Microsoft Adds ‘Most Requested Feature’ to Windows 11 Task Manager

If you find yourself digging around in the Windows Task Manager, it’s probably because something is busted, and anything that reduces frustration at that time is invaluable. Microsoft has heard your pleas for help and is now testing what is apparently the “top feature request” from users: process filtering in Task Manager. There are a few other small Task Manager tweaks on the way, but filtering the list will be the highlight when the updated task manager rolls out.

In the latest test build of Windows 11 (22623.891), the Task Manager includes a search box at the top. Simply click (or use the Alt + F keyboard shortcut) and type your query to filter the list to only show what’s important to you. Your filtering is not restricted to a single page in the new Task Manager — after entering a search term, the filter will be applied across all pages.

You have options when it comes to filtering, too. Windows is smart enough to search the binary name, PID, and publisher name. So, you can filter the processes to just Adobe or Microsoft apps, or drill down to a specific application or process. This can help track down issues, as well as aid in monitoring process groups for troubleshooting.

There are some smaller changes as well. For one, Task Manager in the new build will have more theme options. It will follow the current dark or light theme by default, but you’ll also be able to set it to use one or the other regardless of the system setting. The theme will extend to all in-app dialogs, with the notable exception of Run New Task. You can also check a box to skip the Efficiency Mode warning if you find yourself turning it on for a lot of processes.

These changes come on the heels of a revamp of the Task Manager in the recent 22H2 update (also known as the Windows 11 2022 Update). This build of the OS changed the layout of Task Manager to be more in line with the modern Windows aesthetic. The section labels are now on the left side and they default to collapsed icons, and there’s a dedicated tab for settings that brings together options that were split between two menus in the old Task Manager. There are also new buttons for End Task and Run New Task.

Microsoft recently decided to end the practice of rolling out one or two major OS updates each year. Instead, it will deploy new features to Windows 11 when they’re ready. So, you might not have to wait until the middle of 2023 to get your hands on the latest Task Manager improvements. Hopefully, Microsoft will want to get such a highly requested feature out the door sooner rather than later.