How to open task manager
How to open task manager
How to open Task Manager in Windows 11/10
The Windows Task Manager helps in getting information about computer performance, running applications, processes and more. In short, you can use the handy Windows tool to start certain programs or end them. It is more of a troubleshooting tool for beginners, which is broken up into multiple tabs. Each tab is associated with a particular category such as the running applications, running processes, Windows Services, the computer’s performance, network utilization, and the users that are currently logged in. If you are connected to a network, you can also use Task Manager to view network status and see how your network is functioning.
The Task Manager has evolved with time right from Windows 3 to Windows 11 and the new Windows Task Manager, now offers a lot ofinformation. We have already seen how the Windows 7 Task Manager works and also the features of the Windows 11/10 Task Manager, including how to understand the heat map of the Task Manager in Windows 11/10. In this post we will see ways to open the Windows Task Manager, using the keyboard shortcut, CMD, Run, Taskbar, WinX Menu, etc.
How to open Task Manager in Windows 11
How to open Task Manager in Windows 10
Let us take a look at these and more ways to do it in Windows 11 or Windows 10.
1] To bring up the Task Manager directly in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8 & Windows 7, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC instead. This is the Task Manager shortcut in Windows 10.
2] In the most recent versions of Windows – Windows 11 and Windows 10, you can also access the Task Manager from the WinX Menu. All you need to do is Press Win+X in combination to bring up the ‘Power Task Menu’. From there, you can select the ‘Task Manager’ option.
3] It goes without saying you can still always simply right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager in Windows 10 only.
4] Then again, while on the Start, you can search for Task Manager or Taskmgr.exe and click on it. Use this executable to run it using the Run box or a Command Prompt. Create a desktop shortcut, if you wish! It is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
5] Open a command prompt, type Taskmgr and hit Enter to open the Task Manager in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
6] From the WinX Menu, open the Run box, type taskmgr and hit Enter in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
7] In Windows XP, you hit CTRL+ALT+DEL key combo to get the Task Manager running! Things changed with Windows Vista onwards. Now if you hit CTRL+ALT+DEL, you see a dialog/screen, from where you can select ‘Start Task Manager’.
If you are looking for more features, perhaps these Task Manager alternative software will interest you.
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.
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.
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.
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».
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.
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.
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».
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.
Conclusion
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.
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12 Shortcut Ways To Open Task Manager in Windows 10/11
The Task Manager in Windows is needed to basically manage everything that is currently running on the PC. Therefore, whether you are a novice user or a system admin, it’s one of the essential Windows tools to know how to access and use.
You can use the Task Manager to force close a rogue app, disable processes left after closing an app, view apps running in the background, or simply look at the current state of system resources.
As the task manager is usually accessed when an app or process is messing up, it’s important to know more than one way to access it. So you may not get stuck in case a process prevents you from using your usual method of accessing the task manager.
For example, an app can prevent you from using the keyboard shortcut (the easiest method), in that case, you’ll have to access it from the desktop or menus.
In this post, I am going to show you all the possible ways to open the Task Manager in Windows 10. Some of these methods may not be very convenient but could be useful under certain conditions, so it’s worth knowing.
#1. Use the keyboard shortcut
The easiest and fastest way to open the Task Manager is using the dedicated keyboard shortcut. All you have to do is press Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys at the same time and Task Manager will pop up. As long as your keyboard is working fine and nothing is stopping you from using shortcuts, this method should be your go-to method to open the Task Manager.
#2. Use Ctrl+Alt+Delete screen
You can also access the Task Manager from the GINA screen or CTRL+Alt+Delete screen as most people call it. Many apps (usually games) can prevent you from using the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keyboard shortcut for opening Task Manager. However, CTRL+Alt+Delete will still work as it has priority over most processes.
Just press Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys on the keyboard and click on Task Manager from the list of options that pop up.
#3. 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. When the power user menu opens, click on the Task Manager to open it. This method can be useful when your keyboard isn’t working or you just want to use the mouse.
#4. Access from the taskbar menu
Similar to the above method, there is an entry to access the Task Manager from the taskbar menu as well. Right-click on any empty space on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the menu that opens up.
#5. Use a Run command
There are many Run commands to access important components of Windows, and there is one for the Task Manager too. To use it, press Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog. Here type taskmgr and click on the OK button to open the Task Manager.
Usually, issues with Windows Explorer can force you to execute commands via the Run command to access different components. This method should help you in case Windows Explorer is acting up.
#6. Run the Task Manager executable
Task Manager actually has an executable file similar to other applications you install, so you can find its executable file in the File Explorer and launch it from there. Open up This PC (or whatever file manager app you are using) to access the File Explorer. Here move to this location C > Windows > System32 and scroll down and open the executable file named Taskmgr.
