Why Is Your Task Manager on High CPU Usage?

The Task Manager on computers with the Windows operating system indicates processes and applications that are running, as well as how the computer is handling resources. The Performance tab even includes visual representations of the computer's CPU (processor) usage.

Possible Causes

• The Windows Task Manager may state that the computer is using more CPU resources if the user is running many programs or programs that require more resources. High CPU usage may also occur when a program has stopped responding and is causing the system to lag.

Solution

• If high CPU usage is due to a frozen program, the user can click the "Applications" tab, select a program, and click the button to "End Task." After doing this, the CPU usage should decrease. The user can also simply close programs that he is no longer using. Periodically closing programs, such as a web browser, can help reduce system strain as well.

Considerations

• Some programs, such as video or graphics editors, media players, or games, simply require more resources than others. Running these programs simultaneously can cause the CPU usage to rise and the computer's performance to decrease. The user may consider only running one demanding program at a time to minimize the effect.