt Delet option

Related Articles :

  • Create Task Manager Shortcut on Windows 10 Desktop
  • Task Manager Disabled by Administrator | What to Do
  • Run Task Manager as Administrator in Windows 10
  • 4 Ways to Open Ease of Access Center in Windows 10
  • 6 Ways to Open Disk Cleanup on Windows 10

reset windows 10 local microsoft account password

iSunshare is dedicated to providing the best service for Windows, Mac, Android users who are in demand for password recovery and data recovery.

Copyright © 2024 iSunshare Studio All Rights Reserved.

  • Gotta Get It: Hot Tech Deals at Target
  • Hands On: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Task Manager

How to open the Windows Task Manager, what it's used for, and lots more

task master windows

  • Emporia State University

In This Article

Jump to a Section

What Is Task Manager Used For?

  • Open Task Manager

Task Manager Availability

Task manager walkthrough.

Task Manager shows you what programs are running on your Windows computer and offers some limited control over those running tasks.

For an advanced tool that can do an incredible number of things, most of the time the Windows Task Manager is used to do something very basic: see what's running right now .

Open programs are listed, of course, as are programs that are running "in the background" that Windows and your installed programs have started.

Task Manager can be used to forcefully end any of those running programs , as well as to see how much individual programs are using your computer's hardware resources and which programs and services are starting when your computer starts.

See the Task Manager Walkthrough section at the bottom of this article for every detail about this tool. You'll be amazed at how much you can learn about the software that's running on your computer with this utility.

How to Open Task Manager

There is no shortage of ways to open Task Manager, which is probably a good thing considering that your computer may be suffering some kind of problem when you need to open it.

Let's start with the easiest way first: Ctrl + Shift + Esc . Press those three keys together at the same time and Task Manager will launch.

CTRL + ALT + DEL , which opens the Windows Security screen, is another way. In Windows XP, this shortcut opens Task Manager directly.

Another easy way to open Task Manager is to right-click or tap-and-hold on any empty space on the taskbar, that long bar at the bottom of your Desktop. Choose Task Manager (Windows 11, 10, 8, & XP) or Start Task Manager (Windows 7 & Vista) from the pop-up menu.

You can also start the Task Manager directly using its run command. Open a Command Prompt window , or even just Run ( Win + R ), and then execute taskmgr .

Task Manager is also available on the Power User Menu in Windows 11, 10, and 8.

In Windows 10 and Windows 8, Task Manager defaults to a "simple" view of the running foreground programs. Select More details at the bottom to see everything.

Task Manager is included with Windows 11 , Windows 10 , Windows 8 , Windows 7 , Windows Vista , and Windows XP , as well as with Server versions of the Windows operating system .

Microsoft improved Task Manager, sometimes considerably, between each version of Windows. Specifically, the Task Manager in Windows 11/10/8 is very different from the one in Windows 7 & Vista, and that one very different from the one in Windows XP.

A similar program called Tasks exists in Windows 98 and Windows 95, but doesn't offer near the feature set that Task Manager does. That program can be opened by executing taskman in those versions of Windows.

There's a mind-boggling level of information available in Task Manager about what's going on in Windows, from overall resource usage down to minute details like how many seconds each individual process has used of the CPU's time.

Every little bit, tab by tab, is fully explained below. Right now, however, let's look at your menu options and what features and choices you have access to there:

Most of what's discussed in these first three menu groups do not apply to Windows 11 version 22H2 and newer. Exceptions are called out.

  • Run new task — opens the Create new task dialog box. From here you can browse to, or enter the path of, any executable on your computer and open it. You also have the option to Create this task with administrative privileges , which will run the executable with "elevated" permissions.
  • Exit — will close the Task Manager program. It will not end any apps, programs, or processes you're viewing or have selected.

Settings/Options Menu

This menu is called Settings in Windows 11 22H2 and newer, and is located in the bottom-left corner of Task Manager. In older versions, Options is located along the top of Task Manager.

  • Always on top — if selected, will keep Task Manager in the foreground at all times.
  • Minimize on use — if selected, will minimize Task Manager when you choose the Switch to option, available in several areas throughout the tool.
  • Hide when minimized — if selected, will prevent Task Manager from showing up in the taskbar like a normal program. It will, in either case, always appear in the taskbar notification area (the space next to the clock with the little icons).
  • Default Start Page — sets which tab is in focus when Task Manager is first launched. This is called Set default tab in some versions of Windows.
  • Show full account name — if selected, displays a user's real name next to the user's username where applicable.
  • Show history for all processes — if selected, shows data for non-Windows Store apps and programs in the App History tab.
  • Refresh now — when tapped or clicked, instantly update all the regularly updated hardware resource data found throughout Task Manager.
  • Update speed — sets the rate at which resource data is updated throughout Task Manager. Choose High for 2 updates per second, Normal for 1 update per second, and Low for an update every 4 seconds. Paused freezes updates.
  • Group by type — when checked, groups processes in the Processes tab by App , Background process , and Windows process .
  • Expand all — will instantly expand any collapsed entries but only on the tab in which you're viewing at the moment.
  • Collapse all — will instantly collapse any expanded entries but only on the tab in which you're viewing at the moment.
  • Status values — sets whether a process' suspended status is reported in the Status column, available in the Processes and Users tabs. Choose Show suspended status to show it or Hide suspended status to hide it.

Update speed is called Real time update speed in Windows 11, and it's located in Settings.

Check out the next 10 sections for every detail imaginable on the Processes, Performance, App History, Startup apps, Users, Details, and Services tabs in the Windows Task Manager!

Microsoft has improved this utility considerably from early versions of the Windows operating system, incrementally adding features with every new Windows release. This walkthrough covers elements found in Task Manager for Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8, and can also be used to understand the more limited Task Manager versions available in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

The Processes Tab

The Processes tab in Task Manager is like "home base" in a way—it's the first tab you see by default, gives you some basic information about what's running on your computer right now, and lets you do most of the common things people do in Task Manager.

This tab contains a list of all the running programs and apps on your computer (listed under Apps ), as well as any Background processes and Windows processes that are running. From this tab, you can close running programs, bring them to the foreground, see how each is using your computer's resources, and more.

Processes is available in Task Manager as described here in Windows 8 and newer, but most of the same functionality is available in the Applications tab in Windows 7, Vista, and XP. The Processes tab in those older versions of Windows most resembles Details , described below.

