The Task Manager is a built-in utility in Windows operating systems that can be used to manage and monitor processes running on your laptop. It is a powerful tool that allows you to view, control, and troubleshoot applications, services, and system resources.
To open the Task Manager, you can right-click on the taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the context menu or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
Once the Task Manager is open, it consists of several tabs that provide different information and functionality:
- Processes Tab: This tab displays a list of all the processes currently running on your laptop. It provides details such as the name, description, CPU and memory usage, and status of each process. You can sort the list by clicking on the column headers. In case a particular process is causing issues or consuming excessive resources, you can select it and click on "End Task" to forcibly terminate it.
- Performance Tab: This tab provides real-time graphs and statistics on the usage of CPU, memory, disk, Ethernet, and wireless network. It allows you to monitor the resource usage and identify any bottlenecks.
- App History Tab: This tab shows historical resource usage of apps over a period of time. It can be useful for identifying applications that consistently consume a significant amount of resources.
- Startup Tab: Here, you can see a list of programs that are configured to run automatically when your laptop starts. You can disable any program from starting up with your laptop by right-clicking on it and selecting "Disable".
- Services Tab: This tab displays all the Windows services running in the background. You can find information about their status, description, and resource usage. It is advisable to be cautious while making any changes to services, as disabling certain services can affect the functioning of your laptop.
- Details Tab: This tab provides detailed information about all the processes running on your system, including the process ID, user name, CPU and memory usage, etc. You can right-click on a process and choose various actions, such as ending the process, setting the process priority, or opening the file location.
- Users Tab: If your laptop has multiple user accounts, this tab shows a list of users who are currently logged in. You can see the number of processes and resource usage for each user.
In addition to these tabs, the Task Manager also offers other options like searching for processes, creating and managing taskbar shortcuts, and accessing additional tools like Resource Monitor and Event Viewer.
Remember to use the Task Manager responsibly and be cautious when making any changes. It is a valuable tool for monitoring and managing processes on your Windows laptop.
Best Windows Laptops to Buy in September 2025
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Rating is 5 out of 5
HP Pavilion Laptop, 15.6" FHD Touchscreen, 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U Processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Webcam, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit KB, Wi-Fi 6, Windows 11 Pro, Blue
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【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】32GB high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer.
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【Processor】13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U Processor (10 Cores, 12 Threads, Base Frequency at 1.2GHz, Up to 5.0GHz at Max Turbo Frequency), with Intel Iris Xe Graphics
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【Display】15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080) Touchscreen, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 250 nits
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【Tech Specs】1x USB Type-C 3.0, 2x USB Type-A 3.0, 1x HDMI, 1x Headphone/mic combo; Backlit Keyboard (On: F11); Fingerprint Reader; Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth;
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【Operating System】Windows 11 Pro - Organize open apps with pre-configured layouts to optimize productivity, Navigate with more intuitive experience to get things done, Collaborate with teams with more features
2
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
Lenovo V15 Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Hexa-core Processor (Beat Intel i7-1065G7), 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, HDMI, RJ45, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Pro, Black
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【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】16GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer
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【Processor】AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Processor (6 Cores, 12 Threads, 8MB L3 Cache, Clock Speed:2.1GHz, up to 4.0GHz Turbo)
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【Display】15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080)
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【Tech Specs】1 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 1 x headphone/microphone combo, Numeric Keyboard, Webcam, Wi-Fi
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【Operating System】Windows 11 Pro-Get all the features of Windows 11 Home operating system plus Mobile device management, Group Policy, Enterprise State Roaming, Assigned Access, Dynamic Provisioningm, Windows Update for Business, Kiosk mode, and Active Directory/Azure AD
3
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) Gaming Laptop, 16” 16:10 FHD 165Hz, GeForce RTX 4070, Intel Core i9-13980HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JI-AS94, Eclipse Gray
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POWER UP YOUR PLAY - Draw more frames and win more games with Windows 11, a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU at 140W Max TGP..Anti-glare display, Refresh Rate: 240Hz, Response Time: 3ms, 720P HD camera.
