# How to Use Task Manager in Windows **URL:** https://www.compsmag.com/how-to/how-to-use-task-manager-in-windows/ **Author:** Ayushi Chauhan **Published:** 2021-12-19 **Updated:** 2021-12-19 **Categories:** Blogs, How To **Tags:** Blogs Daily, Computer Guides, Computers Tips and Tutorials, guiderobert, Guides and Tutorials, guiding17, How To Guide, How To Guides, internet tips and tutorials, Tips, Tricks, Windows Tips **Reading Time:** 6 min --- This tip is about the how to Use Task Manager in Windows. So read this free guide, How to Use Task Manager in Windows. If you have query related to same article you may contact us. ## How to Use Task Manager in Windows - Guide The typical Windows PC is running more than three dozen processes when it's standing there. Each running program is called as a task; hence the term multitasking. The Task Manager window is used to see the tasks that are taking place on your computer system. To get Task Manager, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. In the Task Manager window, if necessary, click the Applications tab. The programs listed are programs you started or windows you opened. ## How to Open Windows Task Manager Are you having trouble accessing the Task Manager? There are four ways for Windows users to open the app; each method will bring it up, therefore, it doesn't matter which one you decide to use. Choose one of the four ways listed below. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and click on the Task Manager option. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Click the Start menu, select Run and type taskmgr. Right click on the taskbar and select the Task Manager option. Just choose the method that works best for you. I usually just scroll down and right-click on the taskbar; There is not button combinations to remember with this method. after opening up Task Manager, you can start to terminate unresponsive programs, change process priorities and much more! ## How to Use Windows Task Manager After opening Task Manager, you will see six tabs in the menu bar: Applications, Processes, Services, Performance, Network and Users. Each of these tabs allows the user to control different aspects of what is running on their computer at that very moment. ### 1. Applications On the Applications tab, there is a list of all programs currently active on your computer. This does not include programs minimized to the system tray, such as an antivirus program or a minimized instant messenger. Along the bottom of the window you have three options. end task switch to new task End task is to end programs that are otherwise unresponsive, such as a crashed web browser. Anyone who has a computer is familiar with this problem! Just click on the program and End Task button. But beware - closing your programs this way will result in the loss of all unsaved data. The Switch to option allows the user to bring up an open program. If for some reason you are unable to open the program yourself, the Task Manager may pull up the window for you. Finally, the New Task button does what it sounds like - start a new task. This is similar to selecting the Run option from the Start Menu. ### 2. Processes The Processes tab displays a list of processes currently running on your computer. These are all the programs that are active on your machine, from your antivirus to your web browser. If a program listed here isn't responding, your best bet may be to terminate the process. The user here has two options. Show processes from all users End of process Show processes from all users will literally show all processes running on your computer that might otherwise be hidden (tasks like NVIDIA drivers and other advanced services); a user without administrative skills may not be able to access this option. If you want to end a process, click on the process and select End Process button. Remember that ending a process in this way will lose all unsaved data. ### 3. Services Services are background programs on your computer that usually start when you turn on your computer. Programs such as Windows Update, Windows Firewall, and Task Scheduler fall into this category. This list can be the most confusing and have the least amount of programs that we are familiar with. At the bottom of the Task Manager window, there is only one option, called Services. While you can right-click a service to start or stop it, this service button is more useful. Clicking it will open up a new list of services on your computer. Clicking on them describes what their purpose is. Right-clicking on a service will allow users to start, stop, restart, or change the properties of that service. If a service starts up automatically, for example, you can cancel this feature. ### 4. Performance The Performance tab displays aspects of your computer's system performance for your viewing. There are no options you can change in this area or programs you can close. This features it simply shows users how their computer is performing with current services and tasks. In this tab, you can see the following items. CPU utilization CPU usage history Memory Physical memory usage history Resource monitor A computer's CPU, or central processing unit, performs tasks and programs for a computer; the higher the CPU usage, the more tasks it performs. As a result, a computer with a high CPU often runs very slowly. CPU usage and CPU usage history help users to monitor the status of their CPU. A computer's memory usage, on the other hand, is the amount of RAM that is currently being used by the computer. If you are running many programs at the same time, the physical memory usage can be very high. The Resource Monitor option opens a new window displaying advanced graphs of CPU, disk, network and memory usage on your computer. With the Learn More tab, users can view performance monitor-related help documents as well as how to monitor system activity with Performance Monitor. ### 5. Networking The Task Manager Network tab displays the adapters for each network on your computer, along with graphs showing the current usage of each active network. You should only see a little activity on your preferred network, whether it's wireless or a local area connection. The more internet you use, the higher the percentage on the graph. ### 6. Users THE final tab, called Users, displays the users active on the computer system. This option is useful for computers that have multiple user profiles, such as school computers or some familiar desktop computers. The tab only displays active user profiles with a session open on the computer. Here you can do the following for another user. When a user is disconnected, their session is temporarily ended. When they log in later, they can pick up where they left off. No data is lost with this option. Logging off a user, however, ends their session and can cause the user to lose all unsaved data. When logging in again, they will start a new session as the last one was not saved in memory. ## Final note I hope you like the guide How to Use Task Manager in Windows. In case if you have any query regards this article you may ask us. Also, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends. --- *End of Article*