The Task Manager is a built-in tool in Windows that allows users to view and manage the processes and applications running on their computer. It provides detailed information on the resources being used by each process, such as CPU and memory usage, as well as the ability to end or change the priority of processes. This can be useful for troubleshooting and optimizing performance on a computer, as well as ending unresponsive programs.
Additionally, it also shows the startup programs and it’s impact on boot time. Overall, the Task Manager is a powerful tool for managing the health and performance of a Windows computer.
The 5 Best Ways to Open Task Manager on Windows
There are several ways to access the Task Manager on Windows, including:
- Pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete: This brings up the Windows Security screen, from which you can select Task Manager.
- Pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc: This opens the Task Manager directly, bypassing the Windows Security screen.
- Right-clicking the taskbar: You can right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the context menu.
- Using the Windows search bar: You can open the Windows search bar by pressing the “Windows key + S”, then type “Task Manager” and select it from the search results.
- Using the Run dialog box: Pressing “Windows key+R” and type “taskmgr” and press enter, it will open task manager.
These are the five different ways to open the Task Manager on Windows. It’s important to note that some of these methods may be disabled by your administrator if your computer is part of a corporate network. In that case, you may need to contact your IT department for assistance.
Navigating the Task Manager
Once the Task Manager is open, you will see several tabs and sections that provide information on the processes and applications running on your computer.
These include:
- Processes tab: This tab shows all running programs and their resource usage, including CPU and memory usage. It also shows the number of threads and handles each process is using. You can sort the processes by any of these columns by clicking the column header.
- Performance tab: This tab shows information on the overall performance of your computer, including the usage of the CPU, memory, and disk. It also shows the number of processes and handles currently in use.
- App history tab: This tab shows statistics on apps that have been used in the past, including their usage of network and CPU resources. It is only available in Windows 8 and later versions.
- Startup tab: This tab shows all programs that launch at startup and their impact on boot time. It is useful to manage the startup programs to improve boot time and performance.
- Users tab: This tab shows all the users currently logged on to the computer and their active processes. It is useful for managing and monitoring processes for multiple users.
- Details tab: This tab shows all running processes and their detailed information such as process name, status, user name, and more.
By default, Task Manager opens in the “Processes” tab, but you can switch between tabs to view different information. Additionally, you can also click on the “More details” button to expand the Task Manager and see more information.
Managing Processes
The Task Manager provides several options for managing the processes running on your computer, including:
- Killing unresponsive programs: If a program becomes unresponsive, you can use the Task Manager to end the process. To do this, select the program from the list of processes, and click the “End task” button.
- Changing the priority of a process: You can change the priority of a process to control how much of your computer’s resources it uses. To do this, right-click on the process and select “Set priority” from the context menu. You can choose from the options: “Real-time”, “High”, “Above normal”, “Normal”, “Below normal” and “Low”.
- Ending a process that is using too many resources: You can end a process that is using too many resources by selecting it in the Task Manager, and clicking the “End task” button. This can be useful to free up resources and improve performance.
- Disabling startup programs: The Startup tab in the Task Manager shows all the programs that launch at startup, you can disable a program from starting up by right-clicking on it and selecting “Disable” from the context menu. This will improve your computer’s boot time and performance.
It’s important to note that ending a process can cause data loss or cause the program to malfunction, so you should use this option with caution. Also, you may need to have administrator privileges to end or change the priority of some processes.
In summary, by using the Task Manager’s process management options, you can optimize the performance of your computer by freeing up resources and disabling unnecessary startup programs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Task Manager is a powerful tool in Windows that allows you to view and manage the processes and applications running on your computer. By accessing the Task Manager, you can view detailed information on the resources being used by each process, as well as the ability to end or change the priority of processes. Additionally, it also shows the startup programs and it’s impact on boot time. By using the Task Manager’s process management options, you can optimize the performance of your computer by freeing up resources and disabling unnecessary startup programs. It is a valuable tool for troubleshooting and optimizing performance on a computer, as well as ending unresponsive programs. Overall, the Task Manager is an essential tool for managing the health and performance of a Windows computer.