Right-click or tap-and-hold on any listed process, and you'll be presented with several options, depending on the type of process:

  • Expand/Collapse — just another way to collapse or expand any grouped processes or windows - the same as using the little arrows to the left of the app or process name.
  • Switch to and Bring to front options — available via right-clicking on the window results under the Apps , both bring up the selected window. Minimize and Maximize do what you'd guess, only they don't necessarily bring the window to the foreground.
  • Restart — available for some processes in control of Windows, like Windows Explorer , and will close and automatically restart that process.
  • End task — no matter where you find it, does just that — it closes the task. If you End task from a process that has child windows or processes, they will close as well.
  • Resource values — has nested menus within it of Memory , Disk , and Network . Choose Percents to show resources as a percent of total available on your system. Choose Values (the default) to show the actual level of resource being used. Resource values are also available from the individual column options (more on this in the section below).
  • Create dump file — generates what's called a "dump with heap" — an often very large file, in DMP format, that contains everything going on with that program, usually helpful only to a software developer trying to fix an unknown problem.
  • Go to details — switches you to the Details tab and preselects the executable responsible for that process.
  • Open file location — opens the folder on your computer that contains the executable responsible for that process and preselects it for you.
  • Search online — opens up a search results page in your default browser for the executable file and the common name, hopefully serving up something useful.
  • Properties — opens the Properties of the processes' executable. This is the same Properties window you have access to from the file if you were to go there manually via the right-click menu in any file list in Windows.

By default, the Processes tab shows the Name column, as well as Status , CPU , Memory , Disk , and Network . Right-click or tap-and-hold on any column heading and you'll see additional information you can choose to view for each running process:

  • Name — the program or process's common name, or file description , if it's available. If it's not, the file name of the running process is shown instead. In 64-bit versions of Windows, 32-bit program names are suffixed by (32-bit) when they're running. This column can not be hidden.
  • Type — shows the type of process in each row—a standard App , a Background process , or a Windows process . Task Manager is usually configured to Group by type already, so this column isn't usually helpful to have open.
  • Status — will note if a process is Suspended , but only if Task Manager is configured to Show suspended status from the View > Status values menu.
  • Publisher — shows the running file's author, extracted from the file's copyright data. Nothing is shown if no copyright was included when the file was published.
  • PID — shows each process's process id, a unique identifying number assigned to each running process.
  • Process name — displays the actual file name of the process, including the file extension . This is exactly how the file appears if you were to traditionally navigate to it in Windows.
  • Command line — shows the full path and exact execution of the file that resulted in the running of the process, including any options or variables.
  • CPU — a continuously updated display of how much of your central processing unit's resources each process is using at the given moment. Total percentage of total CPU utilization is shown in the column header and includes all processors and processor cores.
  • Memory — is a continuously updated display of how much of your RAM is being used by each process at the given moment. Total memory usage is shown in the column header.
  • Disk — a continuously updated display of how much read and write activity each process is responsible for, across all of your hard drives, at the given moment. The percentage of total disk utilization is shown in the column header.
  • Network — a continually updated display of the bandwidth being utilized by each process. The percentage utilization of the primary network as a whole is shown in the column header.
  • GPU — a continuously updated display of the GPU utilization across all engines at the given moment. The percentage of total GPU utilization is shown in the column header.
  • GPU engine — which GPU engine each process is using.
  • Power usage — a continually updated display of the CPU, disk, and GPU impact on power consumption. Value can toggle between Very low, Low, Moderate, High, and Very high .
  • Power usage trend — CPU, disk, and GPU impact on power consumption over time.

The button at the bottom-right of this tab changes depending on what you have selected. On most processes, it becomes End task but a few have a Restart ability.

The Performance Tab (CPU)

The Performance tab, available in all versions of Windows, gives you an overview of how your hardware is being utilized by Windows and whatever software you're running right now.

This tab is further broken down by the individual hardware categories that are most important to your system's performance — CPU , Memory , Disk , and GPU , plus either Wireless or Ethernet (or both). Additional hardware categories might also be included here too, like Bluetooth .

Let's look at CPU first and then Memory , Disk , and Ethernet over the next several parts of this walkthrough:

Above the graph, you'll see the make and model of your CPU(s), along with the maximum speed , also reported below.

The CPU % Utilization Graph operates as you'd probably expect, with time on the x-axis and total CPU utilization, from 0% to 100%, on the y-axis.

The data at the far right is right now , and moving left, you're seeing an increasingly older look at how much of your CPU's total capacity was being utilized by your computer. Remember, you can always change the rate at which this data is updated via Settings > Real time update speed (Windows 11) or View > Update Speed .

Right-click or tap-and-hold anywhere on the right to bring up some options for this graph:

  • Change graph to — gives you the options of Overall utilization (one graph representing the total utilization across all physical and logical CPUs), Logical Processors (individual graphs, each representing a single CPU core), and NUMA nodes (each NUMA node in an individual graph).
  • Show kernel times — adds a second layer to the CPU graph that isolates CPU utilization due to kernel processes—those executed by Windows itself. This data appears as a dotted-line so you don't confuse it with the overall CPU utilization, which includes both user and kernel processes (i.e., everything).
  • Graph summary view — hides all the data in Task Manager, including the menus and other tabs, leaving only the graph itself. This is particularly helpful when you need to keep an eye on CPU utilization without the distractions of all that other data.
  • View — gives you a right-click method of jumping to the other Memory , Disk , Network , and GPU areas of the Performance tab.
  • Copy — will copy all of the non-graph information on the page (more on all of that below) to the Windows clipboard, making it really easy to paste anywhere you like... like that chat window where you're getting help from tech support.

There's lots of other information on this screen, all located below the graph. The first set of numbers, which are displayed in a larger font and that you'll no doubt see change from moment to moment, include:

  • Utilization — shows the current Overall utilization of the CPU, which should match where the data line meets the graph's y-axis, on the far right.
  • Speed — shows the speed at which the CPU is operating at right now.
  • Processes — a total count of all processes running at the moment.
  • Threads — the total number of threads running in the processes at this time, including one idle thread per processor installed.
  • Handles — the total number of object handles in the tables of all running processes.
  • Up time — the total time the system has been running in DD:HH:MM:SS (e.g., 2:16:47:28 means 2 days, 16 hours, 47 minutes, and 28 seconds). This count resets to zero when the computer is restarted or powered on.

