How to Set Process Priority in Windows 10 and Windows 11

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, you have the ability to adjust the priority of processes, allowing you to speed up important tasks or reduce the system load for less critical applications. This is a handy feature for users working with resource-heavy programs or those looking to optimize their system’s performance. Let's walk through the steps to do this.

What is Process Priority?

Process priority defines how much CPU resources are allocated to a particular program. A process with higher priority will receive more resources, potentially speeding up its performance, while a process with lower priority will run more slowly but won't strain the system as much.

How to Change Process Priority in Windows 10 and Windows 11

To set a process priority in Windows, follow these steps:

  1. Open Task Manager — press Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-click on the taskbar and select "Task Manager".
  2. Go to the "Details" tab — this tab displays all running processes.
  3. Select the process — right-click on the process for which you want to change the priority.
  4. Choose "Set Priority" — from the dropdown menu, select one of the following options: "Low", "Below normal", "Normal", "Above normal", "High", or "Real-time".
  5. Confirm the change — after selecting the priority, the system will warn you about potential risks when using high priorities. Confirm the change.

How Does Process Priority Work?

In Windows, process priorities are divided into several levels:

  • Low — the process gets minimal system resources, allowing other programs to run more efficiently.
  • Below normal — for less important processes that don’t require a lot of resources.
  • Normal — the default priority for most applications you use daily.
  • Above normal — for processes that should get more resources than standard applications.
  • High — for demanding tasks that need more computing power.
  • Real-time — the highest priority, giving the process maximum access to resources. However, this may cause other applications to freeze, so use it with caution.

Important Notes When Changing Process Priority

1. Don’t set high priority for all processes. Doing so may overload your system and cause instability.

2. A process with "Real-time" priority can take up all CPU resources, making other applications unresponsive. Only use this for critical tasks.

3. Priority changes will only persist during the current session. After rebooting the computer, process priorities will reset to default.