Friday, October 29, 2010

How to Enable or Disable Windows Task Manager

  1. Click Start -> Run, and then type regedit, then press Enter. In Windows Vista, just type regedit in Start Search, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the following registry key:

    To block Task Manager from current logged on user:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

    To block Task Manager on local computer for all users:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

    Note that if “System” does not exist, simply create a new key by right clicking on Policies, and select New -> Key, and name the new folder as System.

  3. Right click System registry key, and then select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  4. Name the new registry entry as DisableTaskMgr.
  5. Double click on DisableTaskMgr, and assign its value data as 1.
  6. Quit Registry Editor.

With immediate effect, user can no longer run or open Task Manager. Any attempt to run “taskmgr.exe” or using Ctrl+Shift+Esc or Ctrl-Alt-Del (via Windows Security dialog) key combination will has the error message saying “Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator”.


Beside, the Task Manager item in right click context menu is grayed out and disabled when user right click on Taskbar.

How to Disable Task Manager

  1. Click Start -> Run, and then type regedit, then press Enter. In Windows Vista, just type regedit in Start Search, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

  3. Locate DisableTaskMgr in the right pane.
  4. If found, right click on DisableTaskMgr, and select Delete to remove the registry entry, or set its value data to 0.
  5. Then navigate to the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

  6. Locate DisableTaskMgr in the right pane.
  7. If found, right click on DisableTaskMgr, and select Delete to remove the registry entry, or set its value data to 0.
  8. Quit Registry Editor.

Task Manager is now available. The hack or trick works in most Windows operating system, including Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003/2008.