You can also enter C:\Windows\System32\ in the search bar of the File Explorer to directly access this location. If Windows is installed in a different directory other than C drive, then go to that directory instead.
#7. From the Start menu
If you prefer opening apps from the Start menu, then you access the Task Manager from the Start menu too. Click on the Start menu and scroll down to the very bottom. Here click on the Windows System folder and then select Task Manager inside it.
#8. Pin Task Manager on the taskbar
If you want faster access to the Task Manager with the mouse, then you can add its executable to the taskbar to open it with one click. You have to access the executable file of Task Manager to add it to the taskbar, you can use the above methods to find the executable in the File Explorer or the Start menu.
Once found, right-click on it and select Pin to taskbar to add its icon to the taskbar. Like other taskbar icons, you can move it around and open it with one click. If you want to unpin it, right-click on the taskbar icon and select Unpin from taskbar.
#9. Create a desktop shortcut for the Task Manager
Similar to adding the Task Manager icon to the taskbar, you can also create a taskbar shortcut on the desktop for faster access. There are two ways to do it, either use the shortcut creation wizard of Windows or create a shortcut from the Task Manager executable in the File Explorer. I’ll show you both below:
To use the shortcut wizard, right-click on an empty space on the desktop and select New > Shortcut from the context menu.
In the wizard, copy/paste this location C:\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe and click Next.
Now type a name for the shortcut (Task Manager, in this case) and click on Finish.
The shortcut will be created and it will use the original Task Manager icon.
To create a shortcut using the executable, access the Task Manager executable file from the File Explorer just like in method 6. Afterward, right-click on it, and from the Send to option select Desktop. The desktop shortcut will be created.
#10. Use Windows search
This is a pretty obvious option, but still worth mentioning while we are listing all the possible ways. Like most other components of Windows, you can type in Task Manager in the Windows search bar at the bottom and the executable for Task Manager will pop up.
#11. Run a Command Prompt or Powershell command
If you are having a PC issue and need to run commands via Command Prompt or Powershell to solve it, then you can use a command for Task Manager to access it if needed.
You can access both the Command Prompt and Powershell from the Windows search bar. Once one of the tools is opened, type taskmgr in it and press the Enter key to open the Task Manager.
#12. From the Control Panel
If you are working inside the Control Panel, then you can also use its search option to access the Task Manager. To open the Control Panel, you can either search for it in Windows search or open the Run dialog and type control in it.
In the Control Panel, type Task Manager in the search bar at the top-right corner and a small link to Task Manager will open up on the left side under the System heading.
Wrapping up
I usually use the keyboard shortcut to access the Task Manager, but I often have to use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete screen as one of the games I play doesn’t allow using shortcuts while in full screen. Although I must confess accessing it via the power user menu sometimes when I am too lazy to reach for the keyboard. I am sure you’ll find other methods useful as well in certain situations, or at least to flex on friends.
How to open Task Manager in Windows 11
This post will show you various way to open Task Manager in Windows 11, from obvious methods to lesser known.
Everyone knows that to open Task Manager in Windows 10, you need to right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager. That is the most popular and preferred by many ways to launch Task Manager, as it is available everywhere almost at any time. Apart from providing a shortcut to Task Manager, the taskbar’s context menu hosts few more options, such as window management, the ability to turn on/off different buttons, show or hide Cortana, etc. If you are used to those commands in Windows 10, prepare for some radical changes after upgrading to Windows 11.
Open Task Manager in Windows 11
You cannot open Task Manager in Windows 11 using the taskbar’s context menu. For some totally unknown and unlogical reason, Microsoft has completely ditched almost all options from the context menu in Windows 11. All that is left is a sole Taskbar Settings option. A logical question arises: How to open Task Manager in Windows 11? This article shows you where to find Task Manager in Windows 11.
Start button context menu (Win + X)
The closest option to the one Microsoft has taken away is to right-click the Start menu button, which is now centered. If you do not like that, learn how to disable the centered taskbar in Windows 11.
Find the Start menu button (the first one with four blue squares) and right-click it. Select Task Manager.
Tip: There is no need to right-click the Start menu button. You can press Win + X and then open Task Manager in Windows 11.
Using a keyboard shortcut
Windows 11 retained the old shortcut you can use to run Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch the Task Manager app in Windows 11 without any context menus or additional clicks. That shortcut works from anywhere in the operating system or apps.
Another keyboard shortcut
The good-old Ctrl + Alt + Delete shortcut is also the classic way to open Task Manager. After decades, those three buttons continue working as a simple way to bring Windows back to life when it hangs or to launch Task Manager. Although Windows 11 went through some significant redesigns and improvements, Microsoft decided to leave the Ctrl + Alt + Delete shortcut untouched.
