All-mighty Mac system monitor
A frozen Mac is a rare occurrence, but Macs (like all computers) run in cycles, and sometimes the software gets stuck in a loop. When this happens you may find an app like Word, or the whole of. 10 incredibly useful Mac keyboard shortcuts you should be using. New MacBook Air. Instead of the Task Manager, though, you’ll get a window that says Force Quit Applications and you can. Use Spotlight to open Activity Monitor: a Mac Task Manager The Activity Monitor is a powerful Task Manager application as it’s not only displaying running applications under user-level but also shows running applications under system-level or kernel level and a few other processes.
By the virtue of being on Windows for many years, most users develop a muscle memory in hitting Ctrl + Alt + Delete when their PC acts up to open the Task Manager and restart a stalling process. It's just part of daily life. But what's the Mac equivalent of Task Manager?
Some say there's no need for the Apple Task Manager, as Macs run better and smoother than their PC counterparts. And while this is largely true, from time to time you absolutely need a way to force quit Mac processes to keep it in good shape.
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So how to get Task Manager on Mac? Easy! There's already an OSX Task Manager pre-installed (or rather the Mac equivalent of Task Manager) — called Activity Monitor, which you can find in Applications ➙ Utilities.
Activity Monitor Is The Apple Task Manager
Below is a guide for long-time Windows users in the process of onboarding to Mac and hence wondering, 'Where is Task Manager?' 'How to get Task Manager on Mac?' 'How to open Task Manager on Mac?' But Mac users who haven't used the MacBook Activity Monitor in a while will find the instructions on how to halt Mac processes useful as well.
What is Activity Monitor?
Activity Monitor is basically the OSX Task Manager, a utility that shows how much memory your Mac processes are using and which apps are currently active (even if they aren't open), letting you force quit stalled ones if you can't close them the usual way.
If you've never used this task manager for Mac before, it can be quite a lot to take in. But don't worry, here's a quick breakdown of all Activity Monitor's features.
CPU: The first tab in Activity Monitor lists all the processes that are currently taking up your Mac's CPU, displays the exact percentages of power they are consuming, and notes how long they have been running.
There's a process you might notice in the CPU tab called 'kernel_task' that could be taking a large share of resources. Don't panic and don't shut it down! The process simply ensures your CPU isn't working too hard by forcing other memory-intensive Mac processes out. As a result, it might seem like one of the heaviest processes on the list. Similarly, 'mds' and 'mdworker' help index files for the Spotlight search, which sometimes spikes their appetite.
Memory: The second tab reflects how much RAM every process is taking up, which could be the most useful indicator of all. RAM is directly responsible for the speed of your Mac, so getting rid of heavy users is the fastest way to speed things up.
Another interesting feature of the Memory tab is the RAM Pressure Gauge at the bottom. If the bar is green then your Mac's RAM isn't being taxed too much. But if it turns red — consider buying additional memory for your machine.
Energy: The middle tab comes handy when you're using your MacBook without plugging it in. Here you can easily find apps and processes that drain your battery and quit them to extend your screen time.
Disk: Even though this tab might not be the most useful one for daily use, it still shows how various processes interact with your hard drive, rewriting data. If you ever happen to install some malware, you might find its processes here as large outliers and quit them just in time.
Network: The last tab in Activity Monitor reflects the amount of data received and sent by every app you have installed. Again, it's generally good for spotting outliers that might send too much data online.
Cache: If you're running macOS earlier than High Sierra, you might see another tab in Activity Monitor called Cache. It basically lists how much data your network devices have cached so far and is only useful for those who know how to clean up those caches (read more on this below).
How to open Task Manager on Mac?
Unfortunately, there are no keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open your Mac process monitor, but launching Activity Monitor is still quite simple. Pick one of the three ways to do it.
Open Activity Monitor from Spotlight:
- Press ⌘ + Space to open Spotlight
- Start typing Activity Monitor
- Once Activity Monitor comes up highlighted, hit Enter or click on it
Open Activity Monitor from Finder:
- Click on Finder in your Dock
- Navigate to Applications on the sidebar
- Choose Utilities in the Applications window
- Double-click on the Activity Monitor icon
Open Activity Monitor from Dock:
If you've been having recurring troubles, setting up Activity Monitor in your Dock is absolutely worth doing. It's essentially a handy one-click Mac Task Manager shortcut.
But before you can open Activity Monitor from your Dock, you need to use one of the previous two methods first. Then, once Activity Monitor is active:
- Right-click on the Activity Monitor icon in your Dock
- Select Options
- Choose 'Keep in Dock'
'Keep in Dock' should now have a checkmark beside it, which means it will stay in the Dock even if you quit the app — then you can launch it like any other program.
How to force quit an application?
If you're looking for answers regarding the Mac OS Task Manager, chances are it's because some app has stalled on you. There are two ways to go here.
From the Activity Monitor:
- Navigate to either the CPU or the Memory tab and find the slow process
- Click to highlight
- Press the X icon in the top toolbar
- Confirm that you're sure you want to quit the process
The other force-quit option is from the Force Quit Applications window:
- Press ⌘ + Option + Esc
- Highlight the program you want to quit
- Click Force Quit
Check out: Mac startup programs
Are there better Apple Task Manager alternatives?
While Activity Monitor is definitely the Mac equivalent of Task Manager, sometimes you want to monitor your Mac's processes a little more closely and get real time updates on your Mac's performance. iStat Menus will help you do that.
