Microsoft is rolling out an exciting update for Windows 11 that promises to enhance how Task Manager calculates CPU usage, which should bring it more in line with popular third-party tools.
The upcoming change is set to revamp Task Manager, making it much more efficient at displaying CPU performance metrics. Historically, Task Manager’s performance statistics have lagged behind those provided by third-party applications. Recognizing this gap, Microsoft is now updating its tool to adopt similar calculation methods to those favored by the broader tech community. This means users can expect Task Manager to become a far more effective tool for monitoring CPU usage.
Microsoft stated, “We are beginning to roll out a change to the way Task Manager calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and align with industry standards and third-party tools.”
The specifics of how these calculations will change remain unspecified, but we do know they’re unifying the system across all relevant Task Manager pages. This change aims to streamline the figures seen in third-party applications and those in Task Manager, offering consistent, native CPU monitoring support. Users might soon find less need for external solutions like HWINFO, thanks to these enhancements. Of course, we’ll have to wait for the update’s official release to experience these improvements firsthand.
Additionally, Microsoft is catering to users who prefer the traditional calculation method by introducing an optional CPU Utility column on the “Details” tab, ensuring flexibility and backward compatibility. Currently, these updates are being tested in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360, which is part of the 24H2 update. So, while it may take time for the changes to fully roll out, it’s promising to see Microsoft committed to refining the user experience.