- Microsoft is testing out a search function in Task Manager.
- The test is limited to those in the Windows Inside Beta Channel.
- The search function can have filters applied to more easily find programmes. Users can also monitor a single process using this function.
Have you ever had a problematic programme you’ve wanted to kill in Windows Task Manager only to struggle to find it in the long list of processes?
Well that problem could be a thing of the past if a new feature test for Windows 11 Insiders proves to be successful. The test comes as part of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22623.891 and according to Microsoft it’s a feature that has been widely requested.
The feature will let you filter processes within the Task Manager window by the binary name, publisher name or the process name. However, in a list of known issues, Microsoft highlights that filtering by Publisher name does not match correctly on the Processes page.
Of course, this is an Insider build of Windows so bugs and other issues are to be expected.
“The filter algorithm matches the context keyword with all possible matches and displays them on the current page. The filter is also applied as you switch between pages. You can also use the keyboard shortcut ALT + F to focus on the filter box. This is a helpful feature if you want to single out a process or a group of processes and want to take action or just monitor the performance of the filtered processes,” Microsoft wrote in a blog.
Perhaps the most important change is that Task Manager will now adopt your preferred theme regardless of the active theme in Windows. Hopefully this means fewer instances where Task Manager blinds those using a darker theme.
Microsoft is also rolling out Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.891 which is rather confusing. The difference between this build and 22623.891 is that new features will be turned off by default.
In addition, if you were previously on build 22622 you will automatically be moved to build 22623 via an enablement package.
“The enablement package artificially increments the build number for the update with new features getting rolled out and turned on to make it easier to differentiate from devices with the update with features off by default. This approach is being used for the Beta Channel only and is not indicative of any changes or plans for final feature rollouts,” Microsoft said.
We’re glad to see some attention being directed at Task Manager, especially when that attention takes the form of a search function. While you have been able to search by keying in the name of an application, this is hit or miss in our experience and a function such as the one in this test should be far better.
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22623.891 is rolling out to the Beta Channel right now.
