Closing Task Manager in Windows 11 Opens More Copies
▼ Summary
– The Task Manager helps identify misbehaving apps or those using excessive resources on Windows computers.
– A recent Windows update caused Task Manager windows to remain running in memory after being closed.
– Each time Task Manager is opened, it creates a new process without terminating previous instances, potentially accumulating many processes.
– Individual Task Manager processes use about 20MB of RAM and 0-2% CPU usage, with minimal impact from a few instances.
– Accumulating many Task Manager processes over time can significantly degrade system performance and reduce battery life.
When the Windows Task Manager itself begins acting up, it creates a frustrating paradox for users trying to monitor system performance. A recent Windows update introduced an unusual behavior where closing the Task Manager window doesn’t actually terminate the program. Instead, the executable continues running in the background, and each subsequent launch creates another active process. This replication can continue indefinitely, potentially stacking numerous copies unless the system becomes overwhelmed.
The core issue involves the Task Manager failing to close properly, despite appearing to exit when you click the X button. Users checking their processes list discover multiple instances of TaskManager.exe, all consuming system resources simultaneously. While a single instance uses approximately 20MB of RAM and minimal CPU activity, the cumulative effect of numerous copies becomes problematic over time.
For casual users who occasionally check Task Manager, the impact might remain unnoticed with just a few extra processes running. However, those who frequently access system monitoring tools or maintain extended computer sessions between restarts face different consequences. Opening several dozen duplicate processes, each intermittently using small CPU percentages, gradually degrades system responsiveness and drains battery power on portable devices.
This phenomenon highlights how seemingly minor software glitches can evolve into legitimate performance concerns. The accumulating resource drain from multiple Task Manager instances demonstrates that even essential system utilities can contribute to system instability when they malfunction. Microsoft typically addresses such issues through subsequent updates, but affected users currently need to manually end all Task Manager processes or restart their systems to resolve the duplication problem.
(Source: Ars Technica)
