Want Windows 11's old Task Manager back? It's easy here's how

Date:
Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:46:27 +0000

Description:
Windows 11 users can access the older Task Manager design via a few steps, offering a simpler alternative to the new design which might seem more
complex to some.

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If you miss the older design of Task Manager in Windows 11 , theres good news - its still in the operating system and you can resurrect it - if you know where to look. The current design was introduced in the Windows 11 22H2
update . This Task Manager refresh was quite a big change to the interface, and not everyone was keen on it.

Pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys or opening Task Manager from the Start Menu will bring up the new version of Task Manager. However, X user @thebookisclosed found that you can bring up the older version of Task
Manager by accessing the Windows folder in your C: drive (most users main drive) and opening Task Manager via the app thats located in the SysWOW64 folder. Did you know that you can open Task Manager without the new
XAML/WinUI frame by running "taskmgr -d"? pic.twitter.com/iZ2ycsIDvE March
25, 2024 See more

There are two straightforward ways to do this:

Through File Explorer :

1. Open File Explorer from your Start menu.

2. Copy and paste C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Taskmgr.exe into File Explorers address bar. (Image credit: Microsoft)

Through the Run app:

1. Open Run from the Start menu to open a dialog box.

2. Copy and paste C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Taskmgr.exe into the Run apps dialog box.

3. Press Enter to launch it.

Either of these should launch the old version of Task Manager, which you can pin to your Taskbar as a shortcut, or create a desktop icon to access it more conveniently. (Image credit: Microsoft) What to consider before firing the
old version up

Windows Latest points out that you should make sure you choose one version
or the other, as its not possible to run one while the other is already running, so close Task Manager if its already running before you try opening the old one. Nothing bad will happen, but itll just show the current version of Task Manager youre currently using.

The newer Task Manager has a new menu sidebar that shows additional views,
but apparently, some users find having this extra sidebar menu confusing. It has a new list of labels and icons, compounding some users confusion when trying to parse between various sections and processes, and trying to find a specific process. In the newer design, theres a Settings options page in this sidebar menu as well. (Image credit: Microsoft)

The older Task Manager is more minimalist, and only has the list of processes currently running, with the different sections and views laid out
horizontally in tabs towards the top. It also only supports a light theme, whereas the new design of Task Manager can be used in light or dark mode. If youre used to using dark mode like me, the older Task Manager will stand out. (Image credit: Microsoft)

Another feature that the newer design features is Efficiency Mode, an option in the right-click menu of any task that allows users to manage resource consumption of the process. Efficiency Mode can be activated for third-party processes and this can free up CPU resources for other tasks, though this option isnt available for Windows system processes.

The new Task Manager offers some very useful features, but it can seem complicated to some users, so if you want to revert to the older view, its good to know you can. I hope Microsoft doesnt totally remove this option for users, or allow users to change to the older view by making the additional sidebar menu removable or at least collapsible. However, because the old Task Manager is pretty hidden away, it doesnt seem like Microsoft is too keen on people using it - so we may have to get used to the new look. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... How to use the redesigned Task Manager in Windows 11's 2022 Update Microsoft is making another big change to Windows 11 Task Manager gets a useful makeover in upcoming Windows 11 update



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/want-windows-11s-old-task-manager- back-theres-a-way-back-heres-how-to-pull-it-up


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