Disabled Windows Task Manager

The Windows Task Manager is one of the most versatile and widely used tools that Windows offers to manage and set several parameters of your computer and system. The Task Manager has lots of functions for the user. It lets you access real-time monitoring of processes and services as well as end, restart or start processes.

However, even though it’s a great tool, sometimes an error appears with a message indicating the following: The administrator disabled Task Manager”. In order to solve this problem to keep using the Windows Task Manager to see and manage apps and check for PC optimization, we explore some alternatives to fix this problem. The error indicates that, for some reason, access permissions are redirected to administrative settings impeding normal access.

Enable the Task Manager as administrator

The problem is related to permissions and the most practical solution is opening the Task Manager as administrator to grant all the permissions at once. Follow these indications:

• Type task manager in the Start menu.
• Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.

Enable Windows Task Manager through CMD

The Command Promt (CMD) lets you execute apps manually. You can open the Task Manager directly from here to avoid any issue as you edit the Windows registry.

1. Open CMD as an administrator.
2. Confirm the User Account Control permissions.
3. In the console run this command: REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
4. Open the Task Manager and verify that everything is functioning correctly.

Scan the PC to enable Task Manager

Another possibility for the Task Manager issue is the infection by malware or viruses. You should conduct a system scan in order to detect and resolve any anomalies.

1. From the Start menu search look for the security term and click on Windows Security.
2. Open the Virus & threat protection section.
3. Active the Quick scan to perform a scan for viruses.
4. Wait for the scan to complete.
5. Check if Task Manager opens normally.

Enable the Task Manager from the Registry Editor

If you can’t open the Windows Task Manager you can try editing the Windows registry.

1. From the search bar type regedit and click on the Registry Editor.
2. Accept the UAC permissions.
3. Go to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
4. In the new panel click n the DisableTaskMgr registry entry.
5. In case it doesn’t exist, right-click an empty space, select New and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Select DisableTaskMgr value.
7. Double-click the registry entry and set the value to zero (0) in the “Value data” box.
8. Apply the modifications.
9. Open the Windows Task Manager to confirm if the error was solved.

Enable the Manager from Group Policies

The last alternative to open the Windows Task Manager if it’s disabled is trying the Group Policies.

1. Type gpedit.msc in the Start menu search and open the Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to the following path:
3. User Configuration – Administrative Templates –  System – Ctrl + Alt + Del Options
4. Double-click the Remove Task Manager policy.
5. You can enable two options: Not Configured or Disabled.
6. Apply the changes and open the Task Manager.

The error message should stop appearing with these solutions. Try them in order until you solve the issue.