How to Fix Task Manager Not Responding in Windows 11/10

Potential Causes for Task Manager Not Opening

Task Manager helps administrators & users monitor, manage, and troubleshoot tasks. It provides information about apps & processes performance and hardware resource usage (e.g., CPU, memory, disk, network).

However, many users always ask how to solve Task Manager not responding, seeking help on Forums or support.

In fact, this issue could stem from:

• Malware Infections
• System File Corruption
• Software Conflicts
• Registry Errors
• Group Policy Restrictions
• More…

If you’re in the same boat, fret not, this post can help you troubleshoot the problem with the following fixes. Try them one by one until you find the one that works for you.

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How to Fix Task Manager Not Responding Windows 11/10

Here is a table to help you identify your situation and find the right solution.

Solution 1: Restart Your PC

If Task Manager suddenly stops responding or fails to open, restart the PC. It can help fix temporary glitches.

To do that:

Step 1. Open Start > select the Power icon > click on Restart.

Step 2. After your PC reboots, you can try running Task Manager again.

If this method doesn’t work, then let’s try the next one.

Solution 2: Force Close Task Manager

If Task Manager is completely frozen and cannot close normally, kill this process via Command Prompt.

Step 1. Type cmd in the search box and click Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type taskkill /F /IM Taskmgr.exe and press Enter.

Solution 3: Run DISM and SFC

Sometimes, your system might get corrupted and that can result in various problems, like Task Manager not running. In this case, you can take advantage of SFC and DISM to detect and repair corrupted or faulty system files on your computer.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1. Launch Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press Enter.

Step 3. Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

Upon completion, restart your system again to check if Task Manager works fine.

Solution 4: Uninstall the Recent Update

Task Manager may not be responding after installing a Windows update. Try uninstalling this update to fix this issue.

Step 1. Press Win + I to open Settings.

Step 2. Navigate to Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.

Step 3. Find the recently installed update and click Uninstall.

Solution 5: Uninstall Your GPU Driver with DDU

Sometimes Task Manager is not responding because of the graphics driver. Try uninstalling it with DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller).

Many users report that this method works, and it is recommended in Reddit discussions as a practical solution.

Step 1. Download and launch DDU.

Step 2. Select GPU and choose Clean and restart.

After a complete uninstallation, reinstall the GPU driver and check if your Task Manager can work normally.

Solution 6: Scan for Malware

If there is any malware or virus present in your Windows device, Task Manager freezing will also crop up. To get rid of the threats on your computer, you can perform a comprehensive scan with Windows Defender.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1. Type Windows Defender in the search bar and hit Enter.

Step 2. Select Virus & threat protection > Scan options from Current threats > tick Full scan > hit Scan now to start the process.

Step 3. After this operation is completed, check if Task Manager responds.

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Solution 7: Create Another User Account

Chances are the Task Manager issue is caused by some errors in your profile or insufficient administrative rights. If you are the owner of this computer, switching to a new user account might do the trick.

Follow the steps to create a new user account:

Step 1. Press Win + I to bring up Settings and then click on Accounts.

Step 2. In the Family & other users section, hit Add someone else to this PC.

Step 3. Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information > Add a user without Microsoft.

Step 4. Enter your new user name, password, and confirm it to create an account for this PC.

Solution 8: Enable Task Manager via Registry

When Task Manager is not working, modifying some registry settings in Registry Editor might be of help to solve the problem.

To do that:

Step 1. Press Win + R to evoke the Run dialog, type regedit.exe and hit Enter to launch Registry Editor.

Step 2. Then, navigate to the following path:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Step 3. In the right pane, right-click on DisableTaskMgr > select Modify > set Value data to 0 > save the changes.

Finally, exit Register Editor, restart your computer and try opening Task Manager again.

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Solution 9: Open Task Manager with Local Group Policy

Local Group Policy Editor is an inbuilt utility in the Windows system that helps you to control the working environment of your computer. If your Task Manager is still not responding, follow these steps to make changes in the group policy:

Step 1. Type gpedit.msc in the Run box and click OK to open Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Ctrl + Alt + Del Options.

Step 3. In the right pane, double-click on Remove Task Manager > select Disabled > hit OK to confirm the changes.

Step 4. After that, reboot your system and try running Task Manager again.

Solution 10: Perform Repair Upgrade

If the issue persists, perform a repair upgrade. This operation will reinstall Windows using the latest version. Although you can keep your personal files, back up important data beforehand to prevent unexpected data loss.

For file backup, consider using the third-party backup software, MiniTool ShadowMaker. It is compatible with Windows 11/10 and supports backing up files, folders, disks, partitions, and systems to an external hard drive, USB drive, NAS, or a network location.

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Step 1. Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker and go to Backup.

Step 2. Select the files or folders under SOURCE and choose a target drive in DESTINATION.

Step 3. Click Back Up Now.

After backup, follow these steps to perform a repair upgrade.

Step 1. Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft.

Step 2. Run MediaCreationTool.exe > choose Upgrade this PC now > select personal files and apps.

Step 3. Then wait for the installation to be completed.

Conclusion

This article elaborates on a series of effective solutions for the problem where Windows Task Manager fails to respond. Simply try them one by one, and we sincerely hope that you can benefit from the troubleshooting post.

If you face questions regarding MiniTool ShadowMaker, please contact [email protected]. We’ll reply to you as soon as possible.

Task Manager Not Responding FAQ