Task manager in Windows 11: how it works

Task manager in Windows 11: how it works.In this guide we show you how the new Windows 11 22H2 task manager works.It has arrived! The  new Windows 11 task manager implements a new design line more in line with the rest of the interface. Likewise, a new efficiency mode lands that will help you limit the consumption of resources in specific processes. Do you want to know this tool in depth and discover how it works? Stay with us, because we tell you.

The first thing we are going to know is the design and functionalities of this  new Windows 11 task manager . We will do so by reviewing each of the sections that it includes, from the processes section to the configuration of the application itself. Next, we’ll focus on the newly introduced  Efficiency Mode . We reveal how it works and what steps you must follow to apply it in any process.

Index of contents

  • Task manager in Windows 11: how it works
    • processes
    • Performance
    • app history
    • Boot Applications
    • Users
    • Details
    • Services
    • Setting
  • Efficiency mode comes to task manager in Windows 11
    • How to activate efficiency mode in Windows 11
  • Other tricks for Windows 11

NOTE: Some of the features described here are only available in the Windows 11 22H2 update, released on September 20, 2022 . At the time of this writing, the new version was already available to the general public. Go to  Windows Update  to download and install this update and enjoy the latest news that is included in the Microsoft operating system.

Task manager in Windows 11: how it works

Let’s go through all the sections of the  new Windows 11 task manager . What does this system tool look like in the latest update? Let’s see!

processes

A list is displayed that includes all running applications. Nested within each of them are the processes of each program. At the top is a shortcut to run a new task or finish it. A button for the  new efficiency mode is also included .

Performance

Here you get an overview of the team’s resource consumption. All information is expressed in graphs and statistics.

app history

It contains a record of the usage time of each application since a specific date.

Boot Applications

Section where you can manage the applications that run during Windows 11 startup. It is one of the methods included in the article How to improve Windows 11 performance by configuring startup .

Users

Shows the activity of each user within the team. This section is useful to find out how many resources are consumed by other people using the computer.

Details

This is a similar view to the Resources view , but with much more detail about each process. The status of each one, the PID and the execution architecture are included.

Services

List with system services. Among them, you will find the  print queue , which we talked about earlier.

Setting

Finally, the new task manager comes with a  Settings section . Some of the parameters you’ll run into here are related to the selection of a startup section, which defaults to  Processes , the speed of updating information, and other window options. Also, you can activate the full account name and the history of all processes.

Efficiency mode comes to task manager in Windows 11

Background  applications  are a real drag on a PC’s performance. Sometimes, there is no choice but to live with them, since their processes are essential for the system or the user himself. At Microsoft they have thought that an  Efficiency Mode  would suit this class of programs very well and, for this reason, they have implemented it in the  Task Manager .

This new feature sits in the middle of two possible extremes, namely letting a process consume as many resources as it wants or stopping it altogether. Efficiency mode acts as a limiter, preventing certain applications from having a free hand when it comes to using  the CPU, RAM, disk or network . Best of all, it is not the system that is responsible for selecting the programs, but rather the user himself who decides.

How to activate efficiency mode in Windows 11

The steps to enable efficiency mode in Windows 11 are very simple.

These are the indications:

  1. Open task manager in Windows 11.
  2. Go to the processes section.
  3. Click on the arrow that you will see on the left side of the program name. The complete list of processes associated with the application will appear.
  4. Right click on one of the processes.
  5. From the context menu, select  Efficiency Mode.
  6. Next to it, a green leaf icon is displayed. This means that this task has been limited.

From now on, the process will no longer have priority, reducing its impact on team resources. If you have a laptop,  it will improve the autonomy  or, at least, it will allocate more energy to the processes that are really priority for the user.

Note that this mode is activated on individual processes. The positive part is that you will be able to more accurately manage the efficiency of each application. Without going any further, it is possible to turn on  Efficiency Mode  in specific tasks in Google Chrome. The downside is that in applications with many processes, you won’t be able to limit all processes at once.

Other tricks for Windows 11

We hope that all the functions of the  new Windows 11 task manager  will help you to get even more out of your laptop or desktop PC  What we have been able to try has left a good taste in our mouths.

On the one hand, it’s about time that the interface of this native tool will adapt the design patterns that Microsoft implemented about 1 year ago. In addition, we think that  Efficiency Mode  is ideal for limiting those heavier tasks, without having to stop them completely. The user experience in Windows 11 has been polished with the new updates.

If you want to get more out of this OS, take a look at the following articles.

If you liked this guide, share it with your friends on social networks. In addition, we invite you to participate in the Professional Review community by leaving a comment below. We will wait for you!