How to open Task Manager on Windows 11

The taskbar context menu no longer includes the option to open Task Manager, but you still have seven other ways to open the app on Windows 11.

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

On Windows 11, Microsoft has removed the Task Manager option from the taskbar context menu, making it a little more difficult for users to access the experience.

Although the OS includes many different ways to access Task Manager, perhaps the most common method has always been right-clicking the taskbar and selecting the “Task Manager” option. However, starting with Windows 11, the taskbar includes a new context menu that only has an option to access the feature’s settings page in the Settings app.

If you have only used the context menu to open the experience, you can perform the same task from the Start button and menu, Control Panel, Run command, or using a keyboard shortcut.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to access the Task Manager on Windows 11.

Open Task Manager on Windows 11

Although Windows 11 no longer includes a taskbar context menu with many options, you still have several other ways to top Task Manager, and here’s how.

Start button context menu

  1. Right-click the Start button on Windows 11.

  2. Select the Task Manager option.

    Start button context menu
    Start button context menu

Direct keyboard shortcut

  • Use the Ctrl + Alt + Esc keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager directly.

    Windows 11 Task Manager
    Windows 11 Task Manager

Windows Security screen

  1. Use the Ctrl + Alt + Del keyboard shortcut.

    Windows Security screen
    Windows Security screen

  2. Select the Task Manager option.

Start menu

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the experience.

    Start menu Task Manager search
    Start menu Task Manager search

Run command

  1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.

  2. Type the following command to open Task Manager on Windows 11 and click the OK button:

    taskmgr

    Run taskmgr command
    Run taskmgr command

Control Panel

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Click the on System and Security.

    Control Panel Windows Tools
    Control Panel Windows Tools

  3. Click on Windows Tools.

    Windows Tools Task Manager
    Windows Tools Task Manager

  4. Double-click the Task Manager icon.

Once you complete the steps, the Task Manager will open to manage running applications and monitor the system performance.

Alternatively, you can always pin Task Manager to the Start menu, and right-click the item, and select the “Move to top” option to have quicker access to experience. You also pin it to the taskbar by right-clicking the app while open and selecting the Pin to taskbar option.

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].