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Task Manager

Windows 10 Task Manager (less details view).

The Task Manager is an operating system component found in all versions of Microsoft Windows since Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. It lets you view each of the tasks (processes) and the overall computer's performance. Using the Task Manager, you can view how much memory a program is using, stop a frozen program, and view available system resources.

If you are more familiar with Apple computers, you can think of the Task Manager as the Activity Monitor .

  • How to open the Windows Task Manager.
  • Visual examples of Task Manager.
  • Explanation of the tabs in Task Manager.

What to do in the Task Manager?

Why are there duplicate processes listed in task manager, why am i unable to open the task manager.

  • How to get even more control of the Windows processes.

Is it possible to copy the text in the Task Manager?

  • Related information.

How to open the Windows Task Manager

The Task Manager is opened by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc on the keyboard. You can also open the Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Task Manager .

Another way to open the Task Manager is by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del on the keyboard and selecting Task Manager or Start Task Manager .

Windows 8 and Windows 10 users can also access the Task Manager by right-clicking Start or pressing Windows Key + X to access the power user task manager . In this menu, you can access the Task Manager.

In Windows Vista and later versions, click Start, type taskmgr in the Search text box, and select the taskmgr.exe or Task Manager option in the search results.

In Windows XP and earlier versions, Task Manager can also be executed by running the taskmgr.exe file from the C:\Winnt\System32 directory or by clicking Start > Run, typing taskmgr , and pressing Enter .

Early versions of Microsoft Windows (Microsoft Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98) had a program called tasks to display the programs currently running. This program was executed by running the taskman.exe file from the C:\Windows directory.

Visual examples of Task Manager

Below are visual examples of the Task Manager in Windows 2000, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

Windows 10 Task Manager

Explanation of the tabs in Task Manager

Below explains each of the tabs found in all versions of the Windows Task Manager window and its ability.

Applications tab

Processes tab, services tab, performance tab, networking tab, app history tab, startup tab, details tab.

The Applications tab is included in all versions of Windows, except Windows 8 and Windows 10, and shows all open programs running on the computer. For most users of Windows 7 and earlier, the Applications tab is the most visited tab. It displays the programs running, including those that stop responding and require you to End Task it. Windows 8 and 10 users can find the End Task on the Processes tab.

The Processes tab is in all versions of Windows, including Windows 8 and Windows 10, and shows all Windows processes currently running on the computer. Starting with Windows 8, Microsoft combined the Applications and Processes tab, hence the reason the Applications tab does not appear in Windows 8 or 10.

The Services tab shows all the Windows Services currently running on the computer.

The Performance tab displays the computer's available system resources , including how much CPU (central processing unit), memory , disk drive , Wi-Fi , and network is used. Newer versions of Windows also show the chart of usage for each of these as they're used. At the bottom of this tab is also a quick link to the Resource Monitor .

The Networking tab in all versions of Windows, except Windows 8 and Windows 10, shows network traffic happening on the computer, including any LAN (local area network) or Wireless networking traffic.

In the Windows 8 and Windows 10 Processes tab, Network usage may be viewed in the Task Manager, under More details .

The Users tab shows all the users logged in to the computer. In Windows 8, the Users tab also shows the processes that each user is running.

The App history tab was introduced in Windows 8. It shows the overall history of each of the Windows Apps (not traditional Windows programs) that have run on the computer.

The Startup tab was introduced with Windows 8 and shows each program that starts with Windows and its impact on the load time. From the Startup tab, you can also disable the startup programs from this section of Task Manager.

The Details tab was introduced with Windows 8 and has full details of each of the processes running on the computer.

One of the most common things done in Task Manager is using End Task to stop a program from running. If a program is no longer responding, you can choose to End Task from the Task Manager to close the program without having to restart the computer.

Some programs may break parts of the program out as a separate process. For example, the Google Chrome browser loads each of the open tabs into its own process to help make the program more secure and stable. There is nothing wrong with the computer if you see more than one of the same processes open at the same time.

If you're encountering issues opening the Task Manager, the computer could be infected with a virus or spyware. There is known malware designed to cause issues with opening the Task Manager and end tasking them. If you cannot open Task Manager using any of the recommendations on this page, we suggest scanning your computer for viruses and spyware .

It could also be possible that the Task Manager file in Windows is corrupted, preventing it from running. To fix this problem, revert Windows to a previous restore point where the Task Manager was last working or run a Windows repair installation. For help with restoring Windows, see: How to restore Windows to an earlier copy.

How to get even more control of the Windows processes

The Windows Task Manager is an excellent tool for almost all Windows users. However, there are times where more experienced users may need additional details and information about the processes running on their computer. For these situations, we highly recommend the free Process Explorer utility from Microsoft that is part of the Sysinternals .

You can use a tool like GetWindowText from SoftwareOK to grab text within a window like the Task Manager.

Related information

  • How to find what is running on a Windows computer.
  • Why is my Windows System Idle Process so high?
  • My computer is running slow, what steps can I do to fix it?
  • Where do I find Accessories in the Windows Start menu?
  • How to remove TSRs and startup programs.

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How to Open the Task Manager in Windows 10

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, right-click the Start button or the taskbar, or search for it

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In This Article

Jump to a Section

  • An Overview of the Methods
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc
  • Other Keyboard Shortcuts
  • More Ways to Open Task Manager
  • Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc is the fastest way to open Task Manager in Windows 10. Ctrl + Alt + Delete also works.
  • Or, right-click the Start button , or anywhere on the taskbar , to access the Task Manager shortcut.
  • Task Manager's real location is in the System32 folder. You can open it there, too, or with the taskmgr command.

Task Manager is an excellent tool for keeping track of system processes, monitoring resource usage, and forcing memory-hogging applications to close. Microsoft has introduced several improvements to Task Manager over the years, but luckily, accessing it on Windows 10 hasn’t changed much from Windows 7.

How Do I Open Task Manager in Windows 10?

From the Start menu to keyboard shortcuts, there are multiple ways to open Task Manager in Windows 10. Here are the most common ways to do it:

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
  • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete
  • Open Power User Menu by pressing Win+X
  • Right-click the taskbar
  • Use File Explorer
  • Create a shortcut

What Is the Fastest Way to Open Task Manager?

The easiest (and fastest) keyboard shortcut for opening Task Manager is Ctrl + Shift + Esc . This takes you directly to the utility in just a moment or two.

Other Ways to Get to Task Manager on a Keyboard

Here are a few other keyboard shortcuts to open up Task Manager quickly:

Ctrl+Alt+Delete

Ctrl+Alt+Delete is a popular shortcut across multiple generations of Windows, and up until Windows Vista, it brought you directly to Task Manager. The shortcut’s functionality has changed a bit with successive versions of Windows, as it now opens the Windows Security screen.

Once the Windows Security screen is open, select Task Manager from the menu to open it.

Modern versions of Windows include a feature called Power User Menu that can be accessed by pressing Win + X . This menu provides quick access to a number of advanced system utilities, including Task Manager.

How Do I Open Task Manager Without Keyboard Shortcuts?

If you're more of a mouse user, you're in luck! There are several other ways to access Task Manager in Windows 10.

Right-Click the Taskbar

This method is pretty self-explanatory. All you need to do is right-click anywhere on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, and select Task Manager .

Use the Run Box or Start Menu

You can use Windows 10 search functionality to access Task Manager in a couple of ways. 

Pressing Win + R will bring up the Run box, which has been a Windows OS fixture for decades. Enter taskmgr into the field provided and then press OK to open Task Manager.