The remaining data you see is static data about your CPU(s):

  • Base speed — the listed maximum speed for your CPU. You may see the actual speed go a bit higher and lower than this as you use your computer.
  • Sockets — indicates the number of physically distinct CPUs you have installed.
  • Cores — reports the total number of independent processing units available across all installed processors.
  • Logical processors — the total number of non-physical processing units available across all installed processors.
  • Virtualization — reports the current status, either Enabled or Disabled , of hardware-based virtualization.
  • Hyper-V support — indicates whether or not Microsoft Hyper-V virtualization is supported by the installed CPU(s).
  • L1 cache — reports the total amount of L1 cache is available in the CPU, a small but super-fast pool of memory the CPU can use exclusively for its own purposes.
  • L2 cache , L3 cache , and L4 cache — are increasingly larger, and slower, stores of memory that the CPU can use when the L1 cache is full.

Finally, at the very bottom of every Performance tab you'll see a shortcut to Resource Monitor, a more robust hardware monitoring tool included with Windows.

The Performance Tab (Memory)

The next hardware category in the Performance tab in Task Manager is Memory , tracking and reporting on various aspects of your installed RAM.

Above the topmost graph, you'll see the total amount of memory, likely in GB, installed and recognized by Windows.

Memory has two different graphs:

The Memory Usage Graph , similar to the CPU graph, operates with time on the x-axis and total RAM utilization, from 0 GB to your maximum usable memory in GB, on the y-axis.

The data at the far right is right now , and moving left you're seeing an increasingly older look at how much of your RAM's total capacity was being utilized by your computer.

The Memory Composition Graph is not time-based, but instead a multi-section graph, some parts of which you may not always see:

  • In use — memory in use by "processes, drivers , or the operating system."
  • Modified — memory "whose contents must be written to disk before it can be used for another purpose."
  • Standby — memory in memory that contains "cached data and code that is not actively in use."
  • Free — memory that "is not currently in use, and that will be repurposed first when processes, drivers, or the operating system need more memory."

Right-click or tap-and-hold anywhere on the right to bring up some options:

  • Graph summary view — hides all the data in Task Manager, including the menus and other tabs, leaving only the two graphs themselves. This is particularly helpful when you need to keep an eye on memory usage without all that extra data in the way.
  • View — gives you a right-click method of jumping to the other CPU , Disk , Network , and GPU areas of the Performance tab.
  • Copy — will copy all of the non-graph memory use and other information on the page (more on all of that below) to the clipboard.

Below the graphs are two sets of information. The first, which you'll notice is in a larger font, is live memory data which you'll probably change every so often:

  • In use — the total amount of RAM in use at this moment, which matches where the data line crosses the graph's y-axis, on the far right of the memory usage graph.
  • Available — the memory that's available to be used by the operating system. Adding the Standby and Free amounts listed in the Memory Composition Graph will get you this number as well.
  • Committed — has two parts, the first being the Commit Charge , a lower number than the second, the Commit Limit . These two amounts are related to virtual memory and the paging file; specifically, once the Commit Charge reaches the Commit Limit , Windows will attempt to increase the size of the pagefile.
  • Cached — the memory being passively used by the operating system. Combining the Standby and Modified amounts listed in the Memory Composition Graph will get you this number.
  • Paged pool — reports the amount of memory used by important operating system processes ( kernel mode components) that can be moved to the pagefile if physical RAM starts to run out.
  • Non-paged pool — reports the amount of memory used by kernel-mode components that must be kept in physical memory and can't be moved to the virtual memory pagefile.

The remaining data, in smaller font and on the right, contains static data about your installed RAM:

  • Speed — the speed of the installed RAM, usually in MHz.
  • Slots used — reports the physical RAM module slots on the motherboard that are used and the total available. For example, if this is 2 of 4 , it means that your computer supports 4 physical RAM slots but only 2 are currently being used.
  • Form factor — reports the form factor of the installed memory, almost always DIMM .
  • Hardware reserved — the amount of physical RAM reserved by hardware devices. For example, if your computer has integrated video hardware , without dedicated memory, several GB of RAM may be reserved for graphics processes.

The slots used, form factor, and speed data are particularly helpful when you're looking to upgrade or replace your RAM , especially when you can't find information about your computer online or a system information tool isn't more helpful.

The Performance Tab (Disk)

The next hardware device to be tracked in the Performance tab in Task Manager is Disk , reporting on various aspects of your hard drive and other attached storage devices like external drives .

Above the topmost graph, you'll see the make model number of the device, if available. If you're looking for a specific hard drive, you can check the other Disk x entries on the left.

Disk has two different graphs:

The Active Time Graph , similar to the CPU and main Memory graphs, this one operates with time on the x-axis. The y-axis shows, from 0 to 100%, the percentage of time that the disk was busy doing something.

The data at the far right is right now , and moving left you're seeing an increasingly older look at the percentage of time this drive was active.

The Disk Transfer Rate Graph , also time-based on the x-axis, shows the disk write speed (dotted line) and disk read speed (solid line). The numbers on the top-right of the graph are showing peak rates over the time frame on the x-axis.

Right-click or tap-and-hold anywhere on the right to show some familiar options:

  • Graph summary view — hides all the data in Task Manager, including the menus and other tabs, leaving only the two graphs themselves.
  • View — gives you a right-click method of jumping to the other CPU , Memory , Network , and GPU areas of the Performance tab.
  • Copy — will copy to the clipboard all of the non-graph disk use and other information on the page.

Below the graphs are two different sets of information. The first, shown in a larger font, is live disk usage data which you'll certainly see change if you watch:

  • Active time — shows the percentage of time, within the units of time on the x-axis, that the disk is busy reading or writing data.
  • Average response time — reports the average total time it takes for the disk to complete an individual read/write activity.
  • Read speed — the rate at which the drive is reading data from the disk, at this moment, reported in either MB/s or KB/s.
  • Write speed — the rate at which the drive is writing data to the disk, at this moment, reported in either MB/s or KB/s.

The rest of the data about the disk is static and reported in TB, GB, or MB:

  • Capacity — the total size of the physical disk.
  • Formatted — the total of all formatted areas on the disk.
  • System disk — indicates whether or not this disk contains the system partition .
  • Page file — indicates whether or not this disk contains a pagefile.
  • Type — indicates the disk type, such as SSD , HDD , or Removable .

Much more information about your physical disks, the drives they make up, their file systems , and lots more, can be found in Disk Management .

The Performance Tab (Ethernet)

The final major hardware device to be tracked in the Performance tab in Task Manager is Ethernet , reporting on various aspects of your network, and ultimately internet, connection.

Above the graph, you'll see the make and model of the network adapter you're viewing the performance of. If this adapter is virtual, like a VPN connection, you'll see the name provided for that connection, which may or may not look familiar to you.

