How to Reset Task Manager to Default in Windows 10

The Windows Task Manager is a powerful tool used to provide information about the program and processes running on your computer. You might have noticed that the first time when you open the Task Manager, it appears in fewer details mode. With time, there would have made many changes to improve and customize the working experience. However, if you have made lots of changes and want to reset Task Manager to default settings, then read this article and revert that changes back.

Reset Task Manager in Windows 10

We show you 3 ways using which you can reset the Task Manager to default settings in Windows 10 – using the Registry, Keyboard Shortcut or PowerShell.

1] Through Registry Editor

First of all, you need to open the Task Manager. To do this, right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager from the menu list. In an alternative way, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut key to open the Task Manager program directly.

Once it opens, go to the File menu and select Run new task option.

Note: To run a new task, you can simply use the Win+R shortcut key to open the Run dialog directly.

In the Run dialog box, type Regedit and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor window.

Type in the given path and hit Enter:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TaskManager

From the left pane, right-click on the TaskManager key and then select Delete to remove it.

Here a popup appears on the screen and asks you for the confirmation, simply click on the Yes button.

This will reset TaskManager settings to its default.

2] Using Keyboard Shortcut

Alternatively, you can reset Task Manager to default settings only by using a couple of shortcut steps of your keyboard.

To do this, click on the Start Menu and scroll down until you find the Task Manager option.

If you’re getting a problem in finding the Task Manager then let me know you that this option is under Windows System. So, expand the Windows System and you will find it.

Now press and hold Ctrl+Shift+Alt keys and then hit the Task Manager option.

That’s it. Your Task Manager is now successfully reset to its default settings.

Read: Windows Task Manager Tips and Tricks.

3] Via Windows PowerShell

If you prefer using text commands to perform any computer operation then this method is for you. This method uses PowerShell with admin access to reset the task manager to its default settings.

So, at first, open the Windows PowerShell with admin rights.

Once you’re in the PowerShell window, type in the below command line and hit Enter to execute it:

Remove-ItemProperty HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TaskManager -name Preferences

Close the window and open the Task Manager. You will find that your Task Manager is gone back to its default settings.

I hope this information will be helpful to you.

Incidentally, our portable freeware FixWin allows you to reset many Windows functions to default with a single click.

Read next: How to Reset all Local Group Policy settings to default.