You can also use the Windows 10 Start menu’s search box. Type taskmgr and press Enter .

Locate Task Manager in File Explorer

If a manual search is more your style, you can look for the Task Manager executable directly in File Explorer.

Open File Explorer .

Select This PC .

Open C drive .

Open the Windows folder.

Go into System32 .

Type taskmgr in the search bar and press Enter .

Open Taskmgr .

Create a Shortcut

If you find yourself needing to use Task Manager a lot, it might be a good idea to create a shortcut. There are a couple of methods for doing this.

While Task Manager is running, create a shortcut in the Taskbar by right-clicking the Task Manager icon and selecting Pin to Taskbar .

You can also create a desktop shortcut using the following steps:

Right-click an empty space on your desktop and select New .

Select Shortcut .

Enter this path to Task Manager in the System32 folder , and then press Next :

Type Task Manager as the name for the new shortcut and then press Finish .

macOS doesn't have a Task Manager, but you can access Task Manager-equivalent functions in two places. First, the Force Quit Applications dialog is where you can force malfunctioning programs to quit. To access the Force Quit dialog, select the Apple menu , then click Force Quit . Or, press Command+Option+Esc to bring up the Force Quit dialog. If you need to access information about memory consumption or process data, you'll need to open the Activity Monitor. To access the Activity Monitor, click Spotlight Search (the magnifying glass on the top right of your screen), and type in Activity Monitor .

To open a Chromebook's task-management tool, click the Menu icon > More Tools and select Task Manager . For more data, select  Stats for Nerds .

An easy way to do this is to open Task Manager on your primary monitor, then use Windows+Shift+left arrow or right arrow to move the application window from one monitor to the other.

To run Task Manager as an administrator, navigate to Task Manager using one of the methods described above. Then, right-click on Task Manager and select Run as Administrator . Enter the administrator password when prompted, then you'll open Task Manager as an administrator.

To use the Google Chrome Task Manager , open Chrome and select Menu (three dots), then select More Tools > Task Manager . With Chrome's Task Manager, view a list of every open tab, process, and extension, as well as key statistics about memory usage, CPU usage, and network activity. 

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How to Use the Windows Task Manager

The Windows Task Manager is capable of a lot, but using it can seem overwhelming. Here's a clear overview of what the Task Manager offers.

You might only open the Windows Task Manager to close programs that freeze, but it's useful for much more than that. The Task Manager provides you with lots of information about your system, as well as management options.

Let's take a tour of the Task Manager in Windows so you know how to use this important utility.

What Is the Task Manager?

The Windows Task Manager is a system monitor utility, meaning it allows you to manage all the processes running on your computer and view other key information. You can order these process by usage to see what's taking up your computer's resources.

The Task Manager has lots of other data too, making it a useful place to visit when you need to check something about your PC. It's not the only utility you'll ever need, but it's a good first stop for general management.

How to Open the Task Manager

You might be used to opening the Task Manager with Ctrl + Alt + Delete . However, this isn't the most efficient way to open it in modern versions of Windows.

This three-button command is a special Windows shortcut that opens the Windows Security page, containing shortcuts to lock your PC, sign out, open the Task Manager, and more. It's also used for secure sign-in , since only Windows can respond to this particular shortcut.

task manager means

Instead, when you want to open the Task Manager, the fastest method is pressing Ctrl + Shift + Escape on your keyboard. In case you don't like keyboard shortcuts, right-click on an empty spot on the taskbar and choose Task Manager to open it. If you plan to use the Task Manager often, right-click its icon and choose Pin to taskbar for easy access.

There are many other ways to open the Task Manager , if needed. Once you have it open, you might see the simplified interface, which only has a list of running apps. With this, you can select an app and hit End task to kill it, but you'll need to click More details to access the full Task Manager interface.

Basic Task Manager View

Let's go through the Task Manager, tab by tab. We'll see what each tab offers and how to use the information it provides.

The Processes Tab

Task Manager Processes Tab

On Processes , you'll see a list of everything running on your computer. These processes are divided into three sections when sorted by Name :

  • Apps are any programs that you've opened and are currently running.
  • Background processes represent everything that's working but not explicitly open as an app. You might see cloud storage services or background apps like clipboard managers here, for example.
  • Windows processes contains system services that the OS needs to run properly.

Click any of the header fields at the top, like Name or CPU , to sort using that information. Each heading shows the total amount of that resource in use, along with a breakdown by process.

Drag to rearrange these headings as you see fit. To add more or hide some, right-click anywhere in the headings and check the ones you'd like to see.

Right-click on any process to see options for it. Since the Task Manager groups all processes for an app into one listing, you'll need to click the small arrow to show and manage them individually.

Useful items in this menu include End task to kill an unresponsive app, Open file location to see where the process lives on your computer, and Search online to get more info about unfamiliar processes.

Task Manager Processes Right Click

While this menu is handy for closing frozen apps, be aware of Task Manager processes you should never kill .

The Performance Tab

Task Manager Performance Tab

Next, on Performance , you'll see graphs representing the various resource pools of your PC. These include the CPU , Memory , and GPU . Click a field to see a live graph of its usage.

Each field here also contains information about the component it represents, which is useful for checking your PC specs. For instance, on the CPU page, you'll see your processor model listed at the top, plus an Up time field that shows how long since your PC last restarted.

If you'd like to keep an eye on these while doing something else, right-click in the list of items on the left and choose Summary view . You can then keep it open while playing a game, working in a CPU-heavy app, or similar.

For additional details, click Open Resource Monitor at the bottom of this page to open a more advanced utility.

The App History Tab

Task Manager App History

App History does just what it says: it provides historical data on what resources apps have used. You'll see the total time the app was using the CPU, along with network usage. The data covers the last 30 days.

Unfortunately, this panel is limited to Windows 10 Store apps, so it doesn't include data about standard desktop software. However, it can still clue you into apps that are working too much in the background .

The Startup Tab

Task Manager Startup Tab

Startup is one of the most useful panels of the Task Manager. It lists all the apps set to run when you log into Windows.

Apps often set themselves to run at startup, even if you didn't explicitly ask them to. While this is convenient for programs you use all the time, having apps you don't need run right away slows your boot and wastes background resources.

Have a look through the list to find apps that you don't need to run at startup . For each one, click it and hit Disable in the bottom-right corner.

It's smart to keep security, backup, cloud storage, and similar apps running at startup. But you probably don't need Skype or iTunes to launch as soon as you log in.

The Users Tab

Task Manager Users Tab

The Users panel is only useful if you have more than one account currently signed into your PC. When you do, you'll see the resource usage for each of them, similar to the Processes tab. Click the arrow next to a user to expand all their processes, where you can get more info or end them, as discussed above.

Aside from this, you're able to right-click another user to force them to sign out.

The Details Tab

Task Manager Details Tab

Advanced users will appreciate the Details tab; it expands on the information presented in Processes . By default, you can see the process ID (PID), initiating user, and process name for each item. Right-click in the headings and choose Select columns to choose from many more options.

When you right-click a process, you'll see more options, such as setting its priority or ending the entire tree of processes. But most normal users shouldn't need to worry about this. If you need a lot more information than the Processes tab can provide, consult this page. Otherwise, feel free to skip it.

The Services Tab

Task Manager Services Tab

The Services section of the Task Manager is a slimmed-down version of the Services utility, which you can open by typing "services" into the Start menu. Services are background processes that Windows or other system utilities run to handle various tasks. For example, wuauserv is related to Windows Update.