The Throughput Graph has time on the x-axis, like most graphs in Task Manager, and the total network utilization, in Gbps, Mbps, or Kbps, on the y-axis.

The data at the far right is right now , and moving left you're seeing an increasingly older look at how much network activity was taking place via this particular connection.

  • Graph summary view — hides all the data in Task Manager, including the menus and other tabs, leaving only the graph, a fantastic choice if you want to dock this window in the corner of your desktop to keep an eye on things.
  • View — gives you a right-click method of jumping to the other CPU , Memory , Disk , and GPU areas of the Performance tab.
  • View network details — will bring up the Network Details window, a data-only, fine-grained, down-to-the-byte view the different types of information passing in and out of each adapter on your system.
  • Copy — will copy to the clipboard all of the non-graph network utilization data and other information on the page.

Below the graph is live send/receive data:

  • Send — shows the current rate by which data is being sent via this adapter, in Gbps, Mbps, or Kbps, and reported on the graph as a dotted line.
  • Receive — shows the current rate by which data is being received via this adapter, in Gbps, Mbps, or Kbps, and reported on the graph as a solid line.

...and next to that, some helpful static information on this adapter:

  • Adapter name — the name, in Windows, given to this adapter.
  • SSID — the wireless network name that you're connected via this adapter.
  • DNS name — the DNS server that you're currently connected to. This is not the same thing as the DNS servers that your connection to the internet is using!
  • Connection type — shows the general type of connection this is, like Ethernet , 802.11ac , Bluetooth PAN , etc.
  • IPv4 address — lists the current IPv4 IP address tied to this adapter's current connection.
  • IPv6 address — lists the current IPv6 address tied to this adapter's current connection.
  • Signal strength — shows the current wireless signal strength.

The data you see in this "static" area varies greatly depending on the type of connection. For example, you'll only see signal strength and SSID on non-Bluetooth wireless connections. The DNS name field is even more rare, usually only showing up on VPN connections.

The App History Tab

The App History tab in Task Manager shows CPU and network hardware resource usage on a per-app basis. To also see data for non-Windows Store apps and programs, choose Show history for all processes from the Settings or Options menu.

This tab is only available in Task Manager in Windows 11, 10, and 8.

The date app-specific resource tracking started is shown at the top of the tab, after Resource usage since ... . select Delete usage history to remove all the data recorded in this tab and immediately start the counts over at zero.

By default, the App History tab shows the Name column, as well as CPU time , Network , Metered network , and Tile updates . Right-click or tap-and-hold on any column heading, and you'll see additional information you can choose to view for each app or process:

  • Name — the program or process's common name, or file description , if it's available. If it's not, the file name of the running process is shown instead. This column can not be removed.
  • CPU time — the amount of time spent by the CPU executing instructions initiated by this app or process.
  • Network — the total network activity (downloads + uploads), in MB, this process or app is responsible for.
  • Metered network — reports, in MB, the total network activity by this app that occurred over a metered network connection.
  • Notifications — reports, in MB, the total network usage of this app's notifications.
  • Tile updates — the total download and upload activity, in MB, used by this app's tile updates and notifications.
  • Non-metered network — reports, in MB, the total network activity by this app that occurred over a non-metered network connection
  • Downloads — reports the total download activity, in MB, this process or app is responsible for.
  • Uploads — reports the total upload activity, in MB, this process or app is responsible for.

Right-click or tap-and-hold on any row with a non-app process, and you'll get two options:

  • Search online — opens a search results page in your default browser, using the executable file and the common name as the search terms.
  • Properties — opens the Properties of the processes' executable. This is the same Properties window you'd see if you were to choose this option after right-clicking on the file anywhere else in Windows.

In some versions of Windows, you can right-click or tap-and-hold any app to Switch to that app. The switch to wording on the apps is a little disingenuous here because the app, even if running, won't be switched to at all. Instead, a completely new instance of the app is started.

The Startup Apps Tab

The Startup Apps tab (called just Startup before Windows 11) in Task Manager shows you all the processes that are configured to start automatically when Windows starts. Previously disabled startup processes are listed, too.

This is only available in Task Manager in Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8.

In versions of Windows that have it, this Task Manager tab replaces, and expands upon, the data in the Startup tab found in the System Configuration (msconfig) tool.

Above the table is a Last BIOS time indication which is a measurement, in seconds, of the last system startup time. Technically, this is the time between BIOS handing booting  off to Windows and when Windows has fully started (not including you signing on). Some computers may not see this.

Right-click or tap-and-hold on any listed process and you'll be presented with several options, depending on the type of process:

  • Expand/Collapse — just another way to expand or collapse grouped processes. This is no different from using the little arrows to the left of the process name.
  • Disable/Enable — will disable a currently enabled, or enable a previously disabled, process from starting automatically with Windows.
  • Open file location — opens the folder on your computer that contains the executable responsible for that process and selects it for you.
  • Search online — opens up a search results page in your default browser, using the file and common names as search terms. This is a great way to investigate a startup item you're not sure what to do with.
  • Properties — opens the Properties of the processes' executable. This is the same Properties option available from the file's right-click menu in other parts of Windows.

By default, the Startup Apps tab shows the Name column, as well as Publisher , Status , and Startup impact . Right-click or tap-and-hold any column heading, and you'll see additional information you can choose to view for each startup process:

  • Name — the program or process's common name, or file description , if it's available. If it's not, the file name of the running process is shown instead. You can't remove this column from the table.
  • Publisher — shows the running file's author, extracted from the file's copyright data. If the file doesn't contain copyright data, then this field is left blank.
  • Status — will note if a process is Enabled or Disabled as a startup item.
  • Startup impact — the impact on CPU and disk activity that this process had the last time the computer started. Possible values include High , Medium , Low , or None , and is updated after each startup. You'll see Not measured if Windows wasn't able to determine the resource impact for some reason.
  • Startup type — indicates the source of the instruction to start this process at startup. Registry is referring to the Windows Registry (at SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER ) and Folder to the Startup folder in the Start Menu.
  • Disk I/O at startup — the total read/write activity, measured in MB, that this process engaged in during the Windows startup process.
  • CPU at startup — the total CPU time, measured in milliseconds, that this process used during the Windows startup process.
  • Running now — indicates if the listed process is currently running.
  • Disabled time — lists the day of the week, month, day, year, and local time that a disabled startup process was disabled.
  • Command line — shows the full path and exact execution, including any options or variables, of this startup process.

In lieu of right-clicking or tap-and-holding a process to disable or enable it from starting up, you can choose to tap or click the Disable or Enable button, respectively, to do the same.

