If you have more than one programme running on your PC, you might want to see how quickly they are using RAM. Or, the task manager might open on your second monitor by default in “mirror mode,” and you might not know how to change that. This guide will show you how to easily open a task manager on a second screen.
You will learn how to do this in just a few easy steps, and then we will show you how to do it. First, though, let’s look at how this can be done and what the quick fix is.
You can move the task manager to another monitor by selecting it and then pressing the Windows+Arrow keys in the direction of your second task manager display until it reaches that screen.
How To Move The Task Manager To Second Screen – Different Methods

The task manager is a program on your computer that lets you see what programs are running and change how they are running. It’s also where you can end certain tasks if you need to, even if you can’t do so by clicking “end now” in the program itself.
But because any given task involves so many different processes at once, it’s often hard to find a strategy and figure out what makes it work before shutting things down or putting them back in order.
There are many ways to open the task manager, of course. In simple terms, you can use your mouse to open it. But if you want to be competitive, you need to know the keyboard shortcut key for the task manager; different ways are shown in the steps below.
- The most simple and quickest way to bring up the Task Manager is by pressing the key combination of Ctrl+Shift+Esc, on your keyboard. It immediately brings up the Task Manager Window. However, you need a working keyboard for that to happen.
- Another commonly used method for open task manager in windows 10 is using the key combination of Ctrl+Alt+Del keys. This brings you to the Windows Security Screen, which allows you to Lock the PC, Sign Out, Switch Users, Or Access the Task Manager. Clicking the Task Manager option will move you back to your main screen with Task Manager running.
- From Windows 8 and onwards, there is a feature called Power User Menu, which can be accessed by either pressing the Windows+X key or Right-Clicking on the Start Button. A list menu will pop up from the Start Button, which has the Task Manager as an option. Left-Clicking on the Task Manager will run the program.
- You can also access task manager by pressing the Windows+R keys on your keyboard to open a Run prompt. In this Run prompt, you can type “taskmgr.exe” or “taskmgr” and hit Start.
How To Make Task Manager Open On Second Monitor Windows 10

We all like to play games, and the screen freezing up is a common problem for PC users. When a game or program freezes, it can’t be minimized and stays on fullscreen. It also won’t let you access the task manager.
Many of us have been in situations where a game freezes and a black gaming screen shows up. There are only a few instant solutions you can try, which is a shame. You can either force your system to shut down or find a way to end the game (hoping that your achievements are saved automatically.)
But in this fast-paced time, nobody wants to restart their PC. That’s why the second option is a lot more fun. Also, people who have more than one monitor are safer than people who only have one.
Using task manager hotkeys, there are quite a few ways to move a program to the other monitor.
Method 1 – Use Alt+Tab & Windows+Arrows Keys
Here are the simplest ways to move the Task Manager to a different screen while it is already running. Most of the time, this section’s method is used to change the size and position of any window.
- First of all, use any of the above methods to open the Task Manager.
- Once the Task Manager is running, Press Alt+Tab to focus on Task Manager. Make sure you select the Task Manager. Don’t worry if the screen is not showing the program. You need to select it.
- Now, Press the Windows+ Left or Right Arrow, depending on the direction of your second display. Keep on pressing these keys combinations until the Task Manager is shown on the 2nd display.
- Now, you can use the Task Manager to close the frozen program or game.
Method 2 – Use Alt+D
If the first method doesn’t work, you can try this second one.
- Once the Task Manager program is running, press Alt+Tab go to task manager.
- Once the Task Manager is selected, Press Alt+D keys to trigger the details mode from compact mode or vice versa.
- When you are in the details mode of the Task Manager, press Alt+O (Not Zero) and then Alt+D keys again. This function is used to trigger the Always on Top command.
- Now, your Task Manager will most likely be on the front. Use it to close/ terminate any application or frozen game.