You shouldn't need to play with the items here in most cases; messing with services without knowing what you're doing could cause problems. If you're really interested, we've looked at Windows services that are safe to disable .

Task Manager File, Options, and View

A few options on the Task Manager's menu bar round out its offerings.

Read more: Windows Task Manager Tricks You Probably Didn't Know

By choosing File > Run new task , you can start a process on your PC (similar to the Run dialog). This is useful when, for example, you need to close and reopen the Windows Explorer task. Just type "explorer.exe" into this menu to launch Explorer anew.

Under Options , you can change a few small behaviors of the tool. Always on top will keep the Task Manager above all other windows, which is useful if you need to see it for troubleshooting. Use Set default tab to choose which menu opens when you launch the Task Manager.

Task Manager Menu Options

Finally, under View , you can force a refresh of the data with Refresh now and pick how often refreshes happen automatically with Update speed . Disable Group by type if you don't want the Processes tab to use the sections discussed above. Expand all and Collapse all will change all process groups at once.

Master the Task Manager

The Task Manager isn't the most exciting part of Windows, but knowing how to use its tools is part of being a knowledgeable Windows user. Now you know where to go when you want to view your PC's resource usage, change startup programs, or take a dive into active processes.

If you like the Task Manager but want more, there are plenty of more powerful alternatives to the Task Manager.

How-To Geek

Beginner geek: what every windows user needs to know about using the windows task manager.

The Windows Task Manager is an important tool for every Windows user.

Quick Links

Opening the task manager, view cpu and ram hogs, kill background programs, check total cpu and ram usage, view system network activity, check per-process network activity, check per-process disk activity, manage startup programs.

The Windows Task Manager is an important tool for every Windows user. It can show you why your computer is slow and help you deal with misbehaving and resource-hungry programs, whether they're draining CPU, RAM, disk, or network resources.

Windows 8 (and now Windows 10) has the best built-in Task Manager yet , but even Windows 7's Task Manager is a powerful tool that every Windows user should familiarize themselves with. Many of these tasks are easier on Windows 8 or 10.

Windows lets you get to the Task Manger in a variety of ways:

  • Keyboard Shortcut : Press Ctrl+Shift+Escape anywhere in Windows.
  • Mouse Shortcut : Right-click the Windows taskbar and select Start Task Manager.
  • Traditional Method : Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select Start Task Manager.

On Windows 7, the Task Manger opens to the Applications tab, which lists open applications and allows you to quickly close them with the End Task button. This works even if they have frozen and aren't responding.

This tab doesn't allow you to view resource usage. It also doesn't show every program running on your computer -- programs running in the background without visible windows aren't listed here.

close-application-in-windows-7-task-manager

Click over to the Processes tab to view the processes running on your computer, both processes with open windows and background processes that may be invisible or hidden in your system tray.

Click the CPU or Memory heading to sort the processes by their CPU or memory usage. This will show you which programs are using the most CPU time and amount of RAM.

sort-processes-by-memory-usage

To view all the processes running on your computer, click the Show processes from all users button. By default, the list just displays processes running as your user account. The button shows system processes and processes running under other user accounts.

show-processes-from-all-users

You may also want to click the View menu, click Select Columns, and enable the CPU Time column. Click the CPU Time column to sort the list by CPU Time. This will show you how much CPU resources each process has used, so you can identify programs that may currently be using a low amount of CPU but have used a higher amount of CPU when you weren't looking.

sort-processes-by-cpu-time

On Windows 8 or 10, the main Processes tab shows processes' CPU, memory, disk, and network usage all in one place. You can find this information on Windows 7, too, but it's scattered in several places.

windows-8-processes-in-task-manager

If an process is misbehaving -- for example, you may have closed a PC game and it continued running in the background, possibly using 99% of your CPU -- sorting by CPU and memory usage will show you the misbehaving process consuming too many resources at the top of the list. Right-click the process and select End Process to close it if you can't close it normally.

end-process-on-windows

Click over to the Performance tab to view your computer's total CPU and physical memory (RAM) usage. The CPU usage history graph shows total CPU usage as well as separate graphs for each CPU's usage over time, while the Memory graph shows you total memory usage and how your memory usage has changed over time.

cpu-and-memory-usage-in-task-manager

If the CPU usage or Memory bars are completely full and your computer is running slowly, you should close some CPU or memory-hungry programs -- check the processes list to see which those are -- and free up resources. If your Memory and CPU usage are always high, you may want to upgrade your RAM or get a computer with a faster CPU to speed things up.

If you're having problems with your Internet connection -- maybe web pages are loading slowly or your voice is dropping out while you're talking to someone on Skype or a similar VoIP program -- you may want to check your computer's total network usage. You can do this from the Networking tab in the Task Manager.

You'll see a separate graph for each of your computer's network adapters, which will inform you how much of your network's resources the programs on your computer are consuming. This allows you to see whether there are any programs running in the background and saturating your network connection.

view-windows-network-activity

On Windows 8 or 10, you'll find this information on the Performance tab, too.

windows-8-task-manager-performance-tab

If you can see that your network connection is being used, you may want to know which applications are using the network. To see a list of processes accessing the network and how much network resources they're each using, click over to the Performance tab and click the Resource Monitor button.

open-resource-monitor[4]

On the Resource Monitor's network tab, you can view the list of processes with network activity and see what's sucking up resources. Note that this counts all network activity -- even processes just communicating with other devices on the local network and not connecting to the Internet.

resource-monitor-network

On Windows 8 or 10, you can view per-process network activity on the Processes tab.

With the Resource Monitor opened from the Performance tab in the Task Manager, you can also click the Disk tab and see which programs are reading and writing to your disk the most. If your hard drive is grinding away, this tool will show you which programs are taking up all your disk resources.

view-process-disk-activity-on-windows

On Windows 8 or 10, this information is available on the Task Manager's Processes tab.

On Windows 8 or 10, you can use the Startup tab in the Task Manager to control which programs automatically start with your computer.

manage-startup-programs-in-windows-8-task-manager

On Windows 7, you'll need to use another tool, like the startup manager built into CCleaner .

task manager means

If you want a more advanced Task Manager replacement, download the free Process Explorer utility. This tool is developed by Microsoft and offers a variety of features you won't find in the standard task manager, even on Windows 8 or 10, including the ability to view which files and folders a program has "locked" and unlock them so they can be modified.

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Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview

Everything that you need to know

Author avatar

The Task Manager is a powerful Windows 11 utility that provides detailed real-time information about the software and hardware on your PC. It’s also indispensable when troubleshooting applications, monitoring hardware resource usage, and managing startup programs.

In this in-depth guide and overview, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the Task Manager in Windows 11, including ways to use it effectively.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 1

Opening the Windows 11 Task Manager

In Windows 11, you can launch the Task Manager just like any other program by selecting Start > All Apps > Windows Tools > Task Manager . However, the most convenient way to invoke it is through the Power User menu (right-click the Start button and select Task Manager ). 

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 2

If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc will quickly bring up the Task Manager. If the operating system appears stuck, you can still get to it by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete (which opens Windows 11’s Security Screen) and then selecting Task Manager .

The Default Task Manager

The Windows 11 Task Manager appears as a stripped-down version of the full user interface by default. It’s tiny, features no menu options, and simply shows a list of active apps on your computer.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 3

You can choose any app within the list and forcibly shut it down by selecting the End task button. That’s the quickest way to quit unresponsive programs.