The Users Tab

The Users tab in Task Manager is a lot like the Processes tab, but processes are instead grouped by signed-in user. At a minimum, it's a convenient way to see which users are currently signed in to the computer and what hardware resources they're using.

To see real names in addition to account usernames, choose Show full account name from the Settings or Options menu.

Right-click or tap-and-hold on any user and you'll be presented with several options:

  • Expand/Collapse — just another way to collapse or expand the grouped processes running under that user. It works the same as the arrows to the left of the user.
  • Disconnect — will disconnect the user from the system but will not sign that user off. Disconnecting usually only has value if the user you disconnect is using the computer remotely, at the same time you are.
  • Manage user accounts — just a shortcut to User Accounts applet in Control Panel .

Right-click or tap-and-hold on any listed process under a user (expand the user if you don't see these) and you'll be presented with several options:

  • Switch to — if available, brings this running program to the foreground.
  • Restart — available for some Windows processes, like Windows Explorer , and will close and automatically restart the process.
  • End task — unsurprisingly, ends the task.
  • Resource values — the top level menu of a series of nested menus: Memory , Disk , and Network . Choose Percents to show resources as a percent of total resources. Choose Values (the default) to show the actual resource level being utilized.
  • Provide feedback — launches Feedback Hub where you can send feedback to Microsoft with suggestions or problems you have with that app.
  • Efficiency mode — turns on Efficiency mode for the selected process to lower process priority and improve power efficiency (but it might also cause instability).
  • Create dump file — generates a "dump with heap" in DMP format. This often very large file contains everything involved with that process.
  • Go to details — switches you to the Details tab and selects the executable responsible for that process.
  • Open file location — opens the folder on your computer that contains the executable responsible for the particular process.
  • Search online — automatically searches online for information about the process. The page that opens is in your default browser, but always uses Microsoft's Bing search engine.
  • Properties — opens the Properties data available for this processes' executable.

By default, the Users tab shows the User column, as well as Status , CPU , Memory , Disk , Network , and, in some Windows versions, GPU . Right-click or tap-and-hold on any column heading, and you'll see additional information you can choose to view for each user and running process:

  • User — shows the user's account name along with an updated number, in parentheses, indicating the number of processes running under that user at this moment. The expanded view of the User shows those running processes.
  • ID — shows the number assigned to the session that the user became a part of when signing in. Certain types of software, as well as Windows itself, may be a part of a session so a sole user of a computer may not be assigned Session 0 .
  • Session — describes the type of session this user is using on the computer. When using your computer normally, you'll see Console . If you're connecting remotely, like via Remote Desktop, you'll see RDP-Tcp#0 or something similar.
  • Client name — displays the hostname of the client computer that the user is using to connect to this computer. You'll only see this when there's an active remote connection, like a Remote Desktop connection to your PC.
  • Status — will note if a process is Suspended , but only if Task Manager is configured to report this, via View > Status values > Show suspended status .
  • CPU — a continuously updated display of how much of your CPU's resources each process, as well as each user as a whole, is using at the given moment. Total percentage of total CPU utilization is shown in the column header and includes all processors and processor cores.
  • Memory — a continuously updated display of how much of your RAM is being used by each process and each user at the given moment. Total memory usage is shown in the column header.
  • Disk — a continuously updated display of how much read and write activity each process, and user, is responsible for, across all of your hard drives, at the given moment. The percentage of total disk utilization is shown in the column header.
  • Network — a continually updated display of the bandwidth being utilized by each process and each user. The percentage utilization of the primary network as a whole is shown in the column header.

The button at the bottom-right of this tab (not available in Windows 11) changes depending on what you have selected. On a user, it becomes Disconnect and on a process, it becomes End task or Restart , depending on the process selected.

The Details Tab

The Details tab in Task Manager contains what can only be interpreted as the mother lode of data on each process running on your computer right now. It shows every individual process that's running right now—no program grouping, common names, or other user-friendly displays here. This tab is very helpful during advanced troubleshooting, when you need to easily find something like an executable's exact location, its PID, or some other piece of information you haven't found elsewhere in Task Manager.

This tab is what the Processes tab was in Windows 7 and earlier, with a few extras.

Right-click or tap-and-hold on any listed process, and you'll be presented with several options:

  • End task — ends the process. Assuming the ending was successful, the process will disappear from the list in the tab.
  • End process tree — ends the process, as well as any child processes that the process was responsible for starting.
  • Provide feedback — starts Feedback Hub where you can send feedback to Microsoft with suggestions or problems you have with the selected process.
  • Efficiency mode — enables Efficiency mode for the process to lower priority and improve power efficiency.
  • Set priority — allows you to set the base priority of a process which, depending on what threads are seeking the same priority at the same time, may improve the process' ability to utilize the CPU by giving it access to it before other processes. Options are Realtime , High , Above normal , Normal , Below Normal , and Low .
  • Set affinity — allows you to choose which CPU cores the process is allowed to utilize. Options include or any combination of CPU cores available on your computer. At least one core must be chosen.
  • Analyze wait chain — shows, in a new Analyze wait chain window, what other processes the process in question is using... or waiting to use. If one of those processes this one is waiting on is frozen/hung, it will be highlighted in red. You can then end that process, via the End process button, and potentially prevent any data loss that may have occurred by ending the original process.
  • UAC virtualization — toggles UAC virtualization on or off for the process, assuming it's allowed for it.
  • Create dump file — generates a "dump with heap"—a file, DMP format, that contains everything going on with that process.
  • Open file location — opens the folder on your computer that contains the executable responsible for that process.
  • Search online — opens up a search results page in your default browser, using the executable file and the common name as search terms.
  • Properties — opens the Properties of the processes' executable. This is the same Properties window you'd see if you opened Properties from the file directly.
  • Go to service(s) — switches you to the Services tab and preselects the service(s) associated with the process. If no service is associated, then no preselection takes place, but you'll still be switched to that tab.