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BLAZING FAST MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask swiftly with 16GB of DDR5-4800MHz memory and speed up loading times with 1TB of PCIe 4x4.
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ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING – To put this amount of power in a gaming laptop, you need an even better cooling solution. The Strix features Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU, and a third intake fan among other premium features, to allow for better sustained performance over long gaming sessions.
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SWIFT VISUALS – The Strix G16 has a fast FHD 165Hz panel to make sure you never miss a moment. It also covers 100% of the sRGB color space and feature Dolby Vision, Adaptive-Sync support, and an 90% screen-to-body ratio for a stellar gaming and viewing experience.
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MUX SWITCH WITH ADVANCED OPTIMUS - A MUX Switch increases laptop gaming performance by 5-10% by routing frames directly from the dGPU to the display bypassing the iGPU. With Advanced Optimus the switch between iGPU and dGPU becomes automatic based on the task, optimizing battery life.
4
![Dell Inspiron 15 3000 3520 Business Laptop Computer[Windows 11 Pro], 15.6'' FHD Touchscreen, 11th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1135G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI, Black](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/be6234ae-b2de-4259-a764-ab161c6cb9b8/rating/51o3nnfyjpl-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Dell Inspiron 15 3000 3520 Business Laptop Computer[Windows 11 Pro], 15.6'' FHD Touchscreen, 11th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1135G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI, Black
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【15.6" Full HD Touchscreen】The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Energy-efficient LED backlight. Designed with tiny rubber feet and bumpers on the hinge that keep it from skidding and provide additional stability.
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【11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor】Ultra-low-voltage platform. Quad-core, eight-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go. Your always-ready experience starts as soon as you open your device. Turn on, boot-up, and log-in quickly.
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【16GB DDR4 RAM + 1TB PCIe SSD】16GB RAM can smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once. A 1TB NVMe PCIe solid slate drive that leaves the power at your fingertips with the fastest data transfers currently available.
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【Easy-to-use Technology】Long-lasting battery and express charge capability, to keep going for longer. Comes with Express Charge capabilities that minimize the time you spend tethered to an outlet and will recharge your battery 80% in 60 minutes. Built-in media reader for simple photo transfer.
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【Windows 11 Professional】Experience the most secure Windows ever built with fast boot times, increased responsiveness, and added protection against phishing and malware. Plus, you can switch out of S mode.
5
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022), 13.5" Touch Screen, Thin & Lightweight, Long Battery Life, Fast Intel i5 Processor for Multi-Tasking, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage with Windows 11, Platinum
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Introducing Copilot on Windows 11, your everyday AI companion - Copilot empowers you to create faster, complete tasks with ease and lessens your cognitive load - making one complicated task, simple.
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Your style – complemented – Sleek and ultra-smooth 13.5” PixelSense touchscreen for ultra-portable productivity. Make it your own with your choice of four bold colors [1].
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Lift the lid and get in the flow – Effortlessly open with one finger and sign-in securely in seconds with Windows Hello and your face as your password.
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Type accurately and quickly with exceptional typing comfort – Featuring the perfect balance of key travel and responsiveness, plus easy navigation on the large touchpad.
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See more and do more – With the 3:2 Surface ratio on the vibrant PixelSense touch display, Surface Laptop 5 has 18% more vertical screen real estate for less scrolling and more doing [2].
6
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop, 15.6” FHD Touchscreen Display, Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, 20GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 6, SD Card Reader, HDMI, Webcam, Windows 11 Pro, Grey
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【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】20GB high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer
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【Processor】11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor (2.40 GHz up to 4.20 GHz, 4 Cores, 8 Threads)
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【Display】15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Anti-Glare, Touchscreen, 45%NTSC, 300 nits, 60Hz, LED Backlight, Narrow Bezel
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【Tech Specs】1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB-A 2.0, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo, 1 x HDMI, 1 x SD Media Card Reader; Wi-Fi 6 AX and Bluetooth 5.1; Touchscreen; Numeric Keyboard; Windows 11 Pro
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【Authorized KKE Bundle】 Bundled with KKE Mousepad
7
Rating is 4.4 out of 5
ASUS VivoBook 15.6" Touchscreen FHD Laptop, 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, Backlit Keyboard, WiFi 6, Windows 11 Pro, Quiet Blue, 32GB Hotface USB Card
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【15.6" FHD Touchscreen Display】15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch screen Display. Embark on a visual journey where vibrant colors and high resolution come to life at your fingertips.
