How to Disable Task Manager in Windows 10

The Task Manager is a useful Windows 10 tool for monitoring system performance and managing applications. However, in certain situations, you might need to disable it — for example, to enhance security or restrict access to certain features. In this article, we’ll go over how to disable the Task Manager in Windows 10 using different methods.

Method 1: Disable Task Manager through the Group Policy Editor

This method works for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise users. Follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + R to open the “Run” dialog box.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
  3. In the Local Group Policy Editor window, navigate to: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Ctrl+Alt+Del Options.
  4. Double-click on the Remove Task Manager option.
  5. Select Enabled to disable the Task Manager.
  6. Click OK and close the editor.

Now, the Task Manager will be unavailable, and an error message will appear if anyone tries to access it.

Method 2: Disable Task Manager via the Registry Editor

This method is suitable for all versions of Windows 10. Be cautious when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can cause system issues. Follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + R and type regedit, then press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the following registry section: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.
  3. If the System folder doesn’t exist, create it by right-clicking on Policies, selecting New > Key, and naming it System.
  4. Inside the System section, create a new value by right-clicking, choosing New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and naming it DisableTaskMgr.
  5. Double-click on the DisableTaskMgr value and set it to 1 to disable the Task Manager.
  6. Click OK and restart your computer to apply the changes.

After completing these steps, Task Manager access will be blocked for the current user.

How to Re-enable Task Manager

To restore Task Manager access, follow the same steps but select "Disabled" in the Group Policy Editor or delete the DisableTaskMgr value in the Registry Editor, or set it back to 0.