By default, the Details tab shows the Name column, as well as PID , Status , User name , CPU , Memory (active private working set) , Architecture , and Description . Right-click or tap-and-hold any column heading and choose Select columns . From this list are a number of additional columns of information you can choose to view for each running process:

  • Name — the actual file name of the running process, including the file extension. This is exactly how the file appears if you were to navigate to it in Windows.
  • Package name — another descriptive field available for apps. These processes are typically located in the \Windows\SystemApps or \Program Files\WindowsApps folders.
  • PID — shows the process's process id, a unique identifying number assigned to each running process.
  • Status — will note if a process is currently Running or Suspended .
  • User name — shows the account name of the user that started the process, even if it was automatic. Aside from signed-in users (like you), you'll also see LOCAL SERVICE , NETWORK SERVICE , SYSTEM , and possibly a few others.
  • Session ID — shows the number assigned to the session that the process was started in. Windows itself may be a part of a session, probably 0 , and then other users, like you, will be part of different sessions, likely 1 or 2 .
  • Job Object ID — shows the "job object in which the process is running."
  • CPU — live display of how much of your central processing unit's resources the process is currently using and includes all processors and cores.
  • CPU time — the total processor time, in HH:MM:SS format, that the process has utilized since it started.
  • Cycle — reports the current percent of CPU cycle time consumption by the process, which includes all processors and cores. Usually, the System Idle Process will be utilizing most of the cycle time.
  • Working set (memory) — a live display of how much of your computer's physical memory is in use by the process at this time. This is a combination of the memory reported in the private and shared working set.
  • Peak working set (memory) — the maximum amount of physical memory this process used at one time since the process started. Think of this as the "record high memory use" for this process.
  • Working set delta (memory) — the change in the process' physical memory usage between each test. In other words, it shows the change in the Working set (memory) value each time that value is tested.
  • Memory (active working set) — the physical memory in use by the process.
  • Memory (private working set) — the physical memory in use by the process that no other process is able to use.
  • Memory (shared working set) — the physical memory in use by the process that is available for sharing with other processes.
  • Commit size — the "amount of virtual memory reserved by the operating system for the process."
  • Paged pool — the "amount of pageable kernel memory allocated by the kernel or drivers on behalf of the process."
  • NP pool — the "amount of non-pageable kernel memory allocated by the kernel or drivers on behalf of the process."
  • Page faults — the "number of page faults generated by the process since it was started." A page fault occurs when the process accesses memory that's not part of its working set. Here's how to fix a page fault error .
  • PF Delta — the "change in the number of page faults since the last update."
  • Base priority — the "ranking that determines the order in which threads of a process are scheduled." Possible values include Realtime , High , Above normal , Normal , Below Normal , Low , and N/A . Base priority for a process can be set via Set priority , available when right-clicking or tap-and-holding on the process.
  • Handles — reports the "current number of handles open by the process."
  • Threads — reports the number of active threads the process is running right now.
  • User objects — the "number of window manager objects (windows, menus, cursors, keyboard layouts, monitors, etc.) used by the process."
  • GDI objects — the "number of GDI (Graphics Device Interface) objects used by the process."
  • I/O reads — the count of "read I/O operations generated by the process since it was started." This includes file, device, and network I/Os.
  • I/O writes — the count of "write I/O operations generated by the process since it was started." This includes file, device, and network I/Os.
  • I/O other — the count of "non-read/non-write I/O operations generated by the process since it was started." Control functions are a common other example.
  • I/O read bytes — reports the actual amount of I/O reads, in bytes, that this process is responsible for generating since it started.
  • I/O write bytes — reports the actual amount of I/O writes, in bytes, that this process is responsible for generating since it started.
  • I/O other bytes — reports the actual amount of I/O operations (other than reads and writes), in bytes, that this process is responsible for generating since it started.
  • Image path name — reports the full location, including the drive, folders, and file name with extension, where this process can be found on the hard drive.
  • Command line — shows the full image path name , plus any options or variables used to execute the process.
  • Operating system context — reports the "operating system context in which the process is running." If you see an older version of Windows in this field, it does not indicate that you're running an outdated process. It's simply reporting the level of compatibility, and only if provided by the manifest in the process executable.
  • Platform — reports if the process is running as 64-bit or 32-bit . This notation can also be seen, in parentheses, after the process' name back on the Processes tab.
  • Architecture — reports the same information as Platform , but expressed as x86 or x64 for 32-bit or 64-bit, respectively.
  • Elevated — indicates whether the process is running "elevated" (i.e. as an administrator) or not. This is the same "elevated" as in running a command via an elevated Command Prompt .
  • UAC virtualization — "specifies whether User Account Control (UAC) virtualization is enabled, disabled, or not allowed in the process."
  • Description — the process's common name, or file description , if available. If it's not, the file name of the running process is shown instead.
  • Data Execution Prevention — "specifies whether Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is enabled or disabled for the process."
  • Hardware-enforced Stack Protection — specifies the status (enabled or disabled) of Hardware-enforced Stack Protection (a security feature using shadow stacks) for the process.
  • Extended Control Flow Guard — specifies the status (enabled or disabled) of Extended Control Flow Guard (XFG, a security feature) for the process.

With all selected processes, the button on the top-right (in Windows 11) or bottom-right will End task — the same as the End task right-click/tap-and-hold option.

The Services Tab

The Services tab in Task Manager is a stripped-down version of Services, the tool in Windows that's used to manage Windows services. Most services will be  Running  or  Stopped . This tab serves as a quick and convenient way to start and stop major Windows services. 

This tab is available in Task Manager in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Vista. The full Services tool can be found in Windows/Administrative Tools , via Control Panel. It can also be launched by the Open Services link here in Task Manager.

Right-click or tap-and-hold on any listed service, and you'll be presented with a few options:

  • Start — will start a currently stopped service.
  • Stop — will stop a currently running service.
  • Restart — will restart a currently running service (i.e., stop it and then automatically start it again).
  • Open Services — no matter which service you choose this option from, opens the Services tool. It does not preselect the service in Services.
  • Search online — opens up a search results page in your default browser, using the service name and description as the search terms.
  • Go to details — switches you to the Details tab and auto-selects the executable responsible for that service. This option is only available if the service is running.

Unlike with other tabs in Task Manager, the columns in the Services tab are preset and can not be changed:

  • Name — the name of the service and comes from the Service name field in the Services tool.
  • PID — shows the unique process id for the service's associated process.
  • Description — the listed description for the service and comes from the Display name field in the Services tool.
  • Status — will note if a process is currently Running or Stopped .
  • Group — displays the group the service is a part of, if it is part of one.

