The Task Manager is one of the most useful utilities on the Windows operating system. It gives access to all running processes and is often a handy troubleshooting tool. However, some users complain that the Windows 11 Task Manager is not responding.
In fact, in some cases, the Task manager is not working at all. There may be a range of courses, from file system corruption and outdated OS or drivers to bugs and malware. The solutions we provide should help you fix the problem in no time.
1. Restart Your PC
We recommend restarting your computer before you explore any of the solutions below. A restart is often very effective in correcting minor bugs and glitches. If the Task Manager is still not responding after a reboot, you may proceed to other solutions.
2. Restart Windows Explorer
Certain graphical elements are linked to Windows Explorer. For instance, when Windows 11 Task Manager is not responding, you simply may be experiencing a glitch or bug in Windows Explorer. By restarting it, you may remove any minor bugs. However, since you may be unable to access the task manager, you should restart it with the Command Prompt, as shown below.
1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run dialog.
2. Type cmd and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter. to open an elevated Command Prompt.
3. Type the commands below, hitting enter after each to restart Windows Explorer.
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe
3. Reinstall the graphics Driver
The graphics driver is essential for correctly rendering different visual elements on the Windows 11 OS. When your Task Manager stops responding or working correctly, you may need to reinstall or update your graphics card driver to fix the issue. You may use a driver update software or manually reinstall it, as shown below.
1. Right-click your Start menu and click Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters, right-click on the driver, and select Uninstall device.
3. Confirm your choice, then restart the computer.
4. Scan for Malware
Malware is notorious for breaking down the operation of different elements of the operating system. When the Windows 11 Task Manager is not responding or working correctly, your computer may have underlying malware. You should use reliable antivirus software or run a scan with the built-in Windows Security.
1. Click the Taskbar’s lens, type security, and click Windows Security.
2. On the left, click the Virus & threat protection option, then click Scan options on the right.
3. Tick the Full scan radio button, then click Scan now.
5. Run SFC and DISM Scan
When the Windows 11 Task Manager is not responding, it can often be traced to file corruption. These may be corruption within system files or even the Windows image itself. You may run the DISM and SFC scans to fix any underlying corruption.
1. Open the Run dialog by pressing the Windows + R keys.
2. Type cmd in the text field and hit the Ctrl + Shift + Enter options to open an elevated Command Prompt.
3. Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter to scan for Image errors.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
4. Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter to fix any discovered image errors.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
5. Copy and paste the command below to fix corrupted system files on the computer.
sfc /scannow
6. Enable the Task Manager
One reason why the Task Manager is not responding in Windows 10 is because it is disabled. While you may not have intentionally disabled the utility, double-checking is important. Follow the steps below to enable the Task Manager.
1. Press Windows + R, type regedit in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to the path below:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
3. On the right pane, double-click the DisableTaskMgr key, give it a value data of 0, and click OK.
4. Restart your computer.
7. Create a new Local Administrator
When essential utilities on your computer stop working, you may be battling with a wider problem of profile corruption. In this case, running the DISM and SFC scans may work, but if they do not, you should create a new admin profile, as shown below.
1. Press the Windows + I keys to launch the Settings App.
2. Click the Accounts option on the left pane, then on the right, click Other users.
3. Click Add account.
4. Click “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.”
5. Select “Add user without a Microsoft account.”
6. Fill out the form, then click next.
7. Click the “Change account type” button for the newly created account.
8. Select Administrator and click OK.
8. Perform a Clean Boot
A clean boot is a convenient way of isolating programs and processes that may trigger errors on your computer. When you clean boot Windows 11, it starts with only an essential set of services. You will successfully isolate elements that cause the Windows 11 Task Manager not to respond.
9. Use System Restore
If none of the other solutions have been helpful, you should try restoring your computer to a previous state when it worked without the Task Manager issue. Windows 11 provides a system restore tool that will come in handy. This solution will only work if you already have created a restore point.
1. Click the lens on the Taskbar, type restore, and select Recovery.
2. Click Open System Restore.
3. Select the Choose a different restore point option and click Next.
4. Select a restore point from the available options and click Next.
5. Click the Finish button and allow the process to begin. Your computer may restart as the restore runs.
1. What should I do if my Task Manager in Windows 11 is not responding?
You may use any of the above solutions explored in this guide to resolve the problem.
2. Why does Task Manager become unresponsive in Windows 11?
It may result from minor computer bugs, glitches, a virus infection, or even corrupted system and installation files.
3. Can third-party software cause Task Manager to become unresponsive?
Yes, they can. In this case, you will find clean booting the computer very effective.
Using Windows 11 Without Any Task Manager Complications
We have come to the end of this guide. With the solutions we have explored, you should be able to use your computer without any Task Manager complications. You should start with a restart and follow through with any other solutions you find more applicable.