How to open Task Manager in Windows 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 10 and the new Windows 10 Task Manager, now offers a lot of information. We have already seen how the Windows 7 Task Manager works and also the features of the Windows 10 Task Manager, including how to understand the heat map of the Task Manager in Windows 10/8. In this post we will see ways to open the Windows Task Manager, using the keyboard shortcut, CMD, Run, Taskbar, WinX Menu, etc.

Open Task Manager

1] 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’.

2] To bring up the Task Manager directly in Windows Vista, Windows 7 & Windows 8, Windows 10, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC instead. This is the Task Manager shortcut in Windows 10.

3] In the most recent version of Windows – 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.

4] It goes without saying you can still always simply right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.

5] 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.

6] Open a command prompt, type Taskmgr and hit Enter to open the Task Manager.

7] From the WinX Menu, open the Run box, type taskmgr and hit Enter.

Tips:

1. See this post if you cannot open the Task Manager.
2. Use the Task Manager like a desktop widget with its Summary View.

If you are looking for more features, perhaps these Task Manager alternative software will interest you.

How to open Task Manager in Windows

Most Windows users will be familiar with this problem: Their computer noticeably slows down and the execution of programs or processes grinds to a halt, yet, they can’t see which application is causing the slowdown. In some cases, open windows freeze and stop responding to your commands.

If this sounds familiar, the Windows operating system series (as of Windows 2000) provides a practical tool to help you: the Windows Task Manager. This handy program provides an overview of all running processes alongside information about the computer’s power consumption. We’ll show you the options for opening the Task Manager.

What is Windows Task Manager?

When a user launches and uses one or several programs, these user-controlled processes join a whole host of default processes that are already running in the background. Typically, a browser with several tabs, a text editor with an open document, an email client, a graphics program, and software for playing background music may all run at the same time. Though it’s true that these applications are clearly visible via their distinct symbol on the taskbar, their exact influence on PC performance cannot be discerned at first glance.

The Windows Task Manager gets rid of this uncertainty by offering an overview of all applications running in the background. When you discover an unnecessary process, you also have the option of ending this directly from the Task Manager. The practical tool provides detailed information on individual processes. Below you can see a quick overview of the most important tasks in the Task Manager:

• A process’s CPU and memory utilization (CPU is the abbreviation for “Central Processing Unit” and denotes your computer’s main processor)
• A process’s data carrier utilization
• Network load triggered by a process
• A process’s power consumption
• A list of programs in which autostart is activated

This information allows you to spot a program running at high capacity that you do not even need or use. You can deactivate these directly from within the Task Manager or uninstall them from your computer.

The Task Manager provides a list of all active processes and detailed information regarding them.

Open Task Manager with your mouse, keyboard or a shortcut

Windows offers several options for opening the Task Manager. The handy program can be called up using your mouse, your keyboard, or a nifty Task Manager key combination. The option you go for depends on your personal preference. If your operating system is no longer responding properly, however, opening the Task Manager is the way to go. This is the case if all programs and windows are frozen.

Below, we explain the various options for opening the Task Manager. The instructions and pictures refer to Windows 10, however, they also apply to Windows 7 and 8 with only a few changes.

Are you not sure which Windows version you are using? Check out our article “Find Out Your Windows Version” to see the version you’re currently using in just a few steps.

Opening Task Manager with a shortcut

Key combinations are usually the quickest option for accessing applications. Task Manager is no different. When you press the three keys [ctrl] + [alt] + [del] at the same time, Windows will open a simple menu on a plain background. Select the “Task Manager” option in this menu to launch Task Manager in a new window.

If you use Windows 7, this option is displayed under “Start Task Manager” in the menu.

However, Windows also offers a quick and easy Task Manager key combination that will take you straight to the tool. For this, hold down the [ctrl] + [shift] + [esc] keys at the same time. Task Manager will then open automatically without requiring any further mouse clicks.

Start Task Manager from the “Run” dialog window

You can also open the Windows Task Manager using the “Run” dialog window – the tool you may have used to send short text commands to the operating system. You can bring it up either by opening the Start menu (by clicking the Windows icon) and clicking the “Run” button, or by pressing the [Windows] + [R] key combination.

Enter the “taskmgr” command and click “OK” to immediately open the Task Manager.

Open the Task Manager with the “taskmgr” command in the “run” dialog window.

How to launch Windows Task Manager from the taskbar’s context menu

You don’t necessarily need a keyboard in order to open the Task Manager. Starting the program from the context menu allows you to manage it without a single keystroke. To do this, first right-clickon the taskbar in order to call up the context menu. In this, select the “Task Manager” option with the left mouse button. The same function is displayed to users of Windows 7 as “Start Task Manager”.

You can also open Task Manager in the taskbar’s context menu.

