This wikiHow teaches you how to change the priority of Windows processes in the Task Manager program. Changing the priority of a process will determine how much memory space and computer resources are allocated to that process.
Step
Step 1. Go to Start
Do this by clicking the Windows logo in the lower-left corner.
Step 2. Type in task manager
By doing so, the computer will search for the Task Manager program.
Step 3. Click Task Manager
It's a computer monitor-shaped icon at the top of the Start window. The Task Manager will be opened.
You can also launch Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc simultaneously
Step 4. Click the Details tab
This option is located at the top of the Task Manager window although it may not appear for a few seconds after the Task Manager starts.
Step 5. Locate the desired process
Inside tab Details, scroll down until you find the process you want to change the priority for.
If you want to search processes for the currently running application, click the tab Processes, and find the program you want to change the priority for. Next, right-click the program, then click Go to details in the drop-down menu (drop-down).
Step 6. Right-click the desired process
A drop-down menu at the top of the process will appear.
- When you open this page from the tab Processes, the process you selected will be highlighted.
- If there is no right-click on the mouse you are using, click the right side of the mouse, or click the mouse with two fingers.
- If your computer uses a trackpad, tap the trackpad with two fingers or press the lower right side of the trackpad.
Step 7. Select Set priority in the middle of the drop-down menu
A pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 8. Set the priority level
Choose one of the options below, from fastest to slowest:
- Realtime - Highest priority.
- High
- Above normal
- Normal
- Below normal
- Low - Lowest priority.
Step 9. Click Change Priority when prompted
This will confirm the decision you made and change the priority of the selected process.
Keep in mind that changing the system priority can crash or crash the computer
Step 10. Close Task Manager
Click sign X in the upper-right corner of the Task Manager window.
Tips
If any program crashes, you can force close it using the Task Manager. How to do it, select the program in the tab Processes in the Task Manager, then click End Task in the lower right corner.
Warning
- By selecting "Realtime", the process will have exclusive rights to system resources over all other things, including normal Windows processes. This means that, among all priorities, " Realtime " is the option that is most likely to cause the computer to crash.
- On a slow computer with memory-hungry applications, changing the process priority can crash the computer.