Use Windows Search to open Task Manager in Windows 11
You can start Task Manager in Windows 11 like any other default or third-party app using Windows Search. Press the search button on the taskbar (you can also use Win + S ) or open the Start menu and begin typing Task Manager. Windows 11 will show you Task Manager in the search results.
Unorthodox ways to start Task Manager in Windows 11
There are other, less quick ways to launch Task Manager in Windows 11:
Pin Task Manager to the taskbar
If you are not happy with any methods we reviewed above, you can simply pin it to the taskbar. After that, you will be able to launch it exactly with one click.
To pin the Task Manager to the taskbar, do the following.
Now, even if you close it, its icon will remain visible. You can launch the Task Manager at any moment by simply clicking on the pinned taskbar icon.
Add Task Manager to the Desktop context menu
Finally, one more method to quickly open the Task Manager is to add it to the Desktop context menu. While we have a special post on this topic, here are the quick steps to perform.
To add Task Manager to the Desktop context menu, do the following.
You are now able to open Task Manager in Windows 11 from the Desktop right-click menu.
That is it. Now you know how to access the Task Manager in Windows 11.
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Author: Taras Buria
Taras is here to cover stories about Microsoft and everything around, although sometimes he prefers Apple. You can stay in touch with him on Twitter. View all posts by Taras Buria
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10 Ways to Open the Task Manager in Windows
No matter the Windows version you’re using, Task Manager is a frequently used tool, as it’s very important for system maintenance. Using the Task Manager, you can quickly end unresponsive programs, start new tasks, monitor the performance and activities of your system, get details of running processes, and have a quick glance at system resources, such as CPU, RAM and hard disk.
Because it’s such a vital tool, Windows provides multiple ways to open the Task Manager. This is particularly useful for accessibility reasons, and knowing these separate methods can be a great help in different situations. The following is an updated list of ways to help you open Task Manager in Windows 10 systems. Many, but not all, of these techniques will apply to older Windows versions.
1. From the Taskbar
Opening the Windows Task Manager from the taskbar is probably the most used method, as it only requires a couple of mouse clicks and no need to type anything. First, right-click on the taskbar, then select “Task Manager” from the list of options. This action will instantly open the Windows Task Manager.
Once open, you can easily view Task Manager activities across various tabs.
2. Using Keyboard Shortcut
3. Using Command Prompt
You can also open the Windows Task Manager using the command prompt. This is particularly useful if your system is behaving very slowly, and the command prompt happens to be the least resource-intensive. For this, search “cmd” in the Windows 10 search box. Sometimes you may need to open the Task Manager as an administrator. If you are using a standard user account, the utility of the normal Task Manager is limited.
Once the command prompt is open, type the following command and press the Enter key to open the Task Manager:
4. Using Run Command
5. From File Explorer
Once the file explorer is open, navigate to the following location:
Run a search using “Taskmgr” to find the “Taskmgr.exe” application. Double-click to open the Task Manager.
If you want to open the Task Manager as an administrator, use a right-click on the application and select the option “Run as administrator.”
6. From Ctrl + Alt + Del Screen
You can also open the Task Manager from the Windows security screen. This is done using the old-fashioned Ctrl + Alt + Del technique which allows you to select the Task Manager from multiple available options. You can do this by hitting the three keys together on your keyboard.
Once the security screen has been opened, select the “Task Manager” option. This action will open the Task Manager. This method is highly helpful if your system hangs, freezes or becomes unresponsive for any reason.
Task Manager opened using Ctrl + Alt + Del
7. From Windows 10 Search Box
On the Windows 10 search box (also Windows 7 Start menu), type “task manager,” and you’ll be able to open it from here. You can additionally choose to open it as an administrator.
8. From Windows PowerShell
The Windows PowerShell is another utility that helps open various applications similar to the command prompt. Although most of us are unlikely to use this method, it’s helpful to know. Press the power keys Win + X and open Windows PowerShell, preferably as an admin. You can alternatively open PowerShell from the Windows 10 search box.
9. From Control Panel
The Control Panel also allows you to open Task Manager, but it’s not a frequently used method. Go to the Control Panel search window and enter “task manager,” which will open the tool from system resources.
10. From Windows 10 Registry
Once inside, you can tweak the Task Manager attributes from “Preferences” and “UseStatusSetting.”
Do comment below sharing your thoughts and experiences about using the above stated different methods to open Task Manager in Windows. Which is your favorite method? Also, do check out our ultimate guide to the Task Manager.
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