Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 - Using the Windows Task Manager

This document provides basic information about how to use Windows Task Manager to start programs, to end processes, and to monitor the computer's performance.

You can use Task Manager to start programs, to start or to end processes, and to view a dynamic display of your computer's performance.

How to start Task Manager

To start Task Manager, take any of the following actions:

How to use Task Manager Help

Everything that you might want to know about Task Manager is included in the Task Manager Help file. Some of the help topics are intended for a general audience. Other topics are intended for a more advanced audience. To view the Task Manager Help file, follow these steps:

  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then click Task Manager.
  2. In Task Manager, click Help, and then click Task Manager Help Topics.

    3. Click Help, Task Manager Help Topics.

In the "Task Manager overview" topic, you can read about the features and uses of Task Manager by clicking the following topics and reading the topic and all related topics:

How to exit, switch to, or start a program

The Applications tab displays the status of the programs that are running on the computer. To exit, switch to, or start a program, follow these steps:
  1. Click the Applications tab.
  2. Do one of the following, as appropriate for the action that you want to perform:

    • Exit a program: To exit a program, click the program that you want to exit, and then click End Task.

      Note: When you exit a program in this manner, any unsaved data in that program is lost.

      • Click End Task to exit a program.

    • Switch to another program: To switch to another program, click the program that you want to switch to, and then click Switch To.

      • Select the program you want to use, and click Switch To.

    • Start a program: To start a program, click New Task. In the Create New Task dialog box, click Browse, locate and select the program that you want to start, click Open, and then click OK.

      Note: This procedure is very similar to starting a program by using the Run command on the Start menu.

      • Click New Task.

How to end a process

The Processes tab displays information about the processes that are running on the computer. A process can be an application that you start or subsystems and services that are managed by the operating system. To end a process, follow these steps.

To match a process with a running program, right-click the program name on the Applications tab of Windows Task Manager, and then click Go To Process.
  1. Click the Processes tab.
  2. Do one of the following, depending on the action that you want to perform:
    • If you want to end a single process, click the process that you want to end, and then click End Process.

      • Click End Process.

    • If you want to end a process and all processes directly or indirectly related to it, right-click the process that you want to end, and then click End Process Tree.

      • Right click the process, and click End Process Tree.

Note: Proceed with caution when you end a process. If you exit a program in this manner, data that has not been saved will be lost. If you end a system process, a system component may no longer function correctly.

How to monitor your computer's performance

Click the Performance tab to view a dynamic overview of the performance of your computer. This includes the following measures:

Note: Your system administrator may have implemented a local policy on your computer to disable Task Manager. In this scenario, you should contact the system administrator or your help desk if you need local process control or the ability to monitor the computer's performance.

This document was adapted from the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 323527.

See Also: