If you attempt to open the Task Manager, but it doesn’t show up, crashes, or you see a “Task Manager not responding” or “Task Manager has been disabled by the Administrator” message, you’ve got a potentially severe problem that needs fixing. We will show you how to do that in Windows 10 and 11.
Try Other Ways to Open Task Manager
Try Other Ways to Open Task Manager
You’ve got multiple ways to open the Task Manager in Windows. Suppose you have trouble getting it to show up via the Power User menu or taskbar. In that case, you may want to open it via the Ctrl + Alt + Delete screen (press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select Task Manager) or use the dedicated Task Manager shortcut (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc) instead. If the problem persists, it’s time to start troubleshooting. Tip: Have you tried restarting your computer? It sounds like a simple thing to do, but it does help resolve unexpected issues with Windows. Open the Start menu and select Power > Restart to perform a system reboot.
1. Scan for Malicious Activity
1. Scan for Malicious Activity
Given the Task Manager’s importance to the user, computer viruses often attack and disable it to stop you from interacting with it. So, it’s best to kick things off by scanning your computer for malware. We recommend that you use Malwarebytes. It’s incredibly effective at malware removal, and the free version is more than enough for the task at hand.
2. Check the Registry Editor
2. Check the Registry Editor
If you see a “Task Manager has been disabled by the Administrator” error despite scanning your computer for malware, run through the Registry Editor-related fix below.
3. Check Group Policy Editor
3. Check Group Policy Editor
If the issue with the Task Manager persists, you must check the Group Policy Editor on your computer and reconfigure a specific policy. Skip this fix if you use the Home edition of Windows 10 or 11.
4. Re-Enable Task Manager
4. Re-Enable Task Manager
Re-Enable is a third-party applet that can quickly re-activate system-related apps after a malware attack. Here’s how to use it.
5. Run System File Checker and DISM Tool
5. Run System File Checker and DISM Tool
Next up, run the System File Checker (SFC) and the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool to fix stability issues with the operating system. To do that:
6. Create New Windows Account
6. Create New Windows Account
A corrupt Windows user profile can also create issues with various system-related apps and services. Create a new account on your computer, sign into it, and check if the Task Manager opens as usual.
7. Update the Operating System
7. Update the Operating System
Updating Windows is another fix that can help, especially if the Task Manager freezes at launch or you run into the “Task Manager not responding” error message.
8. Restore Windows
8. Restore Windows
If none of the fixes above help, you can choose to restore Windows to an earlier state. However, that’s only possible if you already have System Restore set up.
9. Factory-Reset Windows
9. Factory-Reset Windows
If System Restore is not active on your computer, consider resetting Windows to factory defaults. Although it’s possible to do that without losing personal files, it’s still a good idea to create a backup of your data before proceeding.
10. Install a Task Manager Alternative
10. Install a Task Manager Alternative
If you don’t want to reset Windows to factory defaults, you can always use Task Manager alternatives such as Process Monitor and Process Explorer. These third-party programs are just as good, if not better. However, not being able to open the Task Manager can indicate a much larger problem (such as a serious malware infestation that could put your data at risk), so you may still want to reset or reinstall Windows as soon as possible.
