If there is one thing that every Windows user should know is the different ways to open the Task Manager. While most of us seldom use the Task Manager, it helps us tremendously when needed. For example, if an app is not responding, you can force it to close using the Task Manager. You can also check your CPU and other hardware performance, manage startup applications, check app history & signed-in users, troubleshoot memory-hogging applications, etc.
Knowing the different methods to launch the Task Manager helps you open it no matter what happens on your computer. For instance, the other day, my system was completely frozen, however, I was able to open the Task Manager using the keyboard shortcut shown in this article.
So, without further ado, let me show all the ways you can open the Task Manager on Windows 11 in this quick and easy tutorial. Let’s get started.
How To Open Task Manager in Windows 11
These are all the different methods to launch the Windows 11 Task Manager.
- Select “Task Manager” from the Start button’s context menu
- From the Taskbar
- Task Manager run command
- Keyboard shortcut to open the Task Manager
- Use the Task Manager executable in File Explorer
- Command to launch the Task Manager
1. Select “Task Manager” from the Start Buttons’s Context Menu
Most don’t know this but the Start button on your taskbar has a context menu known as Power User Menu and you can use it to launch the Task Manager. Here’s how to do it.
First, right-click on the Start button on the taskbar or press the “Windows key + X” keyboard shortcut to open the context menu. In the context menu, find and select the “Task Manager” option. As soon as you do that, the Task Manager in Windows 11 will open instantly.
2. From the Taskbar
You can also launch the Task Manager directly from the taskbar. To do that, right-click on empty space on the taskbar and select the “Task Manager” option. That’s it.
3. Task Manager Run Command
Task Manager is just another system program. That means you can open it directly using the Run dialog. Here’s how.
First, open the Run dialog box by pressing the “Windows key + R” shortcut. In the run box, enter “taskmgr” in the blank field and click the “OK” button. Doing this will immediately open the Task Manager.
4. Keyboard Shortcut to Open the Task Manager
The keyboard shortcut to open the Task Manager is “Ctrl + Shift + Escape“. Simply press the keys together and the Task Manager pops up.
When the system freezes, and you cannot click anything, the keyboard shortcut is your friend. In fact, if you can ignore the awkward way of pressing the keyboard shortcut, it is one of the easiest and fastest ways to launch the Task Manager.
5. Use the Task Manager Executable in File Explorer
Like any application, Task Manager has an executable. This means you can simply execute the exe file to launch it. You just need to know where to find it.
First, open the File Explorer using the “Windows key + E” shortcut or by clicking on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar. Next, go to the “C:\Windows\System32\” folder. Here, find and double-click on the taskmgr.exe file. This action will open the Task Manager like any other program.
6. Command to Open the Task Manager
Of course, like with many system applications, you can also launch the Task Manager from the Command Prompt or PowerShell. You just need to execute a single command. In fact, it is the same run command.
First, open the Command Prompt or PowerShell by searching for it in the Start menu. After opening it, type “taskmgr” and press Enter. It should immediately open the Task Manager.
Note: If you want to launch task manager as admin, open the Command Prompt or PowerShell as admin and execute the command.
Wrapping Up — Multiple Ways to Open Task Manager
And there you have it. These are all the simple yet must-know ways to launch the Task Manager application in Windows. Each method has its pros and cons. For example, for quick and easy access, you can use the power user menu or the taskbar context menu approach. If your system is not responding, use the keyboard shortcut. For a more advanced method, use the run dialog box or command method. Whichever method you choose to use, the Task Manager opens instantly.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
