How to Enable or Disable Task Manager in Windows 10


Task Manager can be used to view and manage your processes, performance statistics, app history, users, processes details, and services in Windows 10.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Task Manager for all or specific users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Task Manager.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Task Manager for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Task Manager for All Users using a REG file



EXAMPLE: Task Manager in Windows 10
How to Enable or Disable Task Manager in Windows 10-task_manager.png

EXAMPLE: Task Manager disabled
How to Enable or Disable Task Manager in Windows 10-task_manager_disabled.png
How to Enable or Disable Task Manager in Windows 10-task_manager_on_ctrl-alt-del_screen.png How to Enable or Disable Task Manager in Windows 10-task_manager_on_taskbar_context_menu.png






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Task Manager for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor


In Windows 7, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 8, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2 Navigate to the policy folder location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Ctrl+Alt+Del Options

How to Enable or Disable Task Manager in Windows 10-task_manager_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Ctrl+Alt+Del Options, double click/tap on the Remove Task Manager policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5 To Enable Task Manager

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.


6 To Disable Task Manager

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

How to Enable or Disable Task Manager in Windows 10-task_manager_gpedit-2.png


7 When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Task Manager for All Users using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

DisableTaskMgr DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Enable ask Manager for All Users

This is the default setting

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_Task_Manager_for_all_users.reg

Download


3 To Disable ask Manager for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_Task_Manager_for_all_users.reg

Download


4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn

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