The Windows Task Manager is a powerful utility that allows users to monitor system performance, manage running applications, and oversee background processes. Since its inception, it has become an essential tool for troubleshooting and system management, providing real-time data on CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.

The real-time update speed in Task Manager determines how frequently this performance data is refreshed. By default, the data updates every second, but users have the flexibility to adjust this interval based on their needs. Modifying the update speed can be beneficial for monitoring resource-intensive applications or for taking a closer look at system performance over time.

Changing the Task Manager Data Update Speed

To adjust the real-time update speed in Task Manager on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Task Manager by right-clicking on an empty space in the taskbar and selecting Task Manager. You can also access it by right-clicking the Start menu and choosing Task Manager, or by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: Once Task Manager opens, click on the Settings option located at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar.

Step 3: In the Settings window, find the Real-time update speed option and click on the drop-down menu beneath it.

Step 4: From the drop-down menu, select the desired update speed. The options include:

High: Updates the usage percentages every half-second. This is ideal for monitoring resource-intensive applications like games or video editing software.

Normal: Updates the percentages once every second. This is the default setting in Task Manager.

Low: Updates the data every four seconds. Useful if you want to focus on specific processes without constant changes distracting you.

Paused: Freezes the data updates. This option is helpful when taking screenshots or analyzing a static snapshot of your system's performance.

Select the update speed that best suits your needs. For example, choosing High will refresh the data more frequently, while Low will reduce the update frequency.

For instance, if you set the real-time update speed to High, the performance data will refresh every half-second, as demonstrated in the screenshot below.

By customizing the real-time update speed, you can tailor the Task Manager to better suit your monitoring needs, whether you're troubleshooting an issue or keeping an eye on system resources during heavy tasks.