Right-clicking any app within the list also reveals multiple contextual options as follows:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 4

  • Switch to: Immediately brings the app into focus.
  • End task: Forcibly shuts down the app. It’s the same as selecting the End task button.
  • Provide feedback: Provide feedback to Microsoft.
  • Create dump file : Generate a dump (.DMP) file of the program, which is often requested by support engineers for troubleshooting purposes. You can also analyze dump files yourself .
  • Run new task: Launch a new program, folder, or document with or without elevated privileges in Windows .
  • Always on top: Place the Task Manager on top of other apps. This option also works in expanded view, which then helps you track resource usage in real-time.
  • Go to details : Automatically select the executable file related to the program within the Details tab in the expanded view.
  • Open file location: Opens the directory of the program’s main executable file in a File Explorer window.
  • Search online: Perform an online search using Bing. If you don’t recognize a program, use this option to learn more about it.
  • Properties: Brings up the program executable’s Properties dialog box. You can then check or modify its general, compatibility, and security settings and view additional details such as the version, publisher, etc.

The Expanded Task Manager

Select the More details button at the bottom left corner to expand the Task Manager’s user interface. You can always select Fewer details to go back to the stripped-down version whenever you want.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 5

The expanded Task Manager consists of multiple tabs— Processes (default), Performance , App History , Startup , Users , Details , and Services . You can change the default tab that appears when you open Task Manager by selecting Options > Set default tab on the menu bar.

Task Manager – Tab Overview

You’ll go through each tab in more detail below, but here’s a brief overview:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 6

  • Processes: Offers a rundown of all active, background, and Windows processes on your computer, including performance stats per process.
  • Performance: Provides real-time monitoring of the CPU (central processing unit) , memory, storage drive, network adapter, and video card.
  • App History: Displays the resource usage history of Microsoft Store apps (default view) and traditional programs (optional).
  • Startup: Lists programs that launch at startup and the related performance impact on your PC.
  • Users: Displays the processes and resource usage on your computer for each user.
  • Details: Provides a comprehensive list of processes and the relevant executable files in traditional format.
  • Services: Features native and third-party services, along with options to start, stop, and restart them.

Task Manager – Menu Options

In the expanded view, you’ll find a list of menu options to the top of the Task Manager— File , Options , and View .

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 7

  • File > Run new task : Open a program, folder, or document with or without administrative privileges.
  • File > Exit : Exit the Task Manager.
  • Options > Always on top : Keep the Task Manager on top of other windows.
  • Options > Minimize on use : Hide the Task Manager while using the Switch to right-click option on an app or process.
  • Options > Hide when minimized : Hide the Task Manager in the system tray while minimizing it.
  • Options > Set default tab : Change the default tab that you see each time you open the Task Manager. 
  • Options > Show full account name : Display each user’s entire account name (profile and email ID) under the Users tab.
  • Options > Show history for all processes : Reveal the history for both Microsoft Store apps and non-Store apps under the App History tab.
  • View > Refresh now : Immediately refresh all tabs within the Task Manager.
  • View > Update speed : Determine the Task Manager’s refresh speed— High , Normal (default), or Low . Selecting Paused lets you stop all updates.
  • View > Group by type : Group or ungroup processes under the Processes tab.
  • View > Expand all : Expand all processes to reveal sub-processes under the Processes tab.
  • View > Collapse all : Collapse all expanded processes under the Processes tab.

The Processes Tab

The Processes tab in the Windows 11 Task Manager features a list of live processes on your PC, along with real-time usage stats under separate columns.

Processes Tab – Name Column

The Apps section at the top of the Name column sports a list of all open programs in Windows 11. The Background processes section features apps that run in the background (e.g., the system tray). A third section—labeled Windows processes —lists processes related to the operating system. 

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 8

If you want, you can merge the sections list by unchecking View > Group by type on the Task Manager menu. However, that makes it harder to locate specific apps and processes.

By default, the Task Manager groups and hides the sub-processes related to each program. To reveal them, simply double-click a program’s name or select the tiny arrow icon next to it.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 9

Optionally, use the View > Expand all and Collapse all menu options to expand and collapse all sub-processes under the Processes tab.

Right-clicking a process reveals multiple options, similar to what you get in the Task Manager’s simplified view. An exception is the integral Windows Explorer process, which features a Restart option instead of End task . That allows you to troubleshoot File Explorer-related issues by restarting it. 

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 10

Processes Tab – Other Columns

The Processes tab contains additional columns that provide real-time system resource usage stats and insights for each process and subprocess, along with colors that shift between yellow and red to indicate minor to heavy resource usage.

The CPU , Memory , and Disk columns are arguably the most important since they let you spot programs that consume lots of resources. Selecting a column enables you to sort processes from the most resource-intensive to the least and vice-versa. This can be useful, for example, in figuring out things like which apps are causing the most CPU or Disk activity.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 11

  • Status: Displays a leaf-shaped icon to denote if Windows 11 has suspended the process to conserve power.
  • CPU: Current CPU resource consumption of each process in percentage terms. An aggregate value is listed at the top of the column.
  • Memory: Current memory usage in megabytes for each process, along with the total amount as a percentage at the top.
  • Disk: Disk usage for each process.
  • Network: Live network activity of each process in megabits per second .

Processes Tab – Additional Columns

Right-clicking any column also gives you the option to activate additional columns:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 12

  • Type : Displays the process category— App , Background process , or Windows process . 
  • Publisher: Reveals the publisher of the related program or service—e.g., Microsoft. 
  • PID: Unique decimal number assigned to each process, helpful in distinguishing between multiple instances of the same program.
  • Process Name: This shows the filename and extension of the process.
  • Command Line: Displays the full command line, options, and variables related to the process.
  • GPU: GPU activity in percentage terms for each process.
  • GPU Engine: Displays the GPU engine in active use by the process— 3D , Video Decode , Video Processing , etc. 
  • Power Usage: Power consumption of a process on a scale of Very Low , Low , Moderate , High , and Very High at any given moment.
  • Power Usage Trend: Power usage of a process as an average. This is a better indicator since it accounts for time.
  • Resource values : This lets you change the Memory , Disk , and Network columns to display values instead of percentages.

The Performance Tab

The Performance tab in the Task Manager lets you monitor total real-time utilization of the CPU, memory, disk, network, and GPU in Windows 11. Select each hardware component on the sidebar to view the relevant information.

Performance Tab – CPU

Displays CPU utilization by all processes over 60 seconds on a scale of 0-100. On multi-core CPUs, right-click the graph and select Change graph to > Logical processors to display separate charts for each logical processor . Hovering your cursor over a processor will reveal if the operating system has “parked” it to conserve power.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 13

Underneath the graph, you’ll find the following information:

  • Utilization : CPU utilization as a percentage.
  • Speed : Current speed of the CPU.
  • Processes : Total number of processes handled by the CPU.
  • Threads : Thread count for all processes handled by the CPU.
  • Handles : Total number of associations with shared resources (files, programs, memory locations, etc.).
  • Up time : Time since you last turned on your PC.

The rest consists of general information related to the CPU, such as the processor model, base speed, and virtualization status .

