You can ask the same thing if you’re a newcomer to the macOS ecosystem. Getting to the Mac equivalent of Windows’ task manager can be a pain. Yet, it’s a crucial part of the OS itself. The Macbook task manager has a wide variety of uses, including keeping tabs on an app’s CPU usage and ending processes abruptly.
This comprehensive tutorial for the macOS task manager was written to assist you in doing the same. Find out in a flash how to launch Mac’s task manager by reading on.
Part 1. Is There a Task Manager for Mac?
You’re probably aware that Windows machines automatically include a task manager. Whereas Windows has Task Manager, Mac has Activity Monitor, which serves a similar purpose.
Just like the name suggests, it will allow you to keep tabs on anything and everything happening on your Mac. Process memory, disk space, and other critical metrics can all be viewed. The Mac OS X program manager can also be used to terminate applications in an abrupt manner.
The functionality, originally known as process viewer or task manager on Mac, debuted in Mac OS X v10.3. When Mac OS X 10.9 was introduced, the tool was reworked and renamed “Activity Monitor.”
Part 2. How to Open Task Manager on Mac?
You’ll need to launch the Mac process manager application before you can use its functions. Here are some alternate, speedier methods you can use to launch Mac OS X’s task manager.
1. Access Task Manager from the Finder
On a Mac, this is the quickest way to access the task manager. Simply navigate to Apple > System Preferences > Apps from your computer’s main menu by clicking the Apple symbol. Check out Finder’s Utility subfolder under the Applications menu.
When you do this, your Mac will reveal all of its system utilities. To launch “Activity Monitor,” simply locate the app and double-click on its icon.
2. Get Mac Task Manager on Spotlight
Spotlight is an integral part of the Mac experience since it allows us to quickly and easily search for any program or file on the system. If you’re having trouble locating the task manager on your Mac, use the spotlight bar (the search icon) in the upper right corner of the display.
Just start typing “Activity Monitor” and your Mac will automatically start searching for it. If you want useful information, opening the Activity Monitor app is the way to go.
3. Open Task Manager from Mac’s Dock
The dock on a Mac is another way to rapidly access frequently used programs and files. Activity Monitor is a built-in app in the Mac dock. You can also add its icon to the dock by simply dragging and dropping it. To open Activity Monitor, simply double-click its icon in the dock.
The task manager’s symbol in Mac OS X can be modified further if desired. To open the icon’s context menu, just right-click on it. Here, you can modify the dock icon to reflect the parameters you set for monitoring.
4. Use the Mac Task Manager Shortcut
Keyboard shortcuts exist in several macOS versions to bring up Mac’s task manager. Simply use the keyboard shortcut of Cmd + Opt + Shift + Esc. Hold them together for at least three seconds, and the screen will show the Activity Monitor app.
Part 3. How to Format Hard Drive for Mac and PC on Windows?
Now that you know where to look for Mac’s task manager, you can put it to good use. It’s a useful tool for keeping tabs on any and all of your computer’s operations.
The Mac task manager program can be used to terminate a process involuntarily if desired. In addition, Mac’s task manager provides information about the following subsystems: (Activity Monitor).
- The central processing unit (CPU) is the most crucial part since it displays a numerical representation of the CPU’s actual utilization. You can see exactly what portion of your Mac’s processing power is being used by the app here. Find out which programs and operations are utilizing the most system resources.
- Memory is the second main section of Activity Monitor, and it shows how much random access memory (RAM) a process is using.
- Check out the “Energy” section if you’re concerned about your Mac’s power usage or temperature. It will show how much power a certain program or task is using.
- Disk – This section will be of great use to you in learning how your Mac’s hard drive is being utilized. Disk usage details for each app, including total usage, data type, who has access, and more, may be viewed in detail.
- Finally, the tab will show you the total data transferred across the network. Both incoming and outgoing information from various channels would be included.
Part 4. How to Force Quit an Application on Mac?
The task management app on a Mac mostly performs this function. It allows you to keep tabs on any of the aforementioned values and even terminate programs abruptly. If, for any reason, an app becomes unresponsive, you can force-quit it in the background using Mac OS X’s task manager. Some of the most basic methods to abruptly close a Mac program are outlined below.
1. Use the Apple Menu
Don’t fret if a Mac program unexpectedly quits. To do this, simply click the Apple icon while holding the Shift key (on the top left corner of the screen). The application’s name appears alongside the “Force Quit” option. With a single click, the hidden program will be terminated.
2. Use the Mac Dock
You can also use your Mac’s dock to exit a program if you choose. It goes without saying that the mouse should be operational and the app should be located on the dock. Simply right-click on the icon of the app you want to launch. To exit the program, select “Force Quit” from the menu that appears.
3. Use Activity Monitor
Consider utilizing Activity Monitor to learn more about an app’s state before shutting it. To access the Mac task manager, use either of the two techniques described above. Choose the app you want to close from the list of background processes that appears. Choose the app you want to close, then click the “Force Quit” button.
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Part 5. How to View Running Processes via Terminal?
The Terminal provides a complete list of your Mac’s processes, just like Activity Monitor. Each process’s ID is shown; this ID can be used to terminate the process afterward.
- To access the Terminal app on your Mac, navigate to Applications > Utilities.
- If you’re having trouble with your Mac, try restarting it in recovery mode and opening the terminal there.
- Launch the terminal application and then type “ps -ax” followed by the enter key.
- All processes currently executing together with their respective process IDs will be displayed (known as PID).
- To terminate a process immediately, you can use the command “kill” followed by the process identifier. Just typing “kill all” followed by the name of the application and hitting enter will terminate all processes associated with that program.
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Part 6. Tips for Using Task Manager on Mac
Since Activity Monitor (Mac’s task manager) is so versatile, you’ll find yourself using it often. These suggestions can help you get the most out of it.
- Just drag the Activity Monitor icon to the dock if it is not already there. You’ll have easy access to it with this.
- You can terminate even critical system processes using the Mac task manager. Consequently, avoid terminating a procedure you are unable to fully comprehend.
- The Activity Monitor can also be used to check the system’s current battery life. You’ll be able to find the apps that use the most battery life and force them to shut down.
- Its intended use is to end a program that isn’t responding properly. When an app crashes, you can force-quit it by opening the Activity Monitor, selecting the app, and clicking the “Quit” button.
- Avoid constantly killing programs via the Activity Monitor. It’s possible that this could cause app corruption.