How to Launch the Classic Task Manager in Windows 11

For many Windows 11 users, the new Task Manager interface might feel unfamiliar or less functional. Fortunately, there are ways to bring back the classic Task Manager, familiar to users of Windows 7 and 10. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps and methods to do just that.

1. Using Third-Party Utilities

Several programs allow you to restore the classic Task Manager in Windows 11. One popular tool is Classic Task Manager. Download it from the developer's official website, install it, and launch it. This utility opens the classic Task Manager interface without the changes introduced by Microsoft.

2. Enabling the Old Task Manager via Registry

For advanced users, there’s a method using the Windows Registry:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion.
  3. Create a new subkey called Task Manager (if it doesn’t exist already).
  4. Inside, create a parameter AllowOldTaskManager of type DWORD (32-bit) and set its value to 1.
  5. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Now, pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc should open the classic Task Manager.

3. Launching the Old Task Manager via Command Prompt

If you prefer not to modify the registry, you can attempt to launch the classic Task Manager using the Command Prompt:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin)).
  2. Type taskmgr.exe and press Enter.
  3. In some cases, this command may open the classic Task Manager.

This method doesn’t work on all systems, but it’s worth a try if other methods aren’t suitable.