Performance Tab – Memory

Displays total RAM usage in graphical format over 60 seconds on a scale of 0-100. In addition, a separate graph labeled Memory composition reveals a snapshot of the memory consisting of the following in different shades of color:

  • In use : Memory in active use by processes, drivers, and the operating system.
  • Modified : Memory that must be written to the disk before it can be repurposed.
  • Standy : Memory consisting of cached data not in active use.
  • Free : Memory that’s immediately available for use.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 14

Underneath both graphs, you’ll see the following information as numeric values:

  • In use : The amount of memory actively used by processes, drivers, and the operating system.
  • Available : Memory available for use by the operating system (the sum of the Standby and Free categories in the memory composition graph).
  • Committed : Displays a couple of values related to the page file in Windows .
  • Cached : The sum of the Modified and Standby categories in the memory composition graph.
  • Paged pool : Kernel and device driver memory that can be moved from RAM to the page file.
  • Non-paged pool : Kernel and device driver memory that must stay in RAM.

The rest is general information about the physical memory modules—speed, the number of RAM slots used, and the form factor.

Performance Tab – Disk

Depending on the number of partitions and removable drives on your PC, you may see multiple disks listed under the sidebar. Each consists of two graphs that display disk utilization over 60 seconds on a scale of 0-100. 

The Active time graph reveals the read and write requests, while the Disk transfer rate graph displays transfer rates between the drive and the operating system.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 15

In addition to general drive-related information such as capacity, model, and type (HDD or SSD), you’ll see the following information:

  • Active time : Percentage of time the disk spends reading or writing data. Higher percentages may indicate bottlenecks (often the case with mechanical hard drives).
  • Average response time : Average amount of time to complete read and write requests.
  • Read speed : The disk drive’s current read speed in kilobytes per second.
  • Write speed : Current write speed of the disk drive in kilobytes per second.

Performance Tab – Wi-Fi/Ethernet

Reveals network information such as the adapter name, SSID, connection type, send and receive speeds (in Kbps), IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and signal strength.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 16

The graph displays total network utilization by apps and the operating system. Right-clicking the chart and selecting View network details will reveal extra information regarding network activity.

Performance Tab – GPU

Displays the GPU model, utilization, and other information regarding your PC’s video card, such as the amount of dedicated or shared memory and driver version. However, this section may not show up on computers with integrated graphics.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 17

You can switch the default graph to display activity by GPU engine ( 3D , Video Decoding , Video Processing , etc.) by right-clicking and selecting Change graph to > Multiple engines . 

Note : Windows 11 also includes an advanced hardware monitoring utility dubbed the Resource Monitor. Select Open Resource Monitor at the bottom of the Performance tab to get to it.

The App History Tab

The Task Manager’s App History tab displays the total CPU and network usage stats for Microsoft Store apps. If you want, you can include non-Store apps within the list by selecting Options > Show history for all processes on the menu bar.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 18

You can reset the count for all columns by selecting Delete usage history at the top of the screen.

App History Tab – Default Columns

The App History tab displays the following columns:

  • Name: The name of the program.
  • CPU time: The total time the program has utilized the CPU since the last reset.
  • Network: The total bandwidth (in megabytes) consumed by the program.
  • Metered network: The total amount of data the program has consumed on metered networks .
  • Tile updates: Data consumption related to live tile updates in the Start menu. This option is irrelevant since live tiles aren’t present in Windows 11. However, you may still see activity in the column with older apps that attempt to trigger updates in the background.

App History Tab – Additional Columns

Optionally, you can right-click any of the existing columns to activate the following columns:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 19

  • Non-metered Network: Total data usage on non-metered networks.
  • Downloads: Overall data usage related to downloads performed by apps.
  • Uploads: Overall data usage related to uploads performed by apps.

App History Tab – Contextual Options

Right-clicking an app reveals the following options:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 20

  • Search online: If an app appears unfamiliar, select this option to perform a cursory check online.
  • Properties: Open the Properties pane of the app’s main executable file.

The Startup Tab

The Startup tab in the Task Manager lists every app that loads at computer startup. Since multiple start programs can adversely impact the operating system’s performance, you can use this tab to manage them.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 21

Startup Tab – Default Columns

The startup tab lists the following columns:

  • Name: The name of the startup program.
  • Publisher: The program’s publisher.
  • Status: The program’s status ( Enabled or Disabled ).
  • Startup Impact: The startup impact of the program ( Low, Normal, High, or Very High ).

Startup Tab – Contextual Options

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 22

  • Enable / Disable : Enable or disable the startup program.
  • Open file location: Opens the program’s executable file in a File Explorer window.
  • Search online : Perform a search of the program online.
  • Properties : Open the Properties pane of the program’s executable file.

Startup Tab – Additional Columns

You can also right-click an existing column to activate any of the following columns:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 23

  • Startup type: The startup source of the program (the system registry or the Startup folder in Windows ). 
  • Disk I/O at startup: The amount of disk activity in megabytes related to the process at startup.
  • CPU at startup: The impact on CPU usage at startup.
  • Running now: Reveals if the program is running at the moment or not.
  • Disabled time: The time since you last disabled the program.
  • Command line: Displays the program’s command line path, including any options and variables related to it.

The Users Tab

The Users tab in the Task Manager displays a list of all users on your computer. It’s similar to the Processes tab, except that you can view resource usage by user.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 24

Users Tab – Default Columns

You can find the following columns within the tab:

  • User : Lists the names of signed-in users. Double-click a name to reveal all processes related to the user.
  • Status : Displays the status of each process for a user, including if the processes are suspended or not.

The CPU , Memory , Disk , Network , GPU , and GPU engine are essentially the same compared to what you see on the Processes tab.

Users Tab – Additional Columns

Right-clicking an existing column allows you to activate additional columns:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 25

  • ID: The user’s ID.
  • Session: The session duration of the user.
  • Client Name: The user’s hostname (if the user connects to your PC via a remote connection).

Users Tab – Contextual Options

Right-clicking a user reveals the following contextual actions:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 26

  • Expand : Reveal processes related to the user account.
  • Connect : Switch to the user account by inserting its password.
  • Sign off : Forcibly signs off the user and may result in data loss.
  • Send message: Send a message to the user. Enter a title and message and select OK .
  • Switch user account : Switch to the user account.
  • Manage user account : Opens the User Accounts screen in the Control Panel .

The Details Tab

The Details tab offers an expanded view of all processes on your computer, including those from other user accounts. It’s similar to the Processes tab from the Task Manager in Windows 7 and earlier. 

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 27

Details Tab – Default Columns

The Details tab is broken down into the following columns:

  • Name : Name of the process.
  • PID : Unique number assigned to each process.
  • Status : Status of the process— Running or Suspended .
  • User name : What initiated the process—you, another user, the operating system, etc.
  • CPU : CPU activity related to the process.
  • Memory : The amount of memory used in kilobytes.
  • Architecture : Architecture of the process – 32 or 64-bit .

You can also activate a host of additional columns by right-clicking an existing column and selecting Enable additional columns . However, these are highly technical and best suited for power users, so we won’t go over them here.

Details Tab – Contextual Options

Right-clicking a process reveals the following options:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 28

  • End task: Forcibly shut down the process.
  • End process tree: End the entire process tree related to the process. This is similar to ending a group of processes in the Processes tab.
  • Set priority : Determine the priority given by the CPU to the process compared to others. Options include Realtime , High , Above Normal , Normal , Below Normal , and Low .
  • Set affinity: Specify the CPU core or cores used by the process.
  • Analyze wait chain: Identify and end other processes that the process is using or waiting to use.
  • UAC virtualization: Change the UAC virtualization status. If enabled, it allows processes to write into a virtualized location instead of areas where they don’t have permissions. That could improve compatibility with legacy apps.
  • Create dump file: Create a memory dump for troubleshooting purposes.
  • Open file location: Open the executable file’s location.
  • Search online: Search online for more details about the process or task.
  • Properties: Access the executable file’s Properties pane.
  • Go to services: Highlight related services within the Services tab.

