Microsoft Could Add More Settings to the Windows 11 Task Manager App

Windows 11 PC

Microsoft appears to be working on adding a couple of new settings to its Task Manager app on Windows 11. According to this latest Windows Insider leak, Microsoft could add information about App Health, Battery Health, and more in the Windows 11 app.

This new home page for Task Manager has been spotted in the Windows 11 Insider build 22543 and it was shared by the Twitter account FireCube yesterday. The hidden page is clearly a work in progress as it still includes comments from Windows developers about upcoming new features and changes.

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Microsoft has yet to discuss these new Task Manager updates for Windows 11, the Windows Insider team recently made it clear that new builds coming to the Dev Channel could become more experimental soon. This means that Windows Insiders may get access to more new features than before, even though everything that makes to public testing isn’t guaranteed to ship to all Windows 11 users.

In addition to these Task Manager changes, Windows enthusiasts also spotted new Wallpaper Stickers and other secret features in recent Windows 11 Insider builds. Microsoft hasn’t released any new bits for the Dev Channel since two weeks, and we’ll see if the company starts rolling out some of these new features with the next Windows 11 Dev Channel build, which may well be announced later today.

If you’re not a Windows Insider, Microsoft previously announced that Windows 11 is also set to receive its first big update later this month. The new features coming to the OS include taskbar improvements, a redesigned NotePad app, as well as a new Media Player app that will replace Groove Music. This update will also bring Android apps and the Windows Subsystem for Android to the OS in preview.

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Conversation 15 comments

  • dftf

    09 February, 2022 - 10:24 am

    <p>While moving such stuff into <em>Task Manager </em>would mean the "Security and Maintenance" section of <em>Control Panel </em>could get retired, I’m not-sure that <em>TM </em>is really the place to shove it all?</p><p><br></p><p>They could add a <em>Battery </em>section into the "Performance" section (where things like "CPU", "Memory", "GPU" currently are), which could give some stats such-as battery wear-level, serial, make and model. But for much-more detailed stuff, <em>Settings</em> would be the better place to put it, really.</p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      09 February, 2022 - 3:09 pm

      <p>Isn’t there a group policy setting which prohibits standard users from launching Task Manager? If so, these possible changes would mean diddly to most users in such enterprises. OTOH, a persuasive argument could be made that such enterprises simply want their users to be and remain <strong><em>ignorant</em></strong> about the state of the employer-provided hardware they’re required to use. A little knowledge is too damn dangerous in the typical cubicle farm.</p>

      • dftf

        10 February, 2022 - 10:38 am

        <p><em>"Isn’t there a Group Policy setting which prohibits standard users from launching Task Manager?"</em></p><p><br></p><p>Yes. Though not all enterprises use it, of course.</p><p><br></p><p><em>"[… an] argument could be made that such enterprises simply want their users to be and remain </em><strong><em>ignorant</em></strong><em> about the state of the employer-provided hardware they’re required to use."</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>Task Manager</em> isn’t the only-place you could find the spec of the machine: there’s also the <em>System Information</em> tool (MSINFO32); the <em>System</em> page in the <em>Settings </em>app (it’ll tell you the CPU make and model and amount of RAM, at-least) or <em>Device Manager</em> (where you’ll find the CPU, GPU and HDD make and model).</p><p><br></p><p>Or, you-know… users could just <em>Google</em> the make and model of the device they have! ;)</p>

  • navarac

    09 February, 2022 - 10:52 am

    <p>People (some) are going through the pain of the W11 GUI, only because they had to use the W10X GUI and not waste it. Better it had gone the way on Windows Phone – in the trash – then Microsoft would not have to "reinvent the wheel" all over again.</p>

  • lwetzel

    Premium Member
    09 February, 2022 - 11:19 am

    <p>Looks pretty good to me.</p><p><br></p>

  • BenPritchard

    Premium Member
    09 February, 2022 - 11:23 am

    <p>If they’re consolidating other things, it would be good to see Performance Monitor merged with Task Manager</p>

  • mattbg

    Premium Member
    09 February, 2022 - 11:37 am

    <p>Hopefully the new Task Manager won’t need 500MB of RAM to work properly.</p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      09 February, 2022 - 3:10 pm

      <p>Of course not. It’ll need 1GB.</p>

      • dftf

        10 February, 2022 - 10:40 am

        <p>1GB of RAM? I assume the devs doing the revamp are the same ones who code the <em>Teams</em> app? ;)</p>

  • scovious

    09 February, 2022 - 1:38 pm

    <p>Is that a Dark Mode Task Manager? Oh my god, finally!</p>

    • dftf

      10 February, 2022 - 10:41 am

      <p>I know… it’s only been a request in the <em>Feedback Hub</em> for something like four-years now! Pity they could have ever got-around to doing it for <em>Windows 10</em>…</p>

  • John Dunagan

    Premium Member
    09 February, 2022 - 3:46 pm

    <p>Just give me back the old "what side of the screen would you like your taskbar on?" setting. I feel like I’m being forced into a UI choice. Do those words I said, forced and UI choice, sound like they should go together?</p>

  • mi1984

    09 February, 2022 - 4:08 pm

    <p>Are you able to have the task manager and settings open at the same time ? Are you able to show multiple instances of the task manger at the same time ? I would like to be able to have open multiple settings Windows at the same time. </p><p><br></p><p>Maybe they need to change the name to "Window"</p>

  • mi1984

    09 February, 2022 - 4:11 pm

    <p>Now I suppose the task manager will be a resource hog. Sometimes simple is better.</p><p><br></p>

  • darkgrayknight

    Premium Member
    09 February, 2022 - 5:29 pm

    <p>The biggest issue is that this all needs to load fast and have priority over the rest of the system. I would like a dark theme task manager, but it needs to load quickly.</p><p><br></p>

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