| Task Manager | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Task Manager inWindows 11 | |
| Original author | David Plummer |
| Initial release | August 24, 1996; 29 years ago (1996-08-24)[citation needed] |
| Written in | C++ |
| Operating system | Windows NT 4.0 and onwards |
| Platform | IA-32,x86-64,ARM andItanium (and historicallyDEC Alpha,MIPS, andPowerPC) |
| Predecessor | System Monitor |
| Type | Task manager,system monitor and startup manager |
Task Manager, previously known asWindows Task Manager, is atask manager,system monitor, and startup manager included withMicrosoft Windows systems. It provides information about computer performance and running software, including names of runningprocesses,CPU andGPU load,commit charge,I/O details, logged-in users, andWindows services. Task Manager can also be used to set process priorities,processor affinity, start and stop services, and forcibly terminate processes.
The program can be started in recent versions of Windows by pressing⊞Win+R and then typing intaskmgr.exe, by pressingCtrl+Alt+Delete and clickingTask Manager, by pressingCtrl+⇧ Shift+Esc, by usingWindows Search in theStart Menu and typingtaskmgr, by right-clicking on theWindows taskbar and selecting "Task Manager", by typingtaskmgr in theFile Explorer address bar, or by typingtaskmgr inCommand Prompt orWindows PowerShell.
Task Manager was introduced in its current form withWindows NT 4.0. Prior versions of Windows NT, as well asWindows 3.x, include the Task List application, are capable of listing currently running processes and killing them, or creating new processes.Windows 9x has a program known asClose Program which lists the programs currently running and offers options to close programs as well shut down the computer.[1]
Since Windows 8, Task Manager has two views. The first time Task Manager is invoked by a user, it shows in a simplified summary mode (described in the user experience asFewer Details). It can be switched to a more detailed mode by clickingMore Details. This setting is remembered for that user on that machine.[2]
Since around the release of Windows 2000, the CPU usage could be displayed as atray icon in the task bar for a quick glance.[3][4]
In summary mode, Task Manager shows a list of currently running programs that have a main window. It has a "more details" hyperlink that activates a full-fledged Task Manager with several tabs.
Right-clicking any of the applications in the list allows switching to that application or ending the application's task. Issuing anend task causes a request forgraceful exit to be sent to the application.
TheProcesses tab shows a list of all runningprocesses on the system. This list includesWindows Services and processes from other accounts. TheDelete key can also be used to terminate processes on the Processes tab. By default, the processes tab shows the user account the process is running under, the amount of CPU, and the amount of memory the process is currently consuming. There are more columns that can be shown. The Processes tab divides the process into three categories:
This tab shows the name of every main window and every service associated with each process. Both a graceful exit command and a termination command can be sent from this tab, depending on whether the command is sent to the process or its window.
TheDetails tab is a more basic version of theProcesses tab, and acts similar to theProcesses tab inWindows 7 and earlier. It has a more rudimentary user experience and can perform some additional actions. Right-clicking a process in the list allows changing the priority the process has, setting processor affinity (setting which CPU(s) the process can execute on), and allows the process to be ended. Choosing toEnd Process causes Windows to immediately kill the process. Choosing to "End Process Tree" causes Windows to immediately kill the process, as well as all processes directly or indirectly started by that process. Unlike choosingEnd Task from theApplications tab, when choosing toEnd Process the program is not given a warning nor a chance to clean up before ending. However, when a process that is running under a security context different from the one which issued the call to Terminate Process, the use of the KILL command-line utility is required.[5]
ThePerformance tab shows overall statistics about the system's performance, most notably the overall amount of CPU usage and how much memory is being used. A chart of recent usage for both of these values is shown. Details about specific areas of memory are also shown.
There is an option to break the CPU usage graph into two sections: kernel mode time and user mode time. Many device drivers, and core parts of the operating system run in kernel mode, whereas user applications run in user mode. This option can be turned on by choosingShow kernel times from theView menu. When this option is turned on the CPU usage graph will show a green and a red area. The red area is the amount of time spent in kernel mode, and the green area shows the amount of time spent in user mode.
ThePerformance tab also shows statistics relating to each of the network adapters present in the computer. By default, the adapter name, percentage of network utilization, link speed, and state of the network adapter are shown, along with a chart of recent activity.
TheApp history tab shows resource usage information aboutUniversal Windows Platform apps. Windows controls the life cycle of these apps more tightly. This tab is where the data that Windows has collected about them, and then be viewed at a later time. In Windows 11, it's updated to show resource use information of regular apps as well.
TheStartup tab manages software that starts withWindows shell.
TheUsers tab shows all users that currently have a session on the computer. On server computers, there may be several users connected to the computer using Terminal Services (or the Fast User Switching service, on Windows XP). Users can be disconnected or logged off from this tab.
Task Manager was originally an external side project developed at home by Microsoft developerDavid William Plummer;[6] encouraged byDave Cutler and coworkers to make it part of the main product "build", he donated the project in 1995. The original task manager design featured a different Processes page with information being taken from the public Registry APIs rather than the private internal operating system metrics.
AClose Programdialog box comes up whenCtrl+Alt+Delete is pressed inWindows 9x.[1] Also, in Windows 9x, there is a program called Tasks (TASKMAN.EXE) located in the Windows directory. It is rudimentary and has fewer features. TheSystem Monitor utility in Windows 9x contains process and network monitoring functionality similar to that of the Windows Task Manager. Also, the Tasks program is called by clicking twice on the desktop if theExplorer process is down.
In Windows XP only, there is a "Shut Down" menu that provides access to Standby, Hibernate, Turn off, Restart, Log Off, andSwitch User. This is because, by default in Windows XP, pressingCtrl+Alt+Delete opens the Task Manager instead of opening a dialog that provides access to the Task Manager in addition to the options mentioned above.
On the Performance tab, the display of the CPU values was changed from a display mimicking a LEDseven-segment display, to a standard numeric value. This was done to accommodate non-Arabic numeral systems, such asEastern Arabic numerals, which cannot be represented using a seven-segment display.[7]
Prior toWindows XP, process names longer than 15 characters in length are truncated. This problem is resolved in Windows XP.[8]
The users tab is introduced by Windows XP.
Beginning with Windows XP, theDelete key is enabled on the Processes tab.
Windows Task Manager has been updated inWindows Vista with new features,[9] including:
In Windows 8, Windows Task Manager has been overhauled, with design queues brought over fromResource Monitor and the following changes[2] were made:
Task Manager is a common target ofcomputer viruses and other forms ofmalware; typically malware will close or otherwise disable the Task Manager as soon as it is started, so as to hide itself from users. Some malware will also disable the Task Manager as an administrator. Variants of theZotob andSpybot worms have used this technique, for example.[16][obsolete source] UsingGroup Policy, it is possible to disable the Task Manager. Many types of malware use this policy setting in the registry.Rootkits can prevent themselves from getting listed in the Task Manager, thereby preventing their detection and termination using it.[citation needed]
