After redesigning most of Windows 11 inbox apps, Microsoft is now working to refresh Task Manager to match the look and feel of the new OS. The feature with rounded corners and mica material effect is hidden and buggy in Windows 11 build 22538, here is how you can enable and further disable to restore a classic version of Task Manager again after testing.
Microsoft recently launched Windows 11. The company redesigned apps such as Photos, Paint, Notepad, Tips to be consistent with OS design. Seems sooner Task Manager going to get the fluent design treatment too.
First look & hands-on Windows 11’s new Task Manager
Task Manager is a system monitoring tool that displays information about processes running on your system and lets you manage them. The feature deserves an upgrade in Windows 11 and Microsoft is on it.
There are currently two versions of the Task Manager App, with and Without a header. The header which is a placeholder now shows the information on the current usage of CPU, GPU, Memory, Disk, and Network and the computer name and model.
The app displays tabs on the left side.
The Processes tab on the side offers options to run a new task, kill a task and view a group of Task Manager elements by type. These are not working at the moment
The performance tab shows the utilization of CPU, Memory, Disk, Ethernet, GPU. It contains a View menu and a three-dot menu with copy and Resource monitor options. View menu further allows to select and see overall utilization, logical processors, Numa nodes, and Kernel times.
App History shows resource usage history for the present account from a certain time period. The tab comes included with a non-functioning “open app” button.
Startup apps allow managing startup items with “Enable”, “Properties”, and a three-dot menu with options to open the file location and search online on top.
Users tab lets you disconnect and manage user accounts.
Details are populated with all process details with “End Task” and “Properties” actions on top.
Services displays services running on Windows and allow to start or stop or restart service and “Open Services” console.
Settings come with options to choose light or dark or system theme mode for App.
Do note, the company officially hasn’t announced about new Task Manager, but you can get it. Requires build 22358 or higher and Vivetool.
Note: The below steps require running the third-party tool, following them at your own risk
Enable or disable new Task Manager in Windows 11
- Download Vivetool from Github
- Extract its files to a folder
- Right-click on empty space in the folder and select “Open in Windows Terminal“
- There are two versions of Task Manager available: with and without header:
To enable task manager with Hero header, run this command.
vivetool addconfig 36898195 2
vivetool addconfig 35908098 2 - Close and relaunch Task Manager to see a modern version of it.
To disable and restore Classic Task Manager in Windows 11 again
- Depending on the command you’ve used above, run either of the following commands
vivetool delconfig 36898195 2
vivetool delconfig 35908098 2
What’s your take on new Task Manager? Have you liked the screenshots of it? Let us know in the comments below.
More about Windows 11:
Windows 11 tests Windowed Alt+Tab experience, how to enable
Windows 11/10 allows to Pin any window always on Top w/ PowerToys
How to change new Media Player Accent Color in Windows 11
Terminal has to be run as administrator to use the tool.