Keep your Mac controlled
iStat Menus is the single Mac monitoring tool you need for a great performance. Get updates on your Mac’s resources in a click.
iStat Menus gives you fast updates on what's using your Mac's resources at just a glance. Working hard right from the menu bar, the app displays graphs for nearly every function of your Mac, so you can instantly find out what's wrong or just notice how your Mac behaves in different conditions.
It's likely that if you need a Mac OS Task Manager it's because your computer is running slowly. But don't just address the symptom, address the cause. Instead of quitting processes, get your Mac to run smoothly overall with CleanMyMac X.
CleanMyMac X is an optimization software that's designed to improve your Mac's performance with just a few clicks. It removes user and system caches, protects against malware, uninstalls unwanted software — all to bring your Mac back up to speed. If there's an app constantly stalling or hanging up, it's probably due to a conflict with some other process — CleanMyMac X will clear it up right away:
- Open the app
- Navigate to System Junk ➙ Scan
- Review Details to see what might be wrong and hit Clean
Knowing how to use your MacBook Task Manager is essential to getting the most out of your Mac and following the tips above is a good start.
Best of all, iStat Menus and CleanMyMac X are both available for a free 7-day trial through Setapp, a platform with over 150 useful apps that turbocharge your Mac's capabilities. Now you surely won't miss the Windows Task Manager at all.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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Everyone who uses computers daily develops a set pattern. They switch on their PCs, start their respective programs, and wait while they open up. What if you don’t have to start these apps manually, and they automatically launch when you login? Sounds great, right!! So let me tell you how to set applications to launch automatically on Mac startup.
How to Set Applications to Launch Automatically on Mac Startup
The best part about automatically launching your most used applications is the time and effort saved in the process. Moreover, it is super simple to enable or disable. Along with some methods to automize your apps, I have also included some tips on managing them properly.
So make sure that you scroll all the way down. And while you are there, don’t forget to send us some love in the comment section below.
Quick Access:
How to Launch Applications on Mac Startup From the Dock
Step #1. Launch the app you want to launch automatically on Mac Startup. (Skip the step if the app is already in your Dock)
Step #2. Use secondary click (two-finger tap) or right-click to access the app’s options.
Step #3. Select Options from the listing and click on Open at Login.
That’s it!! From now onwards, the applications will launch automatically on Mac startup. While quite a simple process, it can be difficult to add multiple apps individually. Don’t worry our next solution will resolve the issue in a jiffy.
How to Add Apps to Open at Mac Startup
Step #1. Click on Apple () icon and select System Preferences from the menu.
Step #2. Select Users & Groups.
Step #3. Here, switch to the Login Items tab from the top bar.
Step #4. Click Plus(+) from the bottom of the page.
Step #5. Select the app or press Command(⌘) key to select multiple apps from the window and click on Add.
You can also add a document, folder, server, or other items to the startup list. Just go to their location, select them, and click on Add.
Using Third-Party Apps to Open Applications at Mac Startup
Is there an app for this as well?? Of course, nowadays, there’s an app for anything. My suggestion is to use CleanMyMac X, an easy to use, efficient, and useful app.
The benefit of downloading such all-inclusive Mac cleaner apps is the whole array of intriguing features they offer. Whether it is deleting duplicate files or safe uninstaller, these apps enable you to optimize your usage as much as possible.
How to Manage Apps at Startup on Mac
While it is fun to have all your apps opened for you, this may significantly delay your log-in process. In short, use this feature wisely and moderately, or this will be more of a hindrance. Here are a few features that will make managing apps at startup simpler.
Hide Login Items at System Startup on Mac
If you want an item to launch at startup, but not to pop-up on the screen. The app/folder/document hides and runs in the background, ready for whenever you need it.
For instance, apps like Photoshop or CorelDRAW can be prepped in the background while you check your mails or do some errands.
Task Manager For Apple
Step #1. Click on Apple () icon → System Preferences → Users & Groups → Login Items.
Step #2. Add the app in the listing and tick the Hide box next to it.
Note: This feature is not applicable for servers, they will always appear in the Finder after login.
Temporarily Disable Startup Apps on Mac
Task Manager In Macbook Air
There might be days when you don’t have time to enable your computer’s normal boot process. Thankfully you can temporarily stop them from launching when you log in.
Start your laptop as per usual. Type in your log-in password, press and hold the Shift key before hitting enter. Release the shift key once you see the Dock. The startup apps will not load this time, though they will behave normally otherwise.
Delay Startup Apps on Mac Startup
A very simple and basic app dubbed as Delay Start lends you an exciting way to manage startup apps. Instead of temporarily stopping auto-launch apps, it starts to fasten the log-in process.
Just stop all apps from launching automatically and add just Delay Start in the list. Now open Delay Start and add the apps you want to launch automatically. Set the launch timing from the Time Setting section and close the app.
Next time when you log-in, the Delay Start app will run automatically. And after the set time limit, all the apps added to it will start simultaneously. Though, the developer calls it an over-engineered app, in my opinion it surely makes the login process faster.
I love automation. Do you?
Mac Os X Task Manager
For quite some time, I have been using this feature to ease off my morning rituals. I start my Mac and leave the room for my tea. By the time I am back at my seat, my Slack, Safari, and Mail apps are alive and waiting for my attention. This gives me some precious time to relax and center myself for the day ahead.
If you pride yourself as a multitasker such as I, here are my favorite tips and tricks:
Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.
Task Manager Macbook Air
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