Save a List of Running Processes to a Text File in Windows

In case you want to print them out

Sometimes, it can seem like there are so many processes running on your computer that you’re unsure which are okay and which might be suspicious or malicious.

A good first step is generating a list of running processes to a text file so you can analyze what processes are running. Usually, people use Task Manager to view all processes, but it doesn’t let you print the list of processes.

Thankfully, saving a list of running processes to a text file in Windows is very simple. You’ll be able to save both the Process ID (PID) and how much memory each process is using.

Note: The steps below to save processes to file work for all versions of Windows including Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

Output Processes From The Tasklist Command

The easiest way to get a quick list of processes that are running on your Windows system is using the tasklist command. To run the command properly, you need to run it from the command prompt as an administrator.

To do this, select the start menu and type “command”, then hover the mouse overCommand Promptso it’s highlighted and then selectRun as administratoron the right.

Note: You may need to selectYeson a pop-up window to approverunning Command Prompt as administrator.

Once the command prompt is open, typetasklistand press enter to see a list of processes running on your system.

This is useful, but it doesn’t provide you the list of running processes in a text file. To save processes to file, repeat the process above, but this time type the command:

tasklist > c:\process_list.txt

This will output a text file named process_list.txt to your C: drive. You can change C:\ to any other path where you’d like to place the file if you want.

To view the file, justopen Windows Explorerand browse to the location where you saved the process list file.

To view this process list in Notepad, right-click the file, selectOpen with, and selectNotepad.

This is the quickest and easiest way to see running processes in Windows via a text file. It’ll show you PID, Session name, Session number, andmemory usage.

Save Processes To FileUsing Powershell

Another tool you have available to save a list of running processes to a text file in Windows isPowershell.

Powershell includes a command called “get-process” that provides a list of all active processes that are running on your local computer.  To see this in action, launch Powershell by selecting the Start menu and typingPowershell.

Once the blue Powershell window opens, typeget-processand press Enter. This will display a list of all active processes on your Windows system.

This provides a little more information about processes than tasklist does. However, you need to know what the headers mean.

This is great, but all of this information is displayed on the screen and not to a file. To output this information to a file, you need to add the Out-File parameter to the Get-Process command.

Back in the Powershell screen, type the commandGet-Process | Out-File -FilePath .\Process_list.txtand press Enter.

The .\Process_list.txt parameter puts the file in the path where you run the command, so make note of that path so you know where to find the process list file. After you’ve run the command, use the same process as above to open the process list file in Notepad.

You’ll notice that the data in the file looks identical to the Get-Process output in the previous Powershell window.

SaveProcesses To File Using WMIC

The last tool you have at your disposal in Windows is the Windows Command Line Utility (WMIC).

You can only use WMIC commands if you are running the command prompt as a local administrator. To do this, use the steps in the first section of this article to launch the Windows command prompt as an administrator.

WMIC provides you with more information about active processes than any other command or tool in Windows. If you just run the WMIC Process command in the command prompt, you’ll see up to 44 process parameters returned for every active process.

The problem with running the command in the command prompt is that the space delimited output looks jumbled and disorganized.

The WMIC command is a perfect example of when an output file is useful. You can output the WMIC process list to a file using the command:wmic /OUTPUT:C:\ProcessList.txt PROCESS get /all.

This will output the entire list to a text file on the C: drive called ProcessList.txt. Instead of opening this file in Notepad, you’ll want to open itusing Excelsince Excel can properly format a tab delimited file.

Now you’ll see just about anything you could possibly want to know about every active process on your Windows system.

The header of each column describes what that data item is. You’ll find things like executable path, handle, install date, page faults, page file usage, process ID, and much more.

Now that you know multiple ways to save a list of running processes to a text file in Windows, all you have left to do is choose the one that’s right for you!

Do you know of any other ways to save processes to file? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Ryan has been writing how-to and other technology-based articles online since 2007. He has a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering and he’s worked 13 years in automation engineering, 5 years in IT, and now is an Apps Engineer.Read Ryan’s Full Bio

Welcome to Help Desk Geek- a blog full of tech tips from trusted tech experts. We have thousands of articles and guides to help you troubleshoot any issue. Our articles have been read over 150 million times since we launched in 2008.

HomeAbout UsEditorial StandardsContact UsTerms of Use

Copyright © 2008-2024 Help Desk Geek.com, LLC All Rights Reserved