Starting the Task Manager via the Windows icon’s context menu

From Windows 8, you can also start the process manager from the context menu that you can call up via the Windows icon. Just like the previous option, no keyboard is necessary for this. In order to open the Windows button’s context menu, just right-clickon the Windows icon – this can usually be found in the left-hand corner of the taskbar. The context menu will launch. Another way to open this menu is by using the keyboard shortcut [Windows] + [X]. Either way, the next – and final – step is to select the “Task Manager” option.

The Windows button’s context menu can be opened with a right-click or a Task Manager shortcut.

Using the search function to call up the Task Manager

Finally, Windows also provides the option of searching your whole computer for content of all types. You can use this option to find and open the Task Manager quickly. In Windows 10, the search field is usually located directly on the taskbar (otherwise in the Start menu).

Enter the search term “Task Manager”. The displayed search results will update automatically as you enter it. As soon as the appropriate result appears, select it with a left-click in the “Best Match” field or click on “Open” in the right field as shown below.

Search for the term “Task Manager” in order to open the process manager.

Can’t find the search function in your taskbar? Right-click on the bar, then open the “Search” menu and select the “Display search field” option with the left mouse button. The search field will appear on your taskbar.

If you use Windows 7 or 8: Open the Start menu with a left-click on the Windows button. In Windows 7, the search bar becomes immediately visible. Enter the search term as described above then hit the Enter key on your keyboard. In Windows 8, you won’t see an entry field, but you don’t need one. Just open the start menu and type in your search term. The operating system will automatically perform the search and show you the results.

If the Task Manager is already open, you can also pin it to the taskbar for easy access if you like. To do this, right-click on the Task Manager symbol on the taskbar and select the option “Pin to the taskbar” with a left-click. This will allow you to open the Task Manager in just one click at any time.

Open task bar windows

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Question

I have just moved to windows 10

All my programs are Microsoft yet, when maximised, windows open behind the taskbar so I am obliged to hide the taskbar in order to see the bottom part of the window. The same occurs with dialog boxes whose size cannot be altered I have to hide the takskbar in order to click the buttons at the bottom of the dialog box.

This did not happen in windows 7

Why is this happening and how do I stop it Note I have 4 computers running windows 10 and they are all doing this therefore it is not a ‘fault’ with my computer it is a problem with windows 10

All replies

Try to uncheck the AutoHide and check the lock the toolbar from the taskbar properties. change the Display resolution to highest resolution. change the performance to Best Performance.

Best Sam ———————————————— Please mark as answered if this solves your issue

This is also normal and the default behavior when you first open a new window, maximized. It should stretch between the top of the screen and the top of the Taskbar and not be behind the Taskbar.

If you have the Taskbar set to Autohide, this makes a maximized window slightly larger, because it stretches all the way to the bottom of the screen and if you pop the Taskbar up, then it will cover the bottom of the open window.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help, and unmark the answers if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.

• Proposed as answer by Karen Hu Wednesday, March 23, 2016 8:41 AM
• Marked as answer by MeipoXu Microsoft contingent staff Friday, March 25, 2016 9:30 AM
• Unmarked as answer by Rob U Wednesday, September 28, 2016 8:37 PM

Amazing that after almost 2 years from the public release, and MS still has not fixed this bug.

App windows or dialog boxes that are not resizable, as well as any window that is not maximized, are free to be moved BEHIND the LOCKED taskbar. This is beyond idiotic. Where is the setting that I can change it to force all windows and dialog boxes and everything and anything whatsoever to be confined to the visible area of the displayed desktop, up to but not including the locked taskbar?

Now that I have stated it as concisely as possible in no uncertain terms, and it takes like 25 words to do, it should be clear why I have had such a hard time searching the internet to find a solution to this extremely annoying and infuriatingly inept oversight by Microsoft.

Are we the only 5 people using windows 10 that find this to be unacceptable, or is everyone else doing something we don’t know about??

You’re definitely not the only ones.

I really really didn’t want to do it because I knew it was going to be a crapfest, but I had no choice and was forced to move to Windows 10 because my old laptop was physically falling apart so I had to buy a new one, and of course they only sell them with Windows 10.

I have wasted the last 3 days trying to make that piece of crap fit to work with (instead of actually being productive in that period).

And the bottom of windows being behind the taskbar is only one of the extremely annoying things that are wrong with Windows 10 (did I mention how slow it was initially and how even after I fixed the memory settings that were causing it, it is still somewhat slower than my old machine even though I am working on a new hardware with better characteristics?), but is especially disgusting given how much it affects productivity — I have many years of deeply ingrained habits of working with maximized windows, and I also do a lot of work for which information displayed precisely at the bottom of the windows is of critical importance; now that’s hidden and I have to manually make non-maximized windows as large as the area outside of the taskbar. What a load of crap.