"Task Manager Not Opening or Responding in Windows"

Applies to: Resolving the 'Task Manager is not working or not responding' error in Windows 10, 8, 7.

What is Task Manager?

Task Manager is a system monitoring utility that supplies information about the overall condition of your computer and the programs and processes executing on it. It allows you to keep an eye on the currently running applications, processes, and services on your PC. With Task Manager, you can initiate and terminate programs as well as end processes. Moreover, it presents insightful statistics about your computer's performance and network activities.

How to Open or Launch the Task Manager

Actually, there are four ways to open Task Manager:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type "taskmgr" and hit Enter. 2. Right-click on the Windows logo located at the bottom left corner of the screen, then choose "Task Manager" from the available options. 3. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del on your keyboard. This will bring up a new screen with several choices. Select "Task Manager" from the list to open it. 4. Initially, type "Task Manager" in the search box. When the result appears, right-click on it and select "Run as administrator."

Refer to the comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to access Task Manager in Windows 10/11 for more information.

How to Activate Task Manager When It's Not Responding

Many Windows users have reported issues with the 100% disk usage error and the Task Manager not opening. The most useful aspect of Task Manager is its ability to forcibly close or terminate unresponsive applications or programs with just one click. However, when Task Manager itself becomes unresponsive, it can be highly frustrating. It's crucial to address this issue promptly to avoid further inconvenience.

Here are several solutions to address the issue of Task Manager not responding. Feel free to choose any method and apply it. Before attempting these solutions, it's recommended that you perform the simplest troubleshooting step (if you haven't already): quickly restart your device and try opening Task Manager again. Now, let's proceed with the solutions.

Solution 1: Upgrade Windows to the Latest Version

When a significant number of users encounter a particular issue, Microsoft typically releases a new update to address it permanently. It's quite possible that Windows might have an available update that can resolve your problem as well.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

Installing the update will resolve this issue or any other problems you might be encountering on your Windows computer.

Before upgrading to the latest version, remember to back up your data using backup software tools. With tools Todo Backup, all Windows users can easily back up their data on Windows 10/8/7, and more with just a few clicks. You can effortlessly backup whatever you need within 30 days.

If no update was available on your computer, try the next solution.

Solution 2: Change/Switch the User Account

The issue you're encountering could be due to an error in your user profile or insufficient permissions granted by the administrator. If you are the owner of this computer and still cannot access the Task Manager, we can attempt to switch user accounts and see if that resolves the problem.

Step 1: Create a new user account before switching

1. Type "Settings" in the start menu search box and click on "Accounts."

2. Click on "Family & other users". Choose the option "Add someone else to this PC".

Windows will prompt you through a wizard on how to create a new account. When the new window comes up, click "I don't have this person's sign-in information".

3. Choose the option "Add a user without a Microsoft account." Windows will now prompt you to create a new local account.

Enter all the details and choose an easy password that you can remember. Input all the required information and select a simple password that you will be able to recall easily.

Step 2: Switch to a different user account

1. Now, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Your info.

2. Choose the option "Sign in with a Microsoft Account instead."

3. Enter your username and password, then click Sign In.

Verify if the Task Manager is functioning properly under this account. If it is, you can safely delete the older account and proceed with using this one.

Solution 3: Enable/Activate Task Manager in Every Way

Here are three methods to enable Task Manager. Follow these steps to resolve the issue where it doesn't open or respond: 1. **Using Ctrl + Shift + Esc Key Combination:** Press and hold the 'Ctrl', 'Shift', and 'Esc' keys simultaneously on your keyboard. This should directly launch the Task Manager. 2. **Through the Start Menu:** Click on the 'Start' button, then type 'Task Manager' in the search bar. From the search results, click on 'Task Manager' to open it. 3. **Using the Command Prompt:** - Press 'Win + X' to open the Quick Link menu, then choose 'Command Prompt (Admin)' or 'Windows PowerShell (Admin)'. - Type the following command and press Enter: ``` taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F ``` - After that, type: ``` start explorer.exe ``` - This will restart the Explorer process, which might help in opening Task Manager. If none of these methods work, it might be due to a more serious issue, and you may need to seek professional assistance or perform a system restore.

Method 1: Enable Task Manager through the Registry

The Windows Registry is a powerful utility; altering unknown data entries could potentially harm your computer. Exercise extreme caution and carefully follow each step.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run application, type "Regedit" in the dialog box, and hit Enter.

2. In the Registry Editor, use the left navigation pane to navigate to the following file path:

3. If the System key is not present, you'll need to create it. We'll show you how to create the entire registry entry following this.

4. Locate "DisableTaskmgr" from the list of items present. Double-click it and enter the value as 0. Press OK.

5. Restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved.

If the registry is missing and the file path only leads to Policies, we can attempt to create the registry and apply the necessary changes.

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2. Right-click on Policies and select New > Key.

3. Name the new key as "System" and press Enter to apply the changes.

4. Inside the System folder, right-click on the empty space on the right side of the window and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

5. Name the new DWORD as "DisableTaskMgr" and set its value as 0.

6. Save the changes and exit the editor. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Method 2: Enabling Task Manager via CMD Command

1. Enter the command prompt in the search dialog box. Right-click on the application that appears as a result, and select "Run as Administrator."

2. Enter the following commands:

REG ADD HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

3. The process may take some time as Windows scans all your files and searches for inconsistencies. Wait until the process completes. After it finishes and detects errors, restart your computer and see if the issue has been resolved.

If you’re not comfortable editing the CMD manually, you can create a Registry file that will automatically modify the Registry key to re-enable Task Manager.

1. Open Notepad or any other text editor.

2. Copy the code provided below and paste it exactly as it is.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System] "DisableTaskMgr" = dword:00000000

3. Save the file as Enable Task Manager.reg or *.reg.

4. Open the file by double-clicking on it.

5. The Registry Editor will prompt you for confirmation. In the confirmation window, click Yes.

6. The Task Manager should immediately become accessible. If it does not, restart your computer.

Method 3: Using the Group Editor

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run application. Type "gpedit.msc" in the dialog box and press Enter.

2. Now, use the navigation pane present on the left side of the screen to proceed to the following path.

3. On the right side of the screen, you will find an entry labeled "Remove Task Manager." Double-click it to access its settings.

4. Set the configuration to "Enabled" and click "Apply." Then, choose "Not Configured" or "Disabled" and press "Apply." The final state should be "Not Configured" or "Disabled." By selecting "Enabled," we've applied a group policy that can override any settings made by external applications or malware. Click "OK" to save the changes and exit. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Solution 4: Other Swift Remedies for an Unresponsive Task Manager

• Scanning for Malware
• Uninstall third-party antivirus and recently installed Apps
• Restoring your system
• Run System File Checker
• Clean install Windows 10