The Windows Task Manager is likely one of the most iconic instruments of the working system. Whether you’re searching for info on system processes, checking on how your CPU or RAM is doing, or making an attempt to close down an errant app, it’s a very helpful app.
But like most Windows instruments, you in all probability solely know the naked necessities for day-to-day use—and that’s a disgrace as a result of Task Manager can accomplish that rather more. Here are some lesser-known Task Manager suggestions and methods value understanding that’ll make you appear to be a professional.
Quick-launch utilizing a keyboard shortcut
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You would possibly know you’ll be able to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete after which choose Task Manager from the record on the black display that follows, however there’s one other fast keyboard shortcut you should utilize to open Task Manager.
Simply press Windows key + X to carry up the WinX menu (also referred to as Power User menu), then press the T key to instantly launch Task Manager while not having your mouse. Alternatively, you’ll be able to press Windows key + Shift + Esc. It’s a bit trickier to do one-handed, however this one immediately opens the Task Manager straight.
Manage your startup apps
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If you’ve got too many apps set to routinely launch when Windows boots up, it could decelerate the general Windows startup course of. The resolution? Manage your startup apps from inside Task Manager to ensure solely a very powerful ones are set to auto-start.
With Task Manager open, navigate to the Startup apps tab within the left-side panel. Look by the record of apps which are “Enabled” and think about disabling those you don’t want on a regular basis, particularly if they’ve a “Startup Impact” of Medium or High.
To disable auto-start for an app, right-click on it and choose Disable. Once you’ve disabled all of the apps you don’t want at startup, attempt rebooting your PC to see what sort of impression it had.
Jump to an app’s program folder
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If you wish to make guide adjustments to an app’s program recordsdata—or simply wish to know the place they’re for future reference—you’ll be able to really navigate there straight from inside Task Manager.
To accomplish that, be sure to’re within the Processes tab of Task Manager within the left-side panel. Then, right-click on the app you wish to find and choose Open file location. This will launch a brand new File Explorer window the place the app’s program folder is positioned.
Restart Windows Explorer to repair glitches
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Lots can go wrong with Windows, however probably the greatest cure-all fixes when it looks like your PC is malfunctioning? Restarting Windows Explorer.
If sure recordsdata or folders are unresponsive, or if the taskbar has disappeared, or if the Start menu stops working, or if a spread of different fundamental Windows features aren’t behaving correctly, then this trick often does the job—and you are able to do it from inside Task Manager.
Select the Processes tab and scroll till you discover Windows Explorer. (It’ll doubtless be on the backside of the working apps record.) Right-click it and choose Restart to reboot Windows Explorer and provides it a contemporary begin… hopefully with out no matter issues you had been dealing with earlier than.
Force-quit crashed or frozen apps
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Task Manager has lengthy been the software of selection for shutting down errant applications, however the fashionable Task Manager has a variety of choices you’ll be able to attempt for something too cussed to close down correctly. In the Processes tab, find the app you wish to shut, right-click it and choose End Task.
If that doesn’t do the job, choose the Details tab within the left-hand panel, then look by the record of working processes for the app you wish to shut, right-click it and choose End course of tree. This ought to force-quit the app and all associated processes.
Give an app extra system assets
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If your PC has a weak processor or not sufficient RAM, you would possibly discover that some apps are sluggish, particularly when you’ve got numerous apps or browser tabs open. In such circumstances, it may be useful to inform Windows to prioritize sure apps over others and provides them extra assets to work with. (This will be actually helpful once you’re gaming since any dip in efficiency can have an effect on how properly a sport performs.)
To use Task Manager to alter app precedence, open it up and choose the Details tab within the left-hand panel. Locate the app you wish to enhance, right-click it, hover over Set precedence, then select a precedence stage from the menu. (“Above normal” and “High” are good decisions. “Realtime” provides the very best efficiency however could cause system instability or crashes.)
Similarly, you’ll be able to deprioritize sure apps which are hogging too many assets or inflicting issues. Just repeat the above steps however choose a decrease precedence, which is able to trigger Windows to portion its assets away from that app to the higher-priority ones. Alternatively, right-click an app and set it to Efficiency mode in case you’d fairly Windows routinely deprioritize it to save lots of assets as wanted.
See which apps are utilizing your community
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Task Manager allows you to shortly see simply how a lot of your wired and wi-fi networks are being utilized, however it could additionally provide you with a shortcut to extra detailed info once you want it.
Select the Performance tab within the left-hand panel of Task Manager, then choose Wi-Fi or Ethernet to have a look at broader community utilization.
If you wish to see what’s utilizing what in additional element, click on the three-dot menu on the high proper and choose Resource Monitor. Then, on the subsequent window, choose the Network tab to develop out and see all of the processes which are utilizing your community and by how a lot.
Monitor your system efficiency
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If you must keep an eye on how well a particular app runs or how your PC handles the working of sure apps and providers, then you should utilize Task Manager for monitoring and studies.
Select the Performance tab in Task Manager and select the part you wish to monitor (e.g., CPU, Memory, Disk, and many others.). Right-click on the massive real-time graph and choose Graph abstract view to see a simplified graph with none additional menu objects. (Double-click it to return to the total Task Manager view per regular.)
You in all probability need this graph to run on high of all different apps whilst you’re monitoring it, proper? To do this, click on the Settings cog icon within the bottom-left nook of Task Manager, then scroll all the way down to Window administration and tick the checkbox for Always on high.
Use the previous Task Manager
Do you favor the way in which the previous Task Manager used to look? You can run it however it takes a couple of additional steps. Follow this quick guide to carry it again with its retro look. Note, nonetheless, you’ll be able to’t use the brand new and previous Task Managers on the identical time; if the present Task Manager is working, you’ll be able to’t additionally begin the previous one (and vice versa).
Interested in additional methods to make use of Windows 11 like a professional? Check out these essential Windows survival skills everyone should know.
Further studying: Every Microsoft Windows operating system, ranked