How to change process priority in Windows 11 with Task Manager and PowerShell

Manage processes in Windows 11 is an essential skill for both home users and IT professionals. If you have ever experienced crashes, slow applications or are simply concerned about your computer's resource consumption, knowing how to modify the priority of processes It can be a great ally in improving your computer's performance. Although this topic seems reserved for experts, with the right tools and clear explanations, anyone can take advantage of Task Manager and PowerShell.

In this article, you'll learn in detail how to access and use the Windows 11 Task Manager to manage the priority of running processes. We will also delve into the use of PowerShell, the advanced Windows console that allows, through commands, obtain, and modify information about system processes. We'll explain both visual methods and advanced commands so you can adapt them to your own needs and experience level.

Why change process priority in Windows 11?

Windows 11 organizes program execution by assigning different priorities to processes based on their importance and behavior. The operating system aims to make applications that require immediate response, such as browsers or communication programs, more agile, while other background tasks, such as printing or certain services, can wait to use the processor. Even so, we sometimes need to intervene manually to optimize the system, especially when a critical application requires more resources or, conversely, we want to limit the consumption of a less important task.

Processes can belong to both the system and the users. The operating system automatically manages most of them, but as administrators, we can intervene in aspects such as priority to adjust our PC's behavior and improve the user experience.

Windows differentiates between foreground and background processes: The former are those that interact directly with the user, while the latter are typically services or tasks that barely require any direct interaction. Changing the priority allows you to manually decide which of them should have priority for access to the processor.

Options to open Task Manager in Windows 11

Task Manager is the quintessential tool in Windows for controlling and modifying process priority. It's important to know how to access it through different means, because if your PC is slow or an application is blocked, you may need an alternative. Here are the main methods for opening it:

• Keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc: The quickest and easiest way. Just press those three keys and the Task Manager will appear.
• Ctrl + Alt + Del Screen: Very useful if a program is preventing you from using the above shortcut. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select "Task Manager" from the options that appear.
• Right click on the taskbar or Start menu: Right-click on the taskbar or the Windows Start button and select “Task Manager” from the menu.
• Run Command (Win + R): Press Windows + R, type taskmgr and hit Enter.
• From File Explorer: Accede to C:\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe and double-click the file to run Task Manager.
• Windows Search Bar: Type “Task Manager” and select the result.
• From PowerShell or Symbol of the system: open one terminal and run taskmgr.
• From the Control Panel: Use the search field in the top right corner and enter “Task Manager.”

Navigating the Task Manager

Once inside the Task Manager, the initial view may be reduced and show only the applications opened by the user. To access advanced options, click "More details" at the bottom. This will give you a complete overview and allow you to access all tabs, including Processes, Performance, App History, Startup, Users, Details, and Services.

To change the priority of a process:

• Access the tab Processes to view the list of active applications and background services.
• Right-click on the desired process and select "Go to details." This will automatically take you to the "Details" tab. Details with the selected process.
• Right-click on it and select "Set Priority." Then choose between:
  • Real time (only recommended for very specific tasks and under supervision)
  • High
  • Above normal
  • Normal
  • Below normal
  • Low

Increasing the priority of a process can affect system stability if not done with caution, as it could take resources away from other important processes.

What information does Task Manager display?

Task Manager not only allows you to change priorities, but also offers a lot of useful information:

• Process name and executable: Knowing which application is linked to each process is essential to avoid problems.
• Process ID (PID): A unique number for each process, useful for managing it using commands.
• Status, running user, CPU and memory usage, and much more: You can see There CPU used, memory used, number of open handles and other technical details.
• Grouped view between applications and background processes: Makes it easier to find what you're looking for.

Shortcuts and customization of access to the Task Manager

If you frequently access the Task Manager, you can pin it to the taskbar easily. Just search Taskmgr.exe, right-click, and choose "Pin to Taskbar." You can also create a desktop shortcut from the context menu for even easier access.

Advanced management with PowerShell

For advanced users or situations requiring greater control, PowerShell is the ideal alternative. It allows you to list, analyze, and modify processes using commands that offer great power and customization.

Obtain information about processes

• List all active processes:
  Learn how to change process priority with PowerShell
• Filter processes by name:
  Get-Process nombreproceso
  Example: Get-Process explorer
• List processes with expanded information:
  Get-Process | Format-List *
• Get information about the user who owns the process:
  Get-Process nombreproceso -IncludeUserName
  This command requires administrator permissions in many cases.

Managing process priority from PowerShell

In PowerShell, priority management requires the use of methods on process objects, as there is no specific cmdlet to change priority. Here is an example of how to do it:

$p = Get-Process -Name "nombreproceso"
$p.PriorityClass = 'High'

The values ​​you can assign to PriorityClass are:

• Idle
• BelowNormal
• Normal
• AboveNormal
• High
• RealTime (use it only in very specific situations, as it can crash the system)

For example, if you want to raise the priority of all processes in a specific program:

Get-Process nombreproceso | ForEach-Object { $_.PriorityClass = 'AboveNormal' }

Make sure you run PowerShell as an administrator if you need to modify other users' or system-protected processes.

Other useful operations with PowerShell

• Show only processes with high memory usage:
  View and change priority of background apps
• View processes grouped by priority:
  Get-Process | Format-Table -View Priority
• Obtain detailed version or module information for a specific process:
  Get-Process nombreproceso -FileVersionInfo
Get-Process nombreproceso -Module
• View processes with main window active:
  Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.MainWindowTitle } | Format-Table Id, Name, MainWindowTitle -AutoSize

Related article:

How to Change GPU Priority for Apps in Windows

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.