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

  • Right-click the Start button on Windows 11.
  • Select the Task Manager option.
  • Start button context menu

Direct keyboard shortcut

  • Use the Ctrl + Alt + Esc keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager directly.
  • Windows 11 Task Manager

Windows Security screen

  • Use the Ctrl + Alt + Del keyboard shortcut.
  • Windows Security screen
  • Select the Task Manager option.

Start menu

  • Open Start.
  • Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the experience.
  • Start menu Task Manager search

Run command

  • Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
  • Type the following command to open Task Manager on Windows 11 and click the OK button:
  • taskmgr
  • Run taskmgr command

Control Panel

  • Open Control Panel.
  • Click the on System and Security.
  • Control Panel Windows Tools
  • Click on Windows Tools.
  • Windows Tools Task Manager
  • 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.

Right-click the Start button on Windows 11.

Select the Task Manager option.

Start button context menu

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

Windows 11 Task Manager

Use the Ctrl + Alt + Del keyboard shortcut.

Windows Security screen

Open Start.

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

Start menu Task Manager search

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

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

taskmgr

Run taskmgr command

Open Control Panel.

Click the on System and Security.

Control Panel Windows Tools

Click on Windows Tools.

Windows Tools Task Manager

Double-click the Task Manager icon.

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.