Windows Task Manager is a built-in application available on all Windows OS. It provides information about running applications, processes, and services, as well as computer performance, network activity, and memory information. It allows users to end processes, adjust priorities, and even shut down Windows. There are multiple methods of accessing the Task Manager, and many uses for it.
For other similar tools that can be used in place of Task Manager, see the the following articles. For Process Explorer (SysInternal Tools), see https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/03/07/process-explorer/
– How to use SysInternals Live Tools, see https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/02/09/how-to-use-sysinternals-live-tools/
– How to download and use Windows SysInternals tools locally, see https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/01/25/windows-sysinternals-tools-psexec-and-auto-logon/
– Process Explorer (Replace built-in Task Manager) https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/03/08/process-explorer-replace-built-in-task-manager/
In Windows, there are numerous ways to launch the Windows Task Manager. Below are various methods. I will only describe one process.
1: Using the “Ctrl+Alt+Delete“. Press these buttons on your keyboard.
– This will open up the Task Manager windows as shown below
This will open up the Task Manager window as shown below. You can navigate across each tab for detailed information..
2: Via the Taskbar Context Menu: This involves you right-clicking on the task bar and selecting “Task Manager” as shown below
This will open up the Task Manager window as shown in the gallery above.
3: Press the button “Windows + X” on your keyboard to access the Power User Menu as shown below.
– Note: You can also right-click on the Window button and select Task Manager from the Power User Menu as shown below.
This will open up the Task Manager window as shown in the gallery above.
4: Via Windows Search: From the following search window, type in “Task Manager” as shown below and select Under settings,
– View System resource usage in Task Manager
In this step, you may need to manually click on the number of apps displayed and then select the App that is applicable to you.
– This will open the Task Manager window as shown in the gallery above.
5: From the Run dialog box. You can achieve this by searching for “run” from the search box filter as shown in step 4 above or
– Right Click on the Windows button (or Select Windows + X) and click on Run as described in step 3 above.
Next enter the command “taskmgr” as shown below. This will end up opening the Task Manager window
6: From the Command Prompt. To achieve this, launch the command prompt windows by searching in the search box or
– By search for “Run” and when this opens up, enter “CMD” to open up.
7: From File Explorer: In this same fashion, PowerShell.exe can be launched. Sinple fire up “Fire Explorer”
– On the Address bar as shown below, Type “Taskmgr.exe” or enter the following string “%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32 or C:\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe” for more information on environment variables, see https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/03/15/environment-variables-in-windows-10/
8: Browse to “taskmgr.exe” in File Explorer: The Task Manager can launched by opening its executable directly via the File Explorer. This is definitely the longest way of opening Task Manager.
Access the path “C:\Windows\System32” as shown below
– Scroll down or search for taskmgr.exe, and then double click it.
To view how this is done on macOS, see https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/04/24/how-to-launch-macos-activity-monitor-task-manager/
How to Kill (End) a Task? To end an application on unlike in Linux where you will have to select the PID in order to kill the process.
– Launch the Windows Task Manager.
– Select the application you wish to terminate and
– Click on End Task as shown below.
On how to create a shortcut to Windows Task Manager, see similar links below on how to create shortcuts.
– https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/03/29/how-to-create-a-shortcut-to-the-scheduled-task/
– https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/03/14/how-to-create-a-desktop-shortcut-in-windows-10-to-switch-user-accounts-fast-user-switching-session-disconnection-utility/
– https://techdirectarchive.com/2020/03/08/how-to-create-a-shortcut-in-windows/
– Finally, on how to make a Desktop App available to all users, see https://techdirectarchive.com/2019/05/11/how-to-make-a-desktop-shortcut-available-for-all-users-in-windows-7-and-10/
If you need further information or found this article useful, kindly leave a comment below.