One of your programs is down? Do you want to see the different active processors on your computer? Learn how to open the handy task manager on your computer.
On any computer, there is a function that allows you to solve problems in the event of a “”crash”” of software or a window. This is the task manager. It is a powerful and free tool that can get you out of sometimes complex situations.
In this task manager, not only will you have the power to end a process, but you will also be able to generally see the resources used by a software. This will allow you, for example, to detect which application is causing problems on your computer. Sometimes, we do not realize that a software is perhaps a little too greedy for our machine. Thanks to the task manager, you can check that everything is working correctly.
There are several tabs depending on the machine you are using. Most of the time, the task manager will include a “Process” part to terminate software and a “Performance” part to see if your computer’s components are working properly.
The method for opening this task manager differs depending on the machine you are using. So let’s do a quick overview of the shortcuts to open it according to your OS.
Windows 11 Task Manager
Here are the different methods to open the task manager from Windows 11:
- the most classic and best known of all will be to press the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys (or DEL depending on your keyboard);
- another possible combination of keys, you can use the combination CTRL + SHIFT (SHIFT) + ESC;
- you can also press the Windows + X keys to open a context menu in which you can click on “”Task manager””;
- this menu will also be found when you right-click on your taskbar;
- you can also simply search for “”Task Manager”” in your Windows menu;
- Finally, you can use the combination of Windows + R keys to launch the “”Run”” program. You just have to type “”taskmgr.exe”” to launch the task manager.
Windows 10 Task Manager
The methods to open the task manager on Windows 10 will be very similar to the methods of Windows 11, namely:
- as seen previously, the classic method for opening the task manager on Windows is to use the CTRL + ALT + DEL (or DEL) key combination;
- another possible combination is the key combination CTRL + SHIFT (SHIFT) + ESC;
- you can also use the contextual menu of your desktop to open it, to do this press the Windows + X keys simultaneously. You will find a drop-down menu with the Task Manager option””;
- this menu will also be found by clicking with the right mouse button on your taskbar;
- the task manager is also accessible using the Windows search function by simply searching for “”task manager””;
- as on Windows 11, for the most experienced, you can use the “Run” function by pressing the Windows key and R and then enter “”taskmgr.exe””
Windows XP Task Manager
If Windows XP is no longer updated today, it remains fully functional. For users of this version of Windows, discover the different methods to open the task manager on your computer:
- like any other version of Windows, the best known shortcut is to use the key combination CTRL + ALT + DEL (or DEL), this opens a special menu on which you can find the task manager;
- another solution: use the key combination CTRL + SHIFT (or SHIFT) + ESC which will open the task manager directly;
- you can also find this task manager by clicking with the right button of your mouse on the taskbar. From here, you will find a drop-down menu in which will be the Task manager option.
Task Manager on Mac
If we talk about Task Manager on a computer running Windows, on a Mac device it has another name. We will find this function under the name “”Activity Monitor””. However, it will generally have the same functions as a task manager on Windows. Here’s how to access your Activity Monitor on your Mac computer:
- Using Spotlight: Press Command + Spacebar to bring up the Spotlight search box. From here, enter the terms “”Activity Monitor””. Select the “”Activity Monitor”” application when it appears, then you will be taken directly to the application where you can manage all your running processes;
- with the Finder: Click the Finder icon in your Application Dock on your desktop. From the side menu, choose Applications. In this Applications menu, select and open the “Utilities” folder. Double click on the Activity Monitor icon, and voila;
- for quicker access, you can also add Activity Monitor directly to your Dock. Perfect to open it with just one click. To do this, when you have opened the Activity Monitor with one of the two previous methods, right-click on the software icon in your Dock, click on “”Options”” and choose “”Keep in Dock”” .
Shortcuts to open task manager
The shortcuts to open the task manager differ depending on the machines you use and especially the OS on which they run. Here are the different shortcuts depending on your machine:
- for Windows: press CTRL + ALT + DELETE or CTRL + SHIFT (or SHIFT) + ESC simultaneously;
- for Mac: press Command (Cmd) + the space bar simultaneously, then enter “”Activity Monitor””.
Task Manager on Linux
In Linux, Task Manager is called “System Monitor Process”. To open it easily, you must first assign it a shortcut. Here is the method to do it:
- click on the System menu then Preferences;
- click on “”Keyboard shortcuts”” in the drop-down menu, then on “”Add””;
- give your shortcut a name, “”Task Manager”, “”Task Monitor”, or whatever;
- enter the words “”gnome-system-monitor”” in the “”Command”” field and click “”Apply””;
- select the shortcut created in the “”Custom shortcuts”” list and click in the “”Shortcut”” column;
- then press the keys you want to give to your shortcut. For example CTRL + ALT + DEL to find those of Windows;
- once done, you will then be able to access the Linux task manager.
Chromebook Task Manager
Chromebooks are smooth and fast machines, but they’re not bug-free. So sometimes you have to end a process. To do this, you will need to access the task manager. Here is the method:
- click on the “Settings” menu at the top right of your Chrome browser;
- click on “”More tools””;
- select “”Task Manager””;
- you can use the Search + Esc key combination.