Bringing up the Task Manager is not a time taking task itself, however, it doesn’t hurt to know different ways of doing things. Some of the ways might be handy if you are unable to open Task Manager the way you regularly do.
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete
This is probably the way you are most familiar with, the three-finger trick Ctrl + Alt + Delete. Until Windows Vista’s release, pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete brought you directly to Task Manager. Since Windows Vista, pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete you are brought to the Windows Security screen, where options are provided options for locking your PC, switching users, signing out, as well as for running Task Manager.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Keeping with the keyboard shortcuts, the quickest way to bring up Task Manager is to just press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Ctrl + Shift + Esc offers a quick way to bring up Task Manager while using Remote Desktop. Or, if you are working inside a virtual machine (as Ctrl + Alt + Delete would signal the local machine).
You can use the shortcut Windows + X to Access the Power User Menu
Windows 8, as well as Windows 10, feature a Power User menu that can be accessed by pressing Windows + X. This menu provides quick access to all kinds of utilities, including Task Manager.
Right-Clicking the Taskbar
If you prefer using a mouse over a keyboard, one of the fastest ways to access Task Manager is to right-click any open space on your taskbar, then click on “Task Manager.” Two clicks are all that’s required.
You can Run “taskmgr” from the Run Box. Or, the Start Menu
The name of the executable file for Task Manager is “taskmgr.exe,” you have the ability to launch the Task Manager by hitting Start, then entering “taskmgr” in the Start menu search box. Then, hit the Enter key.
You can also run the Task Manager by hitting Windows + R to open the Run box, then type in “taskmgr,” then hit Enter.
You can Browse to taskmgr.exe in File Explorer
The Task Manager can also be launched by opening its executable directly. This is the longest way of opening the Task Manager. Open the File Explorer, then navigate to the following location:
C:\Windows\System32
Scroll down, then search for taskmgr.exe, then double click it.
You can create a Shortcut to Task Manager
You can create a nice, accessible shortcut to Task Manager. To pin a shortcut to your taskbar, run the Task Manager using any of the methods. While it’s running, right-click the Task Manager icon on the taskbar, then click on “Pin to Taskbar.” Once done, you will be able to click the shortcut to run Task Manager anytime.
If you wish to create a shortcut on your desktop, right-click on any space where you want to create the shortcut, then click on New > Shortcut.
In the Create Shortcut window, enter the following location into the box, then click on “Next.”
C:\Windows\System32
Enter a name for the new shortcut, then click on “Finish.”
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