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【Intel Core i7-1255U Processor】1.7 GHz (12M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 10 cores), saving you time and increasing your ability to prioritize important tasks. Embrace highly efficient multitasking, powering through new levels of productivity and unleashing your full potential in a boundless journey.
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【16GB DDR4 RAM】Seamlessly tackle resource-intensive tasks, smoothly run multiple applications simultaneously, and enjoy lightning-fast responsiveness that keeps you in the flow.【512GB PCIe SSD】Delivers lightning-fast boot-up speed, enhanced storage capabilities, and support for high-definition video playback. Effortlessly store an extensive digital library and access your virtual world with ease.
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【Backlit Keyboard】The illuminated keys make it easier to locate specific keys and improve typing accuracy, allowing you to be more productive and focused on your tasks.【720p HD Camera】Provides high quality video calls, virtual meetings and online interactions.
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【Windows 11 Pro】Enjoy effortless Windows 11 Pro gaming performance with the ASUS Vivobook! 【Dimensions & Weight】9.15 x 14.16 x 0.78 Inches, 3.75 lb.【Ports and Accessories 】1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1x HDMI, 1x Audio jack, 1x DC-in, Quiet Blue. Bonus 32GB Hotface USB Card.
How to view and manage resource usage by specific applications in the Task Manager?
To view and manage resource usage by specific applications in the Task Manager, follow these steps:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
- By default, the "Processes" tab should be selected. If not, click on the "Processes" tab.
To view resource usage:
- In the Processes tab, you will see a list of running applications and background processes.
- To sort the processes by resource usage, click on the relevant column header such as "CPU", "Memory", "Disk", or "Network" to sort the processes in ascending or descending order based on that resource. For example, to view which application is using the most CPU, sort the processes by the "CPU" column.
To manage resource usage:
- Right-click on a specific application that you want to manage resource usage for.
- A context menu will appear. Here, you can perform the following actions:
- "End Task": This will force the application to close, terminating its process.
- "Set Priority": You can adjust the priority of the application's process, giving it more or fewer system resources.
- "Open File Location": This will open the file location of the application's executable file in Windows Explorer.
- Choose the appropriate action to manage the resource usage for specific applications.
Note: It's important to exercise caution when managing resource usage for applications. Ending a critical system process or setting extremely high priority for an application can potentially impact system stability and performance.
How to end a process using the Task Manager?
To end a process using the Task Manager in Windows, you can follow these steps:
- Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together on your keyboard, or right-click on the taskbar and choose "Task Manager" from the context menu.
- The Task Manager window will open. By default, it should be in the "Processes" tab.
- In the "Processes" tab, you'll see a list of all running processes on your computer. Locate the process you want to end. You can sort the processes by clicking on the column headers.
- Once you've found the process you want to end, right-click on it and select "End Task" from the context menu.
- A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click on "End Process" to confirm the termination of the process.
- The process should now be stopped and will no longer be running on your system.
Note: Be cautious when ending processes in the Task Manager, as terminating critical system processes can cause system instability. Make sure you only end processes that you are certain are safe to terminate.
What is the History tab in the Task Manager and what does it track?
The History tab in the Task Manager is a feature available in Windows operating systems. It tracks the various metrics related to resource usage by processes and applications over time. The data collected includes a graphical representation of CPU usage, memory usage, disk activity, network activity, and GPU activity.
By accessing the History tab, users can analyze and monitor the performance of their system, assisting them in identifying potential performance bottlenecks or resource-intensive tasks that may be impacting system responsiveness. This information can be valuable when troubleshooting issues or optimizing system performance.
