How to Enable or Disable Windows Task Manager
Task Manager is a versatile task management and system utility in Windows operating system. With Task Manager, user can view detailed information about computer performance (CPU usage, physical memory, kernel memory, handle, thread, commit charge, etc.), running applications, processes, network activity and statistics, logged-on users, and system services. Besides system information, Task Manager can also be used to set process priorities, processor affinity, forcibly terminate processes, and shut down, restart, hibernate or log off from Windows.
In view of its powerful capabilities and functionality, administrator may want to disable Task Manager in the computer to disallow user from running Task Manager, although administrator also needs to restrict user access to Registry Editor or ability to change system registry for the control to be useful. On the other hand, some users may be wondering why the Task Manager has been disabled and cannot be run, which often caused by intelligent malware and Trojan to prevent users from terminating the malicious process. In any way, disable or enable Task Manager can be done by just a simple registry change.
How to Disable Task Manager
- Click Start -> Run, and then type regedit, then press Enter. In Windows Vista, just type regedit in Start Search, and press Enter.
- Navigate to the following registry key:
To block Task Manager from current logged on user:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\SystemTo block Task Manager on local computer for all users:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\SystemNote 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.
- Right click System registry key, and then select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name the new registry entry as DisableTaskMgr.
- Double click on DisableTaskMgr, and assign its value data as 1.
- 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
- Click Start -> Run, and then type regedit, then press Enter. In Windows Vista, just type regedit in Start Search, and press Enter.
- Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- Locate DisableTaskMgr in the right pane.
- If found, right click on DisableTaskMgr, and select Delete to remove the registry entry, or set its value data to 0.
- Then navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- Locate DisableTaskMgr in the right pane.
- If found, right click on DisableTaskMgr, and select Delete to remove the registry entry, or set its value data to 0.
- 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.
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February 13th, 2009 18:10
Nice post… good explanation… use more snapshots for simplified explanation…
November 9th, 2008 13:27
what virus ??
November 7th, 2008 23:09
io non riesco ad aprire taskmanager sul windosw vista vorrei che qualcuno mida come si fa . cmq alcuni mi hanno detto di fare ctrl+alt+canc ma a me nn esce taskmanager ma mi esce o da disconnetere il pc o cambiare utente..
voglio sapere solo cm si apre x attivare una cosa
come si fa?????’
October 16th, 2008 06:15
Gracias por la ayuda que brindan les cuento que voy a inicio pero no me aparece ejecutar y no he podido habilitar el administrador de tareas les agradezco la ayuda que me puedan brindar mi compu es una xp
October 8th, 2008 02:44
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
“DisableTaskMgr”=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
“DisableTaskMgr”=dword:00000000
“**del.DisableTaskMgr”=” ”
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system\]
“DisableTaskMgr”=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
“DisableCAD”=dword:00000000
September 9th, 2008 22:33
Danke Ihr habt mir sehr geholfen,Pc läuft wieder einwandfrei!!!!
September 8th, 2008 07:05
bueno yo ya segui todos los paso para windows vista y no puedo accesar a ejecutar, y tmb en inicio, escribir regedit solo me aparecen dos archivos encontrados que son “faq.html” y “devasearch.js” a este ultimo le doy enter y nom manda a ningun lado, espero q me puedan ayudar a solucionarlo.
July 15th, 2008 14:48
Nope.
If the changes made by any virus, as the case here with one of my client
June 21st, 2008 22:07
Gracias con esta información he resuelto mi problema, pues habia desaparecido el administrador de tareas. gracias otra vez.
June 19th, 2008 05:51
It would be more interesting how to enable running regedit after viruses have disabled registry editing.