The Services Tab

The Services tab details every native and third-party service on your PC, such as those related to Windows Update , Bluetooth, the Print Spooler , etc. It lets you start, stop, and restart services.

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 29

Services Tab – Default Columns

The services pane consists of the following columns:

  • Name : Name of the service.
  • PID : Process ID of the service (helpful in identifying the service-related process).
  • Description : Brief description of each service.
  • Status : Status of the process ( Running or Stopped ). Some processes may show up as Starting if they appear to be stuck.
  • Group : Reveals any related group that a service is a part of.

Services Tab – Contextual Options

Right-clicking a service will reveal the following contextual options:

Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview image 30

  • Start : Start the service.
  • Step : Stop the service.
  • Restart : Restart the service.
  • Open Services : Opens the Services applet (a utility that provides configuration options for each service).
  • Search online : Search online for details about the service.
  • Go to details : Switches to the Details tab and highlights the relevant executable (useful for troubleshooting).

Put the Task Manager to Good Use

The Task Manager in Windows 11 is instrumental in identifying how your PC’s various programs and hardware work. Despite being filled with lots of information and options, however, getting a brief understanding of what it takes to shut down troublesome apps and manage resource-heavy processes alone can positively impact day-to-day usage.

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Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn't hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube. Read Dilum's Full Bio

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What does this numbers in bracket mean?

I don't have 14 firefox opened but task managers showing "14":

enter image description here

What does this numbers in brackets mean?

  • task-manager

Ahmed J's user avatar

  • Click the reveal arrow > and see... –  Tetsujin Jan 16, 2023 at 16:31
  • @Tetsujin It shows 14 Firefox(s), still I don't get it. –  Ahmed J Jan 16, 2023 at 16:47
  • I don't know how much detail you get in that view, but it will be one instance per tab [or some of them may be supporting instances for media etc] –  Tetsujin Jan 16, 2023 at 16:49
  • @Tetsujin, even with 1 tab (no website) you'll get a good 8 processes running. Those are browser system processes, and sometimes browser add-ons/extensions running in the background –  Yisroel Tech Jan 16, 2023 at 16:51

2 Answers 2

Many modern applications can use multiple "processes" to separate and segregate tasks that they need to perform.

The do this for multiple reasons

  • Performance. They can achieve more work than a single process. For example one process can be rendering the page on screen while another is decoding images, downloading things, or generally handling network communications. All of these can happen independently and at the same time rather than using a single process that can only do one thing at a time.
  • Reliability. If something goes wrong in one process then only that process might crash. The "host" process can then simply reload that one process and start it again. A single tab crashing won't take down the whole browser.
  • Security . Processes can be sandboxed from each other and sensitive information in one process is kept away from all other processes, only information like images and network data is shared when needed.

The "(14)" is how many processes Firefox is using.

If you want to learn more about how Firefox does it you can see their Electrolysis Web page which describes their efforts to convert their browser engine to using multiple processes.

Mokubai's user avatar

  • "...you can see their Electrolysis Web page which" Which what, sir? –  Run5k Jan 16, 2023 at 18:59
  • @Run5k whoops, I got distracted by shiny objects and forgot to finish my sentence. –  Mokubai ♦ Jan 16, 2023 at 19:16

Firefox (like any program, but especially browsers) do a lot of stuff in the background for a webpage to load, so each process going on inside of Firefox is a separate process showing in Task Manager.

enter image description here

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task manager means

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What is Task Management? Definition, Steps, Importance, Benefits, Tools and Techniques

By Paul VanZandt

Published on: March 14, 2022

Task Management

Table of Contents

What is Task Management?

Difference between task management and project management, what are the different task phases in task management, how to be efficient in task management, 3 key steps involved in task management, why is task management important, who can utilize task management, benefits of using task management, how can we implement task management in our lives, task management tools, task management techniques.

Our day-to-day life is made up of small, often repetitive, tasks. These tasks are usually divided throughout our day, and to be successful in our daily routine, we have to complete them. For a person to complete their tasks, it is crucial to know how to manage them. It is no secret that the best way to do this is to integrate a task management strategy.

Many of us are still unfamiliar with task management strategies or task management on the whole. This lack of clarity pushes us towards incomplete tasks and multiple missed deadlines. Many also assume that task management is somewhat associated with the to-do list, but it is so much more than that.

To understand more about task management, we first need to understand its meaning. This article will define task management and discuss its extreme importance both personally and professionally.

Task management is defined as a strategic and dynamic system designed for efficient planning and execution of tasks, ensuring a streamlined path to successful completion. Whether tackling individual to-do lists or contributing to collaborative projects, effective task management is the cornerstone of productivity.

In the realm of daily routines, tasks exhibit diverse phases, each demanding a unique approach. Mastering these phases and tailoring your strategy accordingly is the key to unlocking optimal productivity and meeting deadlines.

Our task management system stands out for its versatile functionality, seamlessly adapting to both personal and project-oriented needs. As you delve into the intricacies of task management, consider the nuanced phases your tasks traverse. Adapting your approach with precision can significantly enhance your workflow, resulting in timely and successful outcomes.

Experience the unparalleled efficiency of our task management tools, meticulously crafted to elevate your productivity. Start your journey towards purposeful task management today, and discover the difference that strategic planning can make.

Task management mainly focuses on individual tasks linked with your professional and personal life. It documents a strategy to organize and complete your given tasks.

On the other hand, project management involves managing a project with a fixed initial point or phase and an ending or concluding phase. Project management talks about executing specific professional goals and excludes personal goals. It has a deadline and maturing or expiring dates given its reliance on stakeholders and customer expectations.

Task management is all about hitting moving targets, and because of this, there are a couple of different phases that go into the process. Generally, the steps of task management include:

  • An initial stage when the task is created
  • The second phase is when it’s assigned to someone
  • The third phase involves its working progress
  • The fourth phase is all about monitoring and quality control

Other than these, tasks can also be phased out when terminated, failed, or abandoned. Some of these tasks are not individually based but require teamwork or an environment of collaboration. When we talk about task management, we need to know that it is complex and requires time, attention, and effort. One more key element of task management is flexibility, which acts as a perfect shield for accomplishing your set goals.

You cannot expect anything better if you don’t put effort into it. The best way to create an efficient task management strategy is to put a ton of effort into understanding task management tools and use this to build your plan.

Here are some tricks that will improve your efficiency of task management,

  • If your task requires you to form a group, you must adjust your plan to accommodate both team and personal goals.
  • Spend the right amount of time on each task. You can prioritize your tasks and adjust your time accordingly. This will enhance your work speed and overall management skills.
  • Prioritize organization. This will save you a lot of confusion and enable you to focus on what matters.
  • Track your progress throughout your task phases. Noting the progress of each task will tell you where you need to focus the most.
  • Utilize task management tools. These will enhance your efficiency and allow you to share tasks among people.

Learn more: 7 Effective Task Management Use Cases

Task management involves some critical steps that play a vital role in its functioning. Many people tend to ignore them, but in reality, if we keenly observe these simple yet powerful task management steps, we can easily reach our targets within no time.