Method 3 – Create A Virtual Desktops
From Windows 8 on, this feature has been available. It had a huge effect on user productivity and made them more productive. This method can also be used to kill a program that has been frozen.
- Press the Windows+Tab key to trigger the Switcher feature in Windows to task manager switch to second screen
- A more advanced version of the Alt+Tab feature will appear with an option to create a new desktop. It can be found in the top-left corner on newer versions of Windows 10 mainly. In previous versions, it was located somewhere around the bottom section. Click it to create a new desktop.
- A new desktop will be made, which will work entirely separately (from the first one with a frozen program.) Here, you can run the Task Manager by any above methods and quickly close/ exterminate any program.
Once the frozen program or game is closed, you can quickly close the second or virtual desktops by pressing Windows+Tab again and clicking on the cross next to the second desktop.
Method 4 – Open Directly On The 2nd Monitor
For this method to work, you need to open the Task Manager before you freeze a game or program and move it to the second screen. Most of the time, programs and windows run on the screen where they were last used.
So, if you know your game or program sometimes freezes, always keep your task manager on the second screen and close it when you’re done.
Method 5 – Force ShutDown Your PC
If none of the above methods work, you will have to force your computer to shut down. You can restart or shut down your PC through the Security Screen, which you can get to by pressing the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys at the same time.
You can also turn off the system by pressing the power button. First, though, make sure you don’t have any data you can’t afford to lose.
How To Move The Activity Monitor To Another Display on Mac
The Activity Monitor is a great tool that lets you keep track of how your Mac is using its system resources and RAM. It also shows how CPU, Disk I/O, etc. are being used.
But this might get in the way sometimes, like if you’re playing a complicated game on another screen while working on the main screen. In this case, you can’t use an app to do anything because it would open behind the app you have full-screen.
You could move to a different desktop, but even if you did, you wouldn’t be able to see what you need without minimizing everything else.
Lucky for Mac users with the latest version of macOS, the Activity Monitor can be moved quickly from one screen to another with just a few keystrokes. This method only needs a single keyboard shortcut and doesn’t need the mouse to be moved or clicked. How it works is as follows:
- Run the Activity Monitor on your macOS. Now, you need to move your cursor to the second display that is grayed out.
- Now move your Activity Monitor by dragging it to the bottom section of your secondary display.
- It will move the Activity Monitor from the primary display to the second one and allow you to close any application or frozen game.
3rd Party Softwares To Close A Frozen Game or Program
There are a lot of third-party programs that can be used to close a program that is stuck, but most of them need a mouse and extra keystrokes. Some users might find it hard if they’re playing a game or using an intensive app at the same time. We’ve found two reliable ways for you to do it without you having to do anything extra.
One of the programs that can close a frozen program without using the mouse or keyboard is called DisplayFusion. This software is made for people who use more than one screen, and it has many features that make it easier to manage windows on all screens.
One of these options lets you make your own hotkeys that can do things like close the current window, move it to a different monitor, and a lot more.
If this option is turned on, press Alt+Space (or any other key combination) and choose “Close Program” from the list of options that appears on the screen. Click OK to confirm. Your currently running program will now close right away.
If DisplayFusion doesn’t work for you for some reason, you might also want to try SuperF4. It’s free to use. You can install it on your computer by downloading it from its official website. It’s a simple program that lets you end the currently running process by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F4 (after installation).
A Bonus Tip!
Some games have shortcut keys built in that let you turn off fullscreen mode and turn on windows mode. Most of the games I played had me press the Alt and Enter keys together. Try this trick for sure. It’s possible.
Conclusion
So, how do I open the task manager on the second screen? It’s easy. Just follow our step-by-step instructions up above, and you’ll be done quickly. We hope you found this article helpful.
Some games may freeze the screen when they crash. There are easy ways to close any game or program without using your mouse if you find yourself in this situation.
Also, you can close any program without using the mouse by using third-party software, but it takes more keystrokes.