Although Microsoft completely revamped the Task Manager application in Windows 11, adding a brand new UI, a new search bar, and a new side panel to browse through different sections, many users have reported issues with the program recently. Citing the reports from various Windows 11 users, we have created this in-depth guide to help you fix the Task Manager in Windows 11 and get it up and running on your device again.
Fix Task Manager Not Working in Windows 11
Fix Task Manager Not Working in Windows 11
Now, there can be a plethora of reasons why the Task Manager might not work in Windows 11. These include outdated Windows OS, viruses or malware in your system, missing/ corrupt system files, issues with your graphics driver, and more. However, the good news is that all the solutions to fix Task Manager in Windows 11 are fairly easy to execute. With this information out of the way, let’s get into the fixes, shall we?
1. Restart Your Windows 11 PC/ Laptop
Now, the first and one of the most effective fixes that you can try when the Task Manager stops working in Windows 11 is restarting your system. Yes, we know that this is the most generic fix of all but its effectiveness is unmatched to date. A quick restart of Windows 11 tends to fix most of the issues in the system as it clears the RAM and force closes all the applications and programs that are running in the background, one of which might be causing issues with the Task Manager. If, however, you are stuck with a crashed application and cannot access the Restart button in Windows 11, you might want to force restart your PC or laptop by using the physical power button on your CPU or laptop body. After the restart, try opening the Task Manager in Windows 11 by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete or via the Taskbar. It should work just fine now. If, however, it does not, proceed to the next fix.
2. Run SFC Scan in Windows 11
The next thing that could potentially fix the Task Manager not working in Windows 11 issue on your PC or laptop is an SFC scan. As mentioned before, the issue with the Task Manager can be a result of missing/ corrupt system files, and the System File Checker (SFC) scan can easily fix this. It is essentially a command-line tool that checks the system file directory in Windows and replaces or fixes missing/ corrupt system files. Hence, a quick SFC scan can easily fix most system-level issues and system applications in Windows 11, including the Task Manager. To run an SFC scan on your Windows 11 PC or laptop, follow the steps right below.
3. Run DISM Scans in Windows 11
The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) scans are a set of command-line tools, similar to the SFC scan, that checks the disk images in Windows and fixes various system-level issues. Hence, running these scans on your Windows 11 device can surely fix the Task Manager and get it back to its usual state in a jiffy. To run the DISM scans on your Windows 11 laptop/ PC, follow the steps listed below:
4. Update Graphics Driver in Windows 11
Now, another common reason that might cause the Task Manager not working in Windows 11 issue is an outdated graphics driver on your PC or laptop. In this case, all you need to do is update the graphics driver in your system. So, in order to update the graphics driver in your Windows 11 laptop or PC, follow the steps right below:
5. Use Windows Security to Check for Viruses/ Malware
Viruses and/ or malware residing in your system are other reasons why the Task Manager might not work properly in Windows 11. In this case, you can use the built-in Windows Security tool in Windows 11 to scan your PC or laptop to check for files or programs that contain threat actors, which might be causing issues with the Task Manager. So, to use Windows Security to check for viruses/ malware in Windows 11, follow the steps below:
6. Use System Maintenence in Windows 11
Now, another fix that you can try when the Task Manager stops working in Windows 11 is running the System Maintenance tool. It is essentially a native maintenance tool that runs a scan and fixes various issues in Windows 11. Hence, there is a high chance that this will fix the Task Manager issue on your Windows 11 PC or laptop. To run the native system maintenance tool in Windows 11, follow the steps right below:
7. Check for Windows 11 Updates
Now, another thing that might cause issues with the Windows 11 Task Manager is a buggy Windows update. For instance, the KB5020044 Windows update contained a bug that caused UI issues in the Task Manager in Windows 11, showing unreadable content and UI sections when opened in Dark Mode. So, if a buggy Windows update is causing the Task Manager not working in Windows 11 issue on your device, you can check for new updates via the Windows Settings app and download them to fix the issue on your PC or laptop. To do that, follow the steps right below:
Why is the Task Manager not working in Windows 11?
The Task Manager not working in Windows 11 issue can be caused by many reasons, including buggy Windows updates, outdated graphics drivers, viruses/ malware, issues in system files, and others.
How to force close an app without Task Manager in Windows 11?
Force closing an app or program in Windows 11 does not always require the Task Manager. Without it, you can force close a running application by pressing Alt + F4 on your keyboard.
Is there a new Task Manager in Windows 11?
With the Windows 11 22H2 update, Microsoft rolled out a fully revamped Task Manager with a new UI, a dedicated search bar, and a new side panel to browse through different tabs.
Wrapping Up
Wrapping Up
So, these are some of the best fixes that you can try when the Task Manager stops working in Windows 11. Be sure to try out all the above solutions to get the Task Manager up and running again on your PC or laptop. And if any of the above solutions help you to fix the Task Manager in Windows 11, do let us know about it in the comments below. You can also check out our other in-depth guides on a variety of Windows-related topics via this link.