These steps require less energy and effort and give maximum results to users. We have discussed some of the most critical steps in our guide to help you have an understanding of which steps to follow.

1. Prioritization

If you cannot differentiate your most important tasks from your less important ones, you will likely suffer when the deadlines hit. Every phase of task management requires you to prioritize tasks and ignore some of the less important ones for later.

By prioritizing, you will complete your tasks on time and have enough for yourself and other projects. You will be able to detect the outcomes of your selection and will be able to yield profit.

2. Tracking

Tracking your goals and progress is vital in task management. This helps you reflect on what you lack and what you need to do to accomplish your next task.

Tracking also helps you redefine future paths to avoid repeating the same mistake you made in a repetitive task. Tracking also helps as a motivator for people, giving them a visual reference for their work completed and providing a method to see it through to completion.

3. Scheduling

Scheduling helps you know about your deadline and when you need to complete a task for better results. It facilitates having an accurate estimation of task completion and gives people a solid schedule to work within.

Without task management, we will not be able to organize our tasks, and without organization, the workplace would be entirely out of sync. Task management helps plan, manage, and complete a given set of tasks.

With set task management, you will be able to plan things on time, manage them in a better way without any hassle, and you will be able to solve problems quickly and efficiently. Task management improves your workflow and interlinks other tasks that lead to quick and better completion.

Learn more: 10 Essential Task Management Advantages

When it comes to task management, there are no restrictions on who can use it effectively: everyone can utilize task management for better task completion.

However, it mainly benefits those with a heavy docket of tasks and needs a rigid organization. Task management is not for idle people who sit and have nothing to do on their schedule. And this again applies to everyone, because every one of us has tasks of our own. The most common people who go for task management are:

They can be anywhere from running startups to running states; leaders rely greatly on task management. Their tight schedule requires a lot of things at once, and task management provides them the ease to complete their tasks on time and without any clutter.

Teams are a crucial category because task management helps every office or niche coordinate tasks and maximize their productivity. This encourages them to work towards a mutual goal rather than relying on disconnected approaches.

3. Personal Management

In personal management, the staff usually handle tasks, but that doesn’t leave the owner or the related authority to detach from the tasks they have set for themselves.

Multiple benefits show how task management regularly helps us in our daily lives. Some of these are listed below:

  • High Productivity: Task management improves productivity by decluttering all the unnecessary things from your daily routine. It gives you the edge over others regarding workflow and overall task completion. With better productivity, you will be pushed towards doing more in your daily routine.
  • High-Efficiency: Task management increases efficiency to make your tasks achievable. When your productivity increases, you will likely see a fast delivery in your task completion. This is the best indicator of high efficiency and is a reason that task management is so beneficial.
  • Reduced Stress: Task management promotes better mental and physical health. With effective task management, you will lower the chance of work-related stress and tensions. You will not have a fear of missed deadlines and pending meetings because you know all of your requirements are held in one safe place.
  • Better Time Management: Time is an important and precious thing in our lives. Once we lose time, we won’t get it back. Most workplace regrets and blunders are related to time, and task management reduces time wastage. Task management reduces time wasted while working and accomplishing tasks and gives your team more time to move on to other things.
  • Better Problem-Solving: We need creativity to handle many of the requirements in our day-to-day lives. Task management provides us the insight to manage issues creatively and quickly. People can divide their problematic tasks into small chunks and can easily solve them based on the respective type or case.
  • Simpler Decisions: Organizing our workplace into simple, achievable tasks makes the decisions we have to make much more straightforward. Allowing a structure to make simple decisions for us frees up our capacity to think critically about significant problems and prioritize what’s in front of us.

Learn more: What is the RACI Matrix?

There are two main ways to implement task management effectively in our lives,

Some of these suggested tools are technical and require specific software to implement. Others like the mentioned techniques are not fixed and can vary from person to person. Both tools and techniques of task management act as soft and hard power in tackling daily chores and planning and improving task completion.

1. To-do Lists

Simple to-do lists include grocery lists, planning outdoors and indoors, and managing basic tasks. This never goes out of style and will also never become complex for people to utilize. Most task management software starts with this and moves into more complex structures.

Captivating designs and ideas on boards help you distinguish your priorities. These boards have simple themes which help users identify their tasks and manage them visually.

3. Calendars

Calenders help by telling you what date it is and helping you set reminders for some of your important deadlines. You can also add customized deadlines and themes representing your important day.

4. Management Software

These are cloud-based yet fast tools for managing tasks. Accessible anywhere and everywhere, this software will help you set goals and accomplish them quickly. The best example of task management software IdeaScale Whiteboard .

  • Declining Less Important Tasks: Learn to decline less important tasks, whether attending an event, shopping, or helping out someone on your team. Practice declining less vital stuff to accomplish your goals, and once your main priorities are finished, you can then move on to helping others.
  • Avoid Time Killers: Time-killing distractions are everywhere around us, from our mobile devices to our TV screens. To be effective with your task management, you must avoid wasting work hours on these devices. One effective strategy is budgeting distraction time and scheduling your breaks.
  • Balance: Balance your performance. Plan small tasks and then move to bigger ones. Don’t tire yourself to pursue more and more. Instead, make sure you accomplish some achievable tasks before jumping into a big new project.
  • Avoid Multitasking: You might think multitasking is friendly, but it is not. Most people think they are great at multitasking, but in reality, they waste time on multiple tasks and put in half the effort. You should plan things accordingly and complete them one by one and not all at once.
  • Intervals: It is hard to be busy and work 24/7. We, humans, tend to take intervals to enjoy our surroundings. The same goes for task management. Take options that include breaks and times that you can dedicate to yourself.

We have discussed every nitty-gritty detail about task management. It is still a go-to approach for many people struggling to complete their personal and private tasks along with high productivity and efficiency.

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February 14, 2024

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The (DISK) in Taskmanger -- what is that ?

The (DISK) In taskmanger --- what does it refer to ? 

What Is Taskmanger(DISK) and what does it mean That (DISK 100%) 

how can I really fix it?

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DaveM121

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the process(es) that are causing your hard drive to be overly busy is (system)    0.2MB/s in other time 23MB/s 

 hard drive is very busy is relate to hard drive size

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Todoist adds team workspaces to its task manager

task manager means

Given that Todoist now has more than 30 million users, chances are there are quite a few people in your friends, family and colleagues using Todoist to track their personal and professional tasks. And yet, Todoist has never really taken off as a project management tool in the workspace.

Other companies working on sophisticated task tracking and project management services like Asana , Monday and Atlassian have really cornered this part of the enterprise software industry. But Todoist isn’t giving up and is launching a new way to manage tasks at work. This new feature has been in beta for a while and 5,000 teams have been trying it out. Today, the company is rolling it out to everyone.

Unlike some of the competitors I mentioned above, Todoist is really focusing on small and medium companies. For instance, Doist, the company behind Todoist, is using it with a team of 100 employees working in more than 35 countries.

Todoist’s team workspaces work a bit like workspaces in Notion. When you join a company, you join their workspace with all the existing content tied to this workspace. As a new employee, if you were already using Todoist, this new workspace will appear as a second workspace, completely separate from your personal space with your personal tasks and projects.

Inside the team workspace, you’ll find projects that work a bit like Slack channels. They can either be public projects (anyone can join them) or private projects with only specific employees that can view those projects. Projects can also be sorted into folders.

Finally, in each project, you can see a list of tasks and use all of the team-related features that were already available in Todoist. For instance, you can comment on tasks, add files and see the team’s activity stream by project or team member.

