Windows 10 provides you with several ways to launch the Task Manager utility on your PC. You can use a keyboard shortcut, a Start menu icon, Windows search, or even the Windows taskbar to open this utility on your computer.
In this guide, we’ll show you many of these ways to open Task Manager in Windows 10.
1. Use a Keyboard Shortcut
The easiest and quickest way to launch Task Manager is to use the tool’s keyboard shortcut. When pressed, this shortcut quickly opens the Task Manager utility on your Windows 10 PC.
To use this method, press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously on your keyboard. Task Manager screen will immediately open.
Windows 10’s Start menu consists of nearly all of the apps you have on your computer, including Task Manager. You can navigate to the Task Manager directory in the Start menu and then launch the tool from there.
To do so:
- Press the Windows key to bring up the Start menu.
- In the Start menu, click Windows System.
- From the options under Windows System, click Task Manager.
3. From Windows Search
The Windows search feature helps you find all the apps, files, and folders stored on your hard drives. You can use this search function to find and open Task Manager, too.
- Click the search box at the bottom-left corner of your Windows PC.
- Type Task Manager in the search box.
- In the search results that come up, select Task Manager to open the tool.
4. From the File Explorer
If you’re inside a File Explorer window, you don’t have to come out of it to open Task Manager. Using a command in the address bar, you can launch Task Manager from within the Explorer.
Here’s the quick way to do that:
- While you’re in a File Explorer window, click the address bar at the top.
- Type taskmgr in the address bar field and press Enter.
- Task Manager should open.
Another way to open Task Manager from File Explorer is to navigate to the tool’s actual directory:
- In File Explorer, navigate to the following path. If you haven’t installed Windows 10 on the C drive, replace C with the letter of the drive where Windows is installed on your PC.
C:WindowsSystem32 - Find Taskmgr.exe in the directory that opens, and double-click it.
- Task Manager will open.
5. From the Windows Security Screen
The Windows Security screen offers various options, like locking your PC and signing out of your user account. This security menu includes the option to launch Task Manager, too.
To use this method:
- Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard.
- On the screen that opens, select Task Manager.
The Windows Power Menu gives you quick access to some of the useful utilities installed on your Windows 10 PC. This includes the option for Task Manager, too.
To proceed with this method:
- Open the Power User Menu. To do so, either press Windows key + X at the same time or right-click the Start menu icon.
- In the menu that opens, choose Task Manager.
7. From the Taskbar
If you keep the taskbar visible on your PC (you can hide the taskbar), it’s a quick way to launch Task Manager. You just have to right-click the taskbar and select an option:
- Right-click the Windows taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen).
- Select Task Manager from the menu that opens.
8. Use the Command Prompt
If you’re someone who prefers using command-line methods, you can use Command Prompt to launch Task Manager on your PC. There’s a command that specifically triggers the Task Manager executable file.
To use this:
- Open the Start menu, search for Command Prompt, and select the Best match.
- On the Command Prompt window that opens, type taskmgr and hit Enter.
- Task Manager should open.
- You may now close the Command Prompt window.
9. Use the Windows PowerShell
If you prefer using Windows PowerShell, there’s a command you can run from this utility to open Task Manager on your PC.
Here’s how:
- Launch the Start menu, search for Windows PowerShell, and select the Best match.
- Type taskmgr on the PowerShell window and press Enter.
- Task Manager will open.
- Close the PowerShell window as you no longer need it.
10. From the Run Box
Windows Run dialog allows you to launch various apps and tools installed on your PC. You can use this box to open Task Manager, too, and we’ll show you how:
- Press Windows key + R at the same time to open Run.
- In the box, type taskmgr and hit Enter.
- Task Manager should open.
11. From the Control Panel
If you’re modifying your settings in Control Panel, you don’t have to exit it to launch Task Manager. There’s an option to open this utility from within Control Panel.
- Launch Control Panel if it isn’t already open on your PC.
- In Control Panel, click the search box at the top-right corner.
- Type Task Manager in the box and press Enter.
- From the search results, select Task Manager beneath System.
12. Create a Desktop Shortcut
Like other apps, you can create a desktop shortcut for Task Manager on your desktop. This way, you can quickly access the utility right from your PC’s main screen.
To create this shortcut:
- Access your PC’s desktop.
- Right-click anywhere blank on the desktop and select New > Shortcut from the menu.
- On the Create Shortcut window, enter the following path in the box. Then, click Next at the bottom. If your Windows installation is not in the C drive, change the drive letter in the command below.
C:WindowsSystem32Taskmgr.exe - Windows will ask you to choose a name for your shortcut. Here, type Task Manager or any other name of your choice. Then, click Finish at the bottom.
- You can now double-click the newly added shortcut on your desktop to launch Task Manager.
Almost Every Way You Could Launch the Task Manager in Windows 10
As you can see above, there are over a dozen ways to launch Task Manager on Windows 10. The next time you need this utility, you can open it from pretty much anywhere on your computer.
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