How to Enable Task Manager Option in Taskbar Context Menu

One of a Windows PC’s most vital parts is the Task Manager. The Task Manager on your computer can be accessed in a variety of ways. But out of all of them, selecting Task Manager from the context menu when you right-click on the Taskbar is the most practical. Unfortunately, Windows 11 by default disables this method. In this post, we’ll look at how to make the Taskbar context menu’s Task Manager option available.

How to Enable Task Manager Option in Taskbar Context Menu

The Task Manager option can be added to the Taskbar context menu in one of two methods. One way involves using the Registry Editor, while the alternative involves utilizing the Vivetool.

Remember that to add this functionality, your machine must be running OS Build 22621.674 or higher. To check your current Build, navigate to the Settings menu followed by System, and then About.

Method 1: Use The Registry Editor To Activate Task Manager

By modifying a registry file, advanced Windows users can add the Task Manager to the Taskbar context menu. As you may already be aware, editing registry files is dangerous because one mistake could lead to PC damage. As a result, before making any changes, you should back up the Windows Registry. Use the following steps to make the Task Manager option available in the Taskbar context menu:

Step 1: Start the Run dialogue box, enter regedit into the search field, then click OK.

Step 2: When the UAC appears, click Yes.

Step 3: Navigate to the following area in the Registry Editor.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\4

Step 4: Simply perform a context-sensitive right-click on the 4 subkey, select New, and then Select Key.

Step 5: Enter the value 1887869580 for the key’s name.

Step 6: The newly formed key, 1887869580, can be accessed by right-clicking it and selecting New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 7: Set the value’s name to EnabledState.

Step 8: Select Modify with a right-click on EnabledState.

Step 9: Click OK after changing the Value data to 2.

Step 10: Return to the 1887869580 key and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value from the context menu.

Step 11: Enter the value’s name, EnabledStateOptions.

Step 12: In the context menu, right-click EnabledStateOptions and choose Modify.

Step 13: Enter 0 and hit OK in the Value data field.

Step 14: Restarting your computer now will make the modifications take effect.

We have observed that the Registry method has not worked on some of the PCs. If that is your case too, then you can try the second method below which involves downloading a free application first. This method has worked on all PCs.

Method 2: Use The ViVeTool To Activate Task Manager

ViVeTool is a utility that enables additional Windows functionality. Use the ViVeTool to activate the Task Manager option in the Taskbar context menu by following the steps below:

Step 1: Visit the ViVeTool download page by opening a browser.

Click here to download

Step 2: Under the Assets sections, click the ViVeTool-vX.X.X.zip link.

Step 3: Extract the zip file you downloaded.

Step 4: Go to the folder where the file was extracted.

Step 5: “Copy as path” can be selected from the context menu by performing a right-click on the ViVeTool executable file.

Step 6: Type “Command Prompt” into the Start Menu’s search box, then select Run as Administrator from the right pane.

Step 7: When the UAC appears, click Yes.

Step 8: Paste the copied location in Step 5.

Step 9: Next to the location, type /enable /id: 36860984 and hit Enter.

Step 10: For the changes to take effect, restart your computer.

Step 11: ViVeTool can be used to disable the Task Manager option from the context menu on the Taskbar. You must enter the command /disable /id: 36860984 next to the location to accomplish this.

Final Thoughts

One such tool for managing startup applications, background applications, and other things on Windows 11 is the Task Manager. The Taskbar can be accessed by pressing the shortcut key for it or by typing its name into the Windows search box. However, selecting Task Manager from the context menu after right-clicking on the Taskbar is the quickest way to get there.

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