How to enable new search bar for Task Manager on Windows 11

Here are the steps to try an early preview of the new search bar for Task Manager on Windows 11.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
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Windows 11 Task Manager search
Windows 11 Task Manager search

On Windows 11 22H2, you can now enable an early preview of the new search bar for the Task Manager.

Microsoft seems to be experimenting with a search interface that will make it easier to find and manage applications and background processes by allowing you to quickly search processes by name, publisher, or process identification.

The feature is still under development and is hidden from users. However, if you want to try it before it’s officially available (via PhantomOcean3), you can use a third-party tool known as “ViVeTool” created by Rafael Rivera and Lucas on GitHub to enable the new experience on build 25231 and higher releases of Windows 11.

This guide will teach you the steps to enable the new search bar for Task Manager on Windows 11.

Enable new Task Manager search on Windows 11

To enable the Task Manager search bar on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open GitHub website.

  2. Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable the Task Manager search bar.

  3. Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.

  4. Click the Extract all button.

    Extract ViveTool files

  5. Click the Extract button.

  6. Copy the path to the folder.

  7. Open Start.

  8. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  9. Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder and press Enter:

    cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool

    In the command, remember to change the path to the folder with your path.

  10. Type the following command to enable the new Task Manager search on Windows 11 and press Enter:

    vivetool /enable /id:39420424

  11. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the next time you open Task Manager, you will notice a search bar at the top of the application similar to the one available in the Microsoft Store app that will let you search processes by name, publisher, or process identification.

If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but in step 10, make sure to use these commands: vivetool /disable /id:39420424 and then restart the device.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].