Published 2020-04-20 by TechNet New England
Task Manager shows you what is running on your computer and how much resources each process is using. It is the first place to look when something is slow, frozen, or using too much power. ## How to Open Task Manager **Ctrl + Shift + Escape** (fastest method). **Ctrl + Alt + Delete**, then click Task Manager. Right-click the **taskbar** and select **Task Manager**. ## The Processes Tab This shows every running application and background process, with columns for CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network usage. **Sort by any column** by clicking its header. This helps you find what is consuming the most resources. **End a process:** Right-click a process and select **End task**. Use this for applications that are frozen or unresponsive. Be careful not to end system processes you do not recognize, as this can cause instability. ## The Performance Tab Shows real-time graphs for: **CPU**: How hard the processor is working. Sustained 100% means something is overloading the CPU. **Memory**: How much RAM is in use. Above 85 to 90% indicates you need to close applications or may need more RAM. **Disk**: Read/write activity. Sustained 100% disk usage on a hard drive (not SSD) is a common cause of slow performance. **GPU**: Graphics processing usage. Relevant for video editing, gaming, or hardware-accelerated applications. **Network**: Current network throughput. ## The Startup Apps Tab Shows applications that launch when you log in. **Startup impact** shows how much each application slows down the boot process. Right-click and select **Disable** for applications you do not need at startup. Do not disable antivirus, VPN clients, or tools installed by your IT provider. ## Common Scenarios ### Computer is slow 1. Open Task Manager. 2. Check the Performance tab. Is CPU, Memory, or Disk at high usage? 3. Switch to Processes and sort by the high-usage column. 4. Identify the culprit. Close it if you do not need it. ### Application is frozen 1. Open Task Manager. 2. Find the frozen application in the Processes tab. It may say "(Not Responding)." 3. Right-click it and select **End task**. ### Computer is slow after startup 1. Open Task Manager. 2. Click the **Startup apps** tab. 3. Disable unnecessary startup applications. 4. Restart and see if boot time improves. ### Fan is running loud 1. Open Task Manager. 2. Check CPU usage. A process using high CPU generates heat, which triggers the fan. 3. Identify the process and decide if it should be running. Common culprits: antivirus scans, Windows Update, web browsers with many tabs, or background application updates. ## Details Tab (Advanced) The Details tab shows all processes with more technical information including PID (Process ID), status, and exact resource usage. This is useful for IT troubleshooting but not typically needed for daily use. ## Resource Monitor For even more detail, click **Open Resource Monitor** at the bottom of the Performance tab. This shows which specific processes are using disk, network, CPU, and memory, and what files or connections they are accessing.