Buzz
What is Task Manager used for?
Windows Task Manager is used for very basic things on the computer: viewing which apps, programs, and services are running on the system.
Open programs on the system are listed here, including programs that start up with the system and run in the background.
You can use Task Manager to force-quit any running program or software, as well as to see how much hardware resources programs are consuming on your computer, which programs and services start up with the system, and more.
What is Task Manager? How to use Task Manager
How to open Task Manager
When your computer encounters an issue and you need to open Task Manager to check, there are several simple ways to open Task Manager. Here are some simple ways to open Task Manager.
The simplest way to open Task Manager is to use the CTRL + SHIFT + ESC key combination. Press the 3 keys CTRL + SHIFT + ESC simultaneously and the Task Manager window will immediately appear.
Another way is to use the CTRL + ALT + DEL key combination to open the Windows Security window. In this window, there is an option to open Task Manager.
On Windows XP, use the CTRL + ALT + DEL key combination to open Task Manager directly.
Alternatively, you can use another method by right-clicking on any empty space on the Taskbar, selecting Task Manager (on Windows 10, 8, and Windows XP) or selecting Start Task Manager (on Windows 7 and Windows Vista)
You can also open Task Manager directly through the command. Open the Command Prompt window or the Run window (using the Windows + R key combination), then enter the following command:
Taskmgr
Or you can use a more complex method (only use this method unless this is the only way you can use on your computer) which is to access the C:WindowsSystem32 folder and open taskmgr.exe directly.
Task Manager option is also available on the Power User Menu, simply press the Windows + X key combination or right-click on the Start button at the bottom left corner of the screen, then select Task Manager.
If you are using Windows 10, refer to how to access Task Manager Win 10 to view the processes running on your system.
How to use Task Manager
Task Manager is a tool designed to be easy to use and navigate. However, there are still many hidden options in this tool. To use Task Manager on Win 8 or 10 effectively, you should read the content below
Tip: On Windows 10 and Windows 8, Task Manager defaults to the simple view mode for running processes. Click on More details at the bottom right corner of the Windows Task Manager window to see everything.
- Tab Processes:
The Processes tab contains a list of all running programs and applications on your computer (listed under Apps), as well as any background processes and Windows processes running.
On this tab, you can close running programs, see how much resources each program, application, and service is using on your computer, … .
The functions available on the Processes tab in Windows 10 and Windows 8 Task Manager are similar to those of the Applications tab in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
The Service Host Process or svchost.exe often appears in the system's Processes tab. If you're not familiar with this file, refer to the article on Service Host Process for more information.
The Processes tab in older versions of Windows is similar to the Details tab, described below.
- Tab Performance:
The Performance tab 'summarizes' what is happening, providing an overview of main hardware components such as CPU, RAM, hard drive, network, and many other components.
On this tab, you can view system performance information. Additionally, on this tab, you can easily view CPU model and maximum speed, RAM slots in use, bandwidth (disk transfer rate), view IP address, and much more.
The Performance tab is available in Task Manager on all versions of Windows, but it is more enhanced in Task Manager for Windows 10 and Windows 8 compared to previous versions.
Additionally, Task Manager in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP also has a Networking tab, and on the Performance tab in Task Manager for Windows 10 and 8, there are some reports available from related networking system components.
- Tab App history:
Tab App history displays the CPU usage and network usage performance that each Windows application has used between the listed dates on the screen.
This tab is a great solution to monitor any application that is consuming a lot of CPU or network resources.
Tab App history is only available in Task Manager on Windows 10 and Windows 8.
- Tab Startup:
Tab Startup displays all programs that start with Windows, along with some important details about each program. The Startup impact column will accurately show which programs affect the startup speed of the software for the system and are categorized as High, Medium, and Low.
With the Startup tab, users can identify and then disable programs that do not need to start with the system, and this is one of the solutions to speed up Windows computers.
Tab Startup is only available in Task Manager for Windows 10 and Windows 8.
- Tab Users:
Tab Users displays all users currently logged in to the computer and the processes running in each user account.
If you are the only user logged in to the computer, this tab is not really useful. The Users tab is useful in cases where you are monitoring processes that may be running under a different account.
Tab Users is available in Task Manager on all versions of Windows but only displays processes of one user on Windows 10 and Windows 8.
- Tab Details:
Tab Details displays each individual process running - no program groups, common names, or other displays here.
Tab Details is useful in advanced troubleshooting cases, when users need to find something easily such as identifying the exact location of the executable file, PID, or some other information that users cannot find in Task Manager.
Tab Details is available in Task Manager for Windows 10 and Windows 8, and this tab is similar to the Processes tab in previous versions of Windows.
- Tab Services:
Tab Services displays the services installed on the user's computer. Most services will be either running or stopped.
With the Services tab, users can quickly start or stop key Windows services. Advanced configuration of services is done from the Services module in the Microsoft Management Console.
Task Manager is integrated into Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP, as well as with Server versions of the Windows operating system.
Microsoft has significantly improved Task Manager on each version of the Windows operating system. Specifically, Task Manager on Windows 10 and Windows 8 is different from Task Manager on Windows 7 and Windows Vista, and Task Manager on these versions is different from Task Manager on Windows XP.
A similar program called Tasks existed on the Windows 98 and Windows 95 operating systems but offered almost none of the features that Task Manager has. To open that program on Windows 98 and Windows 95, users only needed to execute the taskman command.
With the article What is Task Manager, how to use Task Manager has helped you know how to use as well as understand the nature of the task manager available on these Windows operating systems. Through it, you can manage and terminate processes that are harmful to the system.
To open Task Manager faster, if using Windows 10, you can pin Task Manager to the Taskbar and Start Menu on Win 10 so that when you need it, just click on it, refer to how to pin Task Manager to Taskbar and Start Menu on Win 10 to learn how to do it Mytour.
If you are wondering how to open Task Manager in Windows 11, you can refer to this article. You will perform quickly, opening Task Manager efficiently.
- Read more: How to open Task Manager in Windows 11
