9 things you can do from the Task Manager thumbnail view

Task Manager is an application mainly used to get more information about the processes and applications running on the PC. That's why when you first open Task Manager in Windows 10, you might be surprised, because there's not much to see in this tool's window.

Do not worry! This is just a thumbnail view of Task Manager, not the entire tool. Although there are only a few buttons, it can be used to switch between applications, or close running programs without accessing them. Here is everything you can do from the Task Manager thumbnail view in Windows 10.

1. Switch between open applications in thumbnail view

Task Manager's miniaturized interface shows what you're running at any given time, and provides a quick way to switch between active applications. To switch to one of the open applications, double-click or click its name from the Task Manager thumbnail view. You can also right-click or press and hold on the name of the application and select Switch to .

Select Switch to

2. Close the applications and desktop programs from the thumbnail view

If you've finished using an app, Task Manager's thumbnail view gives you a quick way to close the application without having to switch to the application first. Select an application from the list and right click or press and hold, to open the context menu. Then click End task . Alternatively, you can select the application and click or click the End task button in the lower right corner of the thumbnail view.

3. Start a new Windows 10 application from the thumbnail view

Task Manager not only allows you to close applications from this view, but also allows you to open them easily. Right-click or hold and hold a listed application and then click Run new task .

This will open the Create new task window , also known as the Run window . Click Browse and select the executable file of the program you want to run from File Explorer.

Click Browse and select the executable file of the program you want to run from File Explorer

If necessary, check the box to run the process as admin, then press Enteron the keyboard or click OK.

Tip : The Create new task windowsupports all the common commands you usually enter into the Command Prompt. For example, type calc and then pressEnteror click OK to open Calculator.

4. Keep Task Manager from being hidden behind other application windows

If you need to use Task Manager a lot, you may find it annoying because it is hidden in the background, every time you open a new application. If you want to fix this inconvenience and always keep Task Manager above other applications, right-click or tap and hold on any of the listed processes and select Always on top .

When this option is enabled, Task Manager is at the top of other application windows and a checkmark is displayed next to the Always on top option .

Task Manager is at the top of other application windows

Repeat the above steps and click the option again, if you want to turn it off.

5. Find the location of a running application with Task Manager

Sometimes you need to know where the executable of the application is stored on the hard drive. You may need to create a shortcut for it, or want to delete it manually. Whatever the reason, Task Manager can help you. Right-click or tap and hold the name of the application in Task Manager. In the context menu that opens, select Open file location .

File Explorer is opened at the location where the executable file of the application you have selected is stored. The corresponding executable file is selected when the folder is opened.

The corresponding executable file is selected when the folder is opened

6. Give feedback to Microsoft about Windows 10

Feedback is important and Microsoft has made it easier than ever to provide feedback with the Feedback Hub , easily accessible from Task Manager. Right-click or hold and hold on any application, then select Provide feedback.

The Feedback Hub will open, allowing you to log in with your Microsoft account and send comments or suggestions to Microsoft.

The Feedback Hub will open, allowing you to send comments or suggestions to Microsoft

7. Research an unknown application

The Task Manager thumbnail view shows only currently open applications. Background processes are hidden in Task Manager's more detailed view. This means that the items you see listed in this view list must be clear and easily identifiable. If you see something running but don't remember or recognize and want to find out what it is, to make sure it's not malware. To research an unknown application, right-click or press and hold on its name, then click Search online.

Your default web browser will launch and run a web search with the executable file name of the application on Bing (regardless of your default search engine), to provide you with more information about application.

Search the web with the executable file name of the application on Bing

8. View the properties of a running application

Looking at the properties of the application gives you a lot of information about the executable file that runs it. You can find information about the file's size, location, access date and security settings and get a compatibility fix.

Usually, you will need to find the executable file in File Explorer, right-click the file and then select Properties to get this information. However, if the application is running, you can simply right-click or press and hold it, in Task Manager compact view and select Properties.

The Properties window opens without giving you any trouble finding the application's executable file, giving you access to useful information about the application.

The Properties window opens

9. Open the full version of Task Manager

Now you've seen almost everything you can do from this simple view of Task Manager. This is certainly helpful, but this great Windows tool has a lot to offer. To view the full version of Task Manager, click More details at the bottom of the thumbnail view.

Full version of Task Manager