How to enable Task Manager option in Taskbar menu on Windows 11

Here are the steps to try an early preview of the Task Manager option in the Taskbar context menu on Windows 11.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
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Windows 11 Taskbar menu with Task Manager option
Windows 11 Taskbar menu with Task Manager option

On Windows 11, you can now enable an option that brings back the Task Manager option to the Taskbar context menu. In previous versions of the operating system, the Taskbar right-click menu always included an option to open the Task Manager, but the option was then removed with the new version of Taskbar for Windows 11.

After a number of feedbacks, Microsoft is now restoring the option starting with build 25211. However, it’s not an option widely available, which means that you need to enable it manually.

If you want to get hands-on with the new feature, you can use a third-party tool called “ViVeTool” created by Rafael Rivera and Lucas on GitHub, to enable the option on your computer.

This guide will teach you the steps to turn on the tabs feature on Windows 11.

Enable Task Manager option in Taskbar menu on Windows 11

To bring back the Task Manager option to the Taskbar context menu, use these steps:

  1. Open GitHub website.

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

  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-v0.3.1

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

  10. Type the following command to enable Task Manager option in the Taskbar context menu and press Enter:

    vivetool /reset /id:39072097

  11. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, right-clicking the Taskbar will open the context with the option to open the Taskbar settings page and Task Manager.

If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but on step No. 10, make sure to use these commands: vivetool /disable /id:39072097 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].