Todoist is now also creating unique links to tasks, projects, sections and comments so that you can share tasks and projects in your other communication tools.

For individual users, they can now use filters to view all their Todoist tasks in the today or upcoming view. Or they can choose to view only personal or work-related tasks. Unlike other productivity tools, you don’t have to switch between workspaces to view all relevant content.

In addition to free accounts, Todoist offers a premium subscription for individual users who want more features for $4 per month. Business subscriptions with team workspaces cost $6 per user per month.

Given that Todoist is used by millions of people, the company didn’t want to switch things up for its individual customers. So if your company is not using Todoist’s new team workspace features, nothing is changing.

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  1. Task Manager (What It Is & How to Use It)

    Tim Fisher Updated on September 22, 2022 In This Article Jump to a Section What Is Task Manager Used For? Open Task Manager Task Manager Availability Task Manager Walkthrough Task Manager shows you what programs are running on your Windows computer and offers some limited control over those running tasks. What Is Task Manager Used For?

  2. What is Task Manager?

    Home Dictionary T - Definitions Task Manager Updated: 12/26/2023 by Computer Hope The Task Manager is an operating system component found in all versions of Microsoft Windows since Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. It lets you view each of the tasks (processes) and the overall computer's performance.

  3. Task Manager (Windows)

    Task Manager, previously known as Windows Task Manager, is a task manager, system monitor, and startup manager included with Microsoft Windows systems. It provides information about computer performance and running software, including name of running processes, CPU and GPU load, commit charge, I/O details, logged-in users, and Windows services.

  4. What is Task Manager?

    Task Manager, which was previously known as Microsoft Windows Task Manager, is a component of the Windows operating system (OS) that helps administrators and end users monitor, manage and troubleshoot tasks. A task is a basic unit of programming that an OS controls.

  5. Windows Task Manager: The Complete Guide

    Windows Windows Task Manager: The Complete Guide By Chris Hoffman Updated Oct 14, 2023 Here's a 5500+ word guide explaining each and every feature and technical term in Windows 10's Task Manager Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek Readers like you help support How-To Geek.

  6. How to Open the Task Manager in Windows 10

    Task Manager is an excellent tool for keeping track of system processes, monitoring resource usage, and forcing memory-hogging applications to close. Microsoft has introduced several improvements to Task Manager over the years, but luckily, accessing it on Windows 10 hasn't changed much from Windows 7. How Do I Open Task Manager in Windows 10?

  7. How to Use the Windows Task Manager

    The Windows Task Manager is a system monitor utility, meaning it allows you to manage all the processes running on your computer and view other key information. You can order these process by usage to see what's taking up your computer's resources.

  8. Beginner Geek: What Every Windows User Needs to Know ...

    Opening the Task Manager. Windows lets you get to the Task Manger in a variety of ways: Keyboard Shortcut: Press Ctrl+Shift+Escape anywhere in Windows. Mouse Shortcut: Right-click the Windows taskbar and select Start Task Manager. Traditional Method: Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select Start Task Manager.

  9. What is a Task Manager?

    What Does Task Manager Mean? A task manager is a utility that provides a view of active processes or tasks, as well as related information, and may also allow users to enter commands that will manipulate those tasks in various ways. Individual task managers accomplish different functions depending on the operating system and software requirements.

  10. Definition of task manager

    T task manager Browse Encyclopedia A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9 A utility program that reports the status of running programs. Task managers are used to review which...

  11. Task manager

    In operating systems, a task manager is a system monitor program used to provide information about the processes and applications running on a computer, as well as the general status of the computer. Some implementations can also be used to terminate processes and applications, as well as change the processes' scheduling priority.

  12. Windows 11 Task Manager In-Depth Guide and Overview

    In Windows 11, you can launch the Task Manager just like any other program by selecting Start > All Apps > Windows Tools > Task Manager. However, the most convenient way to invoke it is through the Power User menu (right-click the Start button and select Task Manager ). If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc will quickly ...

  13. Task Manager Definition & Meaning

    Definitions Human resources information system (HRIS) solutions help businesses manage multiple facets of their workforce operations. They provide a central platform... Task Manager provides details about programs & processes. Learn what systems use it & the details it provides now.

  14. View details about running processes with the Windows 10 Task Manager

    First things first: Access the Details tab in Windows 10's Task Manager. To begin, launch the Task Manager. We used the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + Shift + Esc. " Click or tap on More details if the Task Manager starts in its compact view. Open the full version of the Task Manager by clicking More details.

  15. What Is Task Management? 10 Key Tools and More

    What is task management? Task management is the process of effectively and efficiently tracking, managing, and executing the life cycle of a task or many tasks within a project, from inception to execution. The purpose of task management is to improve the decision-making, communication, efficiency, and effectiveness of a task or project.

  16. How to Improve Task Management: Roles, Skills, Tips, and Tools

    Task management is a vital personal skill and an asset to many companies. You don't have to be in a leadership position like a project manager to practice task management skills. These skills can translate into multiple aspects of your work day. Overall, task management can make you a more efficient, productive employee.

  17. Task management

    Task management is the process of overseeing a task through its lifecycle. It involves planning, testing, tracking, and reporting. Task management can help individuals achieve goals or enable groups of individuals to collaborate and share knowledge for the accomplishment of collective goals. [1]

  18. task manager

    Higher priority means that processing of a task will be advantaged over low-priority tasks. If you're running an application that you require to be very responsive, and a bunch of other non-interactive processes for example, priorities can make ensure a better experience with your high-priority process.

  19. Best Task Management Software of February 2024

    Asana is one of the best task manager tools out there, offering scalable support for rapidly growing teams. Enjoy features like a whiteboard-style workflow builder, rules and task dependencies ...

  20. Understand Windows Task Manager Memory Tab

    Task Manager in Windows 10 is offering an insight into how Windows manages the memory and this would tell us whether we are memory-bound or not. In use — the total amount of RAM in use at this moment, pretty easy to understand. Available — this should be also easy to understand the total amount of RAM available.

  21. What does this numbers in bracket mean?

    Firefox (like any program, but especially browsers) do a lot of stuff in the background for a webpage to load, so each process going on inside of Firefox is a separate process showing in Task Manager. For a specific breakdown of the 14 processes, you can open Firefox's own Task Manager (Menu > More Tools > Task Manager, or the Shift + Esc ...

  22. Dig Deeper Into Windows 11 With These 7 Task Manager Tips

    1. Find Out What's Slowing Down Your PC. One of the more frequent uses for Task Manager is to find the culprit when your PC is sluggish. Open the Task Manager and click on the top of the CPU ...

  23. What is Task Management? Definition, Steps, Importance ...

    Task management is defined as a strategic and dynamic system designed for efficient planning and execution of tasks, ensuring a streamlined path to successful completion. Whether tackling individual to-do lists or contributing to collaborative projects, effective task management is the cornerstone of productivity.

  24. The (DISK) in Taskmanger -- what is that ?

    If your Disk in Task Manager is showing 100% it means your hard drive is very busy and as a result your PC would be running slowly What you need to do is find the process (es) that are causing your hard drive to be overly busy . .. . In Task Manager, on the Processes Tab, click on the Disk column header, so the arrow faces down on that column

  25. Todoist adds team workspaces to its task manager

    Other companies working on sophisticated task […] Todoist adds team workspaces to its task manager. Romain Dillet @romaindillet / 2 days Given that Todoist now has more than 30 million users ...