While they can't be changed , the columns in the Services tab can be rearranged . Just click or hold and drag around as you like.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

  • How to Check RAM on Windows 10
  • 13 Ways to Get More RAM on Your Laptop
  • How to Check CPU Usage in Windows 11
  • How to Check RAM in Windows 11
  • How to Check Computer Specs on Windows
  • How to Open the Task Manager in Windows 10
  • 11 Best Free System Information Tools
  • What Is Svchost.exe (Service Host)?
  • How to Fix High CPU Usage in Windows 11
  • 7 Ways to Open the Task Manager in Windows 11
  • How to Check Microsoft Edge Memory Usage
  • How to Delete System Error Memory Dump Files
  • How to Force-Quit a Program in Windows 11
  • 14 Best Free Spyware Removal Tools (2024)
  • What Is iphlpsvc in Windows 10?
  • How to Find Out What Graphics Card You Have on a Windows 11 Computer

How to use Windows 10 Task Manager to kill processes that drain resources

If your PC is slowing down or apps stop responding, this guide can help find and terminate the processes that are causing the problem, using Task Manager on Windows 10.

task master windows

The Task Manager is an advanced tool that comes with Windows 10 , and it provides a number of tabs that allow you to monitor the applications, processes and services running on your computer. However, you'll likely find yourself using the Processes tab more than anything else, because it lets you quickly see how system resources are utilized, which can be very helpful when trying to troubleshoot applications or find out why your computer is suddenly slow.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to use Task Manager to identify and stop processes that use excessive system resources, to keep your computer at top speeds.

How to use Task Manager to manage high-resource processes

Opening task manager.

If you want to use Task Manager to view and stop processes with high-resource usage, you first need to know how to open the tool. Here are a few ways to open Task Manager:

  • Right-click the Taskbar and click on Task Manager .
  • Open Start , do a search for Task Manager and click the result.
  • Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut.
  • Use the Ctrl + Alt + Del keyboard shortcut and click on Task Manager .
  • Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the power-user menu and click on Task Manager .

If this is your first time opening Task Manager, the tool will probably open in compact mode, which only lists running applications. Click the More details button to access Task Manager in advanced mode.

Understanding the Processes tab

When you're in advanced mode, you'll see a number of tabs, including "Performance", "App history", "Startup", "Users", "Details", "Services", and the one we're interested in, the "Processes" tab. Typically, the Processes tab is the first place you want to go to detemine which process is draining your computer's resources. This tab lists all the running processes in a single view grouped by "Apps", "Background processes" and "Windows Processes". On Windows 10, you can also find multiple instances or other processes under the same process, which helps you to better understand how they're organized and how they use system resources.

You can always expand a group to see all the processes by clicking the chevron-right icon or by right-clicking the item and selecting Expand . Usually, you'll see groups for Windows processes when opening multiple tabs on your web browser or multiple File Explorer windows, for example.

Identifying processes with high-resource usage

If an application is not responding, a website is taking a long time to load, or your system fan starts getting loud, you can quickly use Task Manager to troubleshoot the problem. In the Processes tab, the first thing you want to look at is the percentage of the total resource use for the processor, memory, hard drive and network. You can click the column names to sort the list and bring to the top the ones using the most resources. If you see any of these resources running high (90 percent or higher), you might have found the problem.

Task Manager also uses colors to highlight processes that use the most resources. You'll notice that as a process starts to consume more resources, the color begins to change from a light- to a dark-shade of orange, making it easier to tell which one is causing the problem.

Typically, when you're not actively using applications and your computer isn't working on anything specific, such as maintenance, your total CPU usage should be less than 30 percent . Applications that are running, even if you're not using them, and processes use part of your computer's memory, and that usage will increase as you use or launch more applications. Memory usually won't be an issue unless you run out of it, in which case your computer will start using virtual memory, and that can cause your PC to slow down. Generally speaking, depending on your system configuration, your total memory usage should be below 60 percent . If you're not copying files or rendering videos, disk usage should be below 5 percent .

Network connectivity is almost never the reason your system is slow, but there could be a problem in the network causing web content to take a long time to load. If you're having problems downloading files, and you see "Network" stuck at 0 percent , you may have an idea of what's going on.

Stopping processes with high-resource usage

After you identify the problem, right-click the process, and select End task to terminate it. Alternatively, you can simply select the item and click the End task button in the bottom-right corner.

While stopping a process using the Task Manager will most likely stabilize your computer, ending a process can completely close an application or crash your computer, and you could lose any unsaved data. It's always recommended to save your data before killing a process, if possible.

If you're not sure about how the process you're trying to terminate affects your PC, you can right-click it, and select the Search online option. This action opens your web browser and displays a search result with more information about the process. Windows 10 is also smart enough to let you know if you're about to end an essential system process that can crash your computer.

Wrapping things up

Although there are many other ways to troubleshoot system performance, Task Manager gives you an easy way to find out at a glance why your computer is slow or if an app is not responding, and then quickly act on it. You can end an application that isn't responding using Task Manager in compact mode, but the advanced view gives you more information about processes that are acting up in Windows 10.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help articles, coverage, and answers to common Windows 10 questions, visit the following resources:

  • Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
  • Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
  • Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Get the Windows Central Newsletter

All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.

Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.

  • 2 Free Dune crossover expansion arrives in Microsoft Flight Simulator on Windows PC and Xbox Series X|S
  • 3 You have one day to treat your butt to a discounted Secretlab gaming chair
  • 4 Bambu Labs A1 Mini 3D printer review: Small, yet mighty
  • 5 Overwatch 2 Season 9 patch notes reveal massive changes to the game's entire structure

task master windows

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!

task master windows

Top Contributors in Windows 10: Ramesh Srinivasan  -  neilpzz  -  Horace Wiggins  -  franco d'esaro  -  _AW_   ✅

February 14, 2024

Top Contributors in Windows 10:

Ramesh Srinivasan  -  neilpzz  -  Horace Wiggins  -  franco d'esaro  -  _AW_   ✅

  • Search the community and support articles
  • Search Community member

Ask a new question

Task Master Windows 10

Report abuse, replies (1) .

Andre Da Costa

  • Volunteer Moderator

1 person found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful? Yes No

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

Thanks for your feedback.

Question Info

  • Windows update, recovery, and backup
  • Norsk Bokmål
  • Ελληνικά
  • Русский
  • עברית
  • العربية
  • ไทย
  • 한국어
  • 中文(简体)
  • 中文(繁體)
  • 日本語

IMAGES

  1. 11 Quick Ways to Open Task Manager on Windows 10

    task master windows

  2. [Mẹo vặt] 05 cách mở trình quản lý Task Manager siêu nhanh trong Windows 11

    task master windows

  3. How to enable new Task Manager on Windows 11

    task master windows

  4. How To Master Windows 10: Step by Step Tutorial

    task master windows

  5. All ways to open task manager in Windows 10

    task master windows

  6. How to open Task Manager in Windows 11?

    task master windows

VIDEO

  1. Tasker

  2. Task Manager

  3. How to open task manager 5 ways

  4. Master Windows 11 Pro Top Tips #windows

  5. How to Open Task Manager In Windows 💻 || #keyboard #tech #technology #windows #shorts #youtubeshorts

  6. Task Manager: End Task

COMMENTS

  1. Windows Task Manager: The Complete Guide

    Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager with a keyboard shortcut or right-click the Windows taskbar and select "Task Manager." You can also press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and then click "Task Manager" on the screen that appears or find the Task Manager shortcut in your Start menu. Task Manager's Simple View

  2. How to Open Task Manager in Windows 10

    Kolade Chris Windows Task Manager is an advanced utility tool that helps you manage your apps that are running. Task Manager lets you see which apps are open and which you're using. You can also see which apps are running in the background that you didn't open yourself.

