Windows Task Manager Won’t Open? 10 Fixes to Try

Before resorting to reinstalling Windows

If you notice anything unusual with your PC, the first thing you probably do is open theWindows Task Manager. You can then quickly shut down CPU-intensive apps or stuck processes and get things working correctly again. But what if you can’t get to it?

If you attempt to open the Task Manager, but it doesn’t show up, crashes, or you see a “Task Manager not responding” or “Task Manager has been disabled by the Administrator” message, you’ve got a potentially severe problem that needs fixing. We will show you how to do that in Windows 10 and 11.

Try Other Ways to Open Task Manager

You’ve gotmultiple ways to open the Task Manager in Windows. Suppose you have trouble getting it to show up via the Power User menu or taskbar. In that case, you may want to open it via the Ctrl + Alt + Delete screen (pressCtrl+Alt+Deleteand selectTask Manager) or use the dedicated Task Manager shortcut (pressCtrl+Shift+Esc) instead. If the problem persists, it’s time to start troubleshooting.

Tip: Have you tried restarting your computer? It sounds like a simple thing to do, but it does help resolve unexpected issues with Windows. Open theStart menuand selectPower>Restartto perform a system reboot.

1. Scan for Malicious Activity

Given the Task Manager’s importance to the user, computer viruses often attack and disable it to stop you from interacting with it. So, it’s best to kick things off by scanning your computer for malware.

We recommend that you useMalwarebytes. It’s incredibly effective at malware removal, and the free version is more than enough for the task at hand.

  1. Download, install, and open Malwarebytes.

  2. SelectScanner.

  3. SelectAdvanced scanners.

  4. SelectConfigure scan.

  5. Select the primary partition on your computer—C. Then, leave the rest of the default selections in place and selectScan.

Sometimes, malware infections can be widespread and prevent you from installing or using an antivirus utility. In that case, check out our guide toremoving stubborn malware from your PC.

2. Check the Registry Editor

If you see a “Task Manager has been disabled by the Administrator” error despite scanning your computer for malware, run through the Registry Editor-related fix below.

  1. PressWindows+Rto open the Run box.

  2. Typeregeditand pressEnter.

  3. Copy and paste the following path into the top of the Windows Registry Editor window and pressEnter:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem

  1. Select theSystemfolder on the left navigation pane.

  2. Double-click the registry entry labeledDisableTaskmgr.

  3. Enter a value of0and selectOK.

If you don’t see the registry entry in step 5, try creating it yourself. Right-click a vacant area on the right side of the Registry Editor window and selectNew>DWORD (32-BIT) Value. Then, name it asDisableTaskMgr, and set it up with a value of0.

3. Check Group Policy Editor

If the issue with the Task Manager persists, you must check the Group Policy Editor on your computer and reconfigure a specific policy. Skip this fix if you use the Home edition of Windows 10 or 11.

  1. Open theRunbox.

  2. Typegpedit.mscand pressEnter.

  3. Navigate to the following location on the left sidebar:

User Configuration>Administrative Templates>System>Ctrl+Alt+Del Options

  1. Right-click theRemove Task Managerpolicy and selectEdit.

  2. SelectNot configuredorDisabled.

  3. SelectApply>OKto save your changes.

4. Re-Enable Task Manager

Re-Enableis a third-party applet that can quickly re-activate system-related apps after a malware attack. Here’s how to use it.

  1. Download, install, and open Re-Enable.

  2. Select the radio button next toTask Managerand selectRe-Enable.

  3. SelectYesto reboot your computer.

5. Run System File Checker and DISM Tool

Next up, run the System File Checker (SFC) and the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool to fix stability issues with the operating system. To do that:

  1. Right-click theStartbutton and selectWindows PowerShell (Admin)orWindows Terminal (Admin).

  2. SelectYeson the User Account Control (UAC) pop-up.

  3. Type the following command and pressEnter:

sfc /scannow

  1. Wait until the System File Checker scans for and resolves any integrity violations in Windows.

  2. Follow that by running the DISM tool:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Alternatively, you can run both command-line tools via the Command Prompt console. Typecmdinto theStart menuand selectRun as administratorto open it.

6. Create New Windows Account

A corrupt Windows user profile can also create issues with various system-related apps and services. Create a new account on your computer, sign into it, and check if the Task Manager opens as usual.

  1. Open theStart menuand selectSettings.

  2. SelectAccounts.

  3. SelectFamily & other users.

  4. UnderOther users, selectAdd account.

  5. SelectI don’t have this person’s sign-in information.

  6. SelectAdd a user without a Microsoft account.

  7. Insert a username and create a local account.

  8. Open theStart menu, select your profile portrait, and sign into the new account.

  9. Try opening the Task Manager. If you can, here’s what you can then do tomigrate your data into the new user account.

7. Update the Operating System

Updating Windows is another fix that can help, especially if the Task Manager freezes at launch or you run into the “Task Manager not responding” error message.

  1. Open theSettingsapp.

  2. SelectWindows Update.

  3. SelectCheck for updates>Download & install.

You can also uninstall any recent Windows updates if your problems with the Task Manager occurred right after installing them.

8. Restore Windows

If none of the fixes above help, you can choose to restore Windows to an earlier state. However, that’s only possible if you already haveSystem Restoreset up.

  1. Open theStart menu, typeSystem Protectioninto the Search box, and pressEnter.

  2. Under theSystem Protectiontab, selectSystem Restore.

  3. SelectNext.

  4. Pick a restore point from a time when you didn’t have issues opening the Task Manager.

  5. SelectFinish.

9. Factory-Reset Windows

If System Restore is not active on your computer, consider resetting Windows to factory defaults. Although it’s possible to do that without losing personal files, it’s still a good idea tocreate a backup of your databefore proceeding.

  1. Open theSettingsapp on your PC.

  2. SelectUpdate & Security.

  3. SelectRecovery.

  4. SelectReset this PC.

  5. SelectKeep my files.

If you have trouble initiating a factory reset from within Windows, you can choose to do that after booting into the Windows Recovery Environment at startup.

10. Install a Task Manager Alternative

If you don’t want to reset Windows to factory defaults, you can always use Task Manageralternatives such as Process Monitor and Process Explorer. These third-party programs are just as good, if not better.

However, not being able to open the Task Manager can indicate a much larger problem (such as a serious malware infestation that could put your data at risk), so you may still want to reset orreinstall Windowsas soon as possible.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

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