  3. How to Run Task Manager on Windows 11 (6-Ways)

    Method 1: Run Window To open the Run window, press Windows+R, then type "taskmgr", and then click "OK" or hit Enter. Task Manager will open up. Method 2: Ctrl+Shift+Escape Simply press Ctrl+Shift+Escape on your keyboard to bring up Task Manager. Method 3: Ctrl+Alt+Delete On the keyboard, press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete," you will see few options.

  4. How to Open the Task Manager in Windows 10

    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.

  5. How to Launch Task Manager in Windows 11

    Right-Click the Start Button. Search in Start. Use the Command Prompt. Use the Run Window. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. In Windows 11, Task Manager is no longer just a right-click away on the taskbar. Whether you're troubleshooting or just keeping an eye on your system resources, here are six different ways to launch it instead.

  6. 11 Fast Ways to Open Task Manager in Windows 10, 11, and 8

    The Task Manager allows you to view various activities that occur on your PC. You can monitor running applications, CPU and RAM usage, startup apps (Windows 8 and 10 only), and services. You can also end unresponsive or frozen applications!

  7. How to open the Task Manager in Windows 11 and Windows 10

    1. Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut 2. Use the Ctrl + Alt + Del keyboard shortcut 3. Use the hidden Win+X power user menu 4. In Windows 10, use the Start Menu to open the Task Manager 5. In Windows 11, open Task Manager from Windows Tools 6. Open Task Manager from Control Panel 7. Use the search function to start the Task Manager 8.

  8. Open Task Manager in Windows 10

    Task Manager can be used to view and manage your processes, performance statistics, app history, users, processes details, and services in Windows 10. Starting with Windows 10 build 16215, you will notice UWPs now use per-application instanced Runtime Broker processes, rather than all sharing a single session-wide Runtime Broker.

  9. Seven Ways to Open the Windows Task Manager

    Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc Press Windows+X to Access the Power User Menu Right-Click the Taskbar Run "taskmgr" from the Run Box or Start Menu Browse to taskmgr.exe in File Explorer Create a Shortcut to Task Manager Bringing up Task Manager is not much of a task itself, but it's always fun knowing different ways of doing things.

  10. How to use Task Manager to optimize your Windows 10 experience

    Probably the most widely-used method is by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL (also known as the "three-finger-salute") on your keyboard simultaneously. It opens the Windows Security Screen, which offers...

  11. How to open Task Manager on Windows

    How to open Task Manager on Windows 1. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Esc (Image credit: Logitech) It requires some finger gymnastics, but this is the easiest and quickest way to open...

  12. 12 Ways to Open the Task Manager in Windows 10

    1. Use a Keyboard Shortcut The easiest and quickest way to launch Task Manager is to use the tool's keyboard shortcut. When pressed, this shortcut quickly opens the Task Manager utility on your Windows 10 PC. To use this method, press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously on your keyboard. Task Manager screen will immediately open.

  13. Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview

    The Task Manager is a powerful Windows 11 utility that provides detailed real-time information about the software and hardware on your PC. It's also indispensable when troubleshooting applications, monitoring hardware resource usage, and managing startup programs.

  14. 6 effective ways to open Task Manager in Windows 10 or Windows 11

    Pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc will open Task Manager in just a few seconds on your screens, as opposed to Ctrl + Alt + Delete, where you'll have to first go through the Windows Security menu. Use ...

  15. Task Manager (Windows)

    The program can be started in recent versions of Windows by pressing ⊞ Win + R and then typing in taskmgr.exe, by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete and clicking Task Manager, by pressing Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + Esc, by using Windows Search in the Start Menu and typing taskmgr, by right-clicking on the Windows taskbar and selecting "Task Manager", by typing ...

  16. How to use Windows 10 Task Manager to monitor system performance

    Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the power-user menu and click on Task Manager. If you never open this tool before, you're likely to see Task Manager in compact mode. To get...

  17. 12 Shortcut Ways To Open Task Manager in Windows 10/11

    Just press Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys on the keyboard and click on Task Manager from the list of options that pop up. Open from Windows power user menu The Windows 10 power user menu also has an entry for the Task Manager. To access it, either right-click on the Start menu button or press Windows+X keys.

  18. 9 Ways to Open Task Manager in Windows 10

    Step 1: Enter Control Panel. Step 2: Input task manager in the upper-right search box, and tap Task Manager in the results. Way 5: Start Task Manager via Run. Press Windows+R to open Run dialog, enter taskmgr and tap OK. Way 6: Open the program from Search panel. Step 1: Press Windows+C to open Charms Menu, and choose Search on it.

  19. Task Manager (What It Is & How to Use It)

    Tim Fisher Updated on September 22, 2022 In This Article Jump to a Section What Is Task Manager Used For? Open Task Manager Task Manager Availability Task Manager Walkthrough Task Manager shows you what programs are running on your Windows computer and offers some limited control over those running tasks. What Is Task Manager Used For?

  20. How to use Windows 10 Task Manager to kill processes that drain

    Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the power-user menu and click on Task Manager. If this is your first time opening Task Manager, the tool will probably open in compact mode,...

  21. Where is Task Manager in Windows 10?

    Windows 10 offers a more compact Task Manager. Please, do the following steps: Right click the blank area on the taskbar, and choose the Task Manager in the context menu. In the lower-left corner, find the "More details" button and click it. You will find the standard Task Manager bar, with the tabs, including Startup Section.

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

    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. If Task Manager opens in simple mode and you ...

  23. Task Master Windows 10

    Task Master Windows 10 - Microsoft Community Ask a new question DW Deanna WilliamsPW Created on February 23, 2018 Task Master Windows 10 Task Master is running in background and preventing me from getting updates and shutting down normally. Help This thread is locked. You can vote as helpful, but you cannot reply or subscribe to this thread.