Chrome uses a multiprocess architecture, so your open tabs can run as individual processes. When your browser malfunctions and freezes or lags, it may be difficult to identify which extension or browser is causing the problem.
This is where Chrome’s task manager helps you. Besides monitoring your system resources, it allows you to end individual processes, so you can get your browser working again without restarting it.
How to Access Chrome’s Task Manager
There are two methods you can use to launch the task manager.
Open Chrome’s menu by clicking the More icon in the top-right corner. Then, go to More tools and select Task Manager.
Or use the Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut if you’re using a Windows computer. For a Chromebook, press the Search + Esc key combination.
How to Use Google Chrome’s Task Manager
Google Chrome is known for hogging your system resources, so the task manager is the perfect tool to keep a close eye on Chrome’s processes.
Once you’ve launched the task manager, it will display a list of your open tabs, processes, and installed extensions. Also, it will show you information about each of them such as how much memory they’re using, process ID, or network activity.
If you notice one of the tabs or extensions is taking too much of your system resources, select it and click End process. If you notice a shady Google Chrome extension, double-click it. This will take you to the installed extensions menu, where you can remove it from your browser.
In case you need to end more processes, press and hold Shift or Ctrl to select multiple tasks.
Get More Information on Chrome From the Task Manager
By default, the task manager doesn’t show a lot of information about ongoing processes, so it may not be enough to troubleshoot most common Chrome errors. However, you can configure which information the Chrome task manager displays.
Right-click anywhere inside the list and select which category should task manager display. To add a new category, simply click it from the pop-up menu. You can check information about image cache, scrip cache, start time, JavaScript memory, and another over 15 categories.
Chrome’s task manager allows you to sort categories by clicking on its heading. For example, you can find out which process uses a lot of your GPU memory.
Monitor Chrome’s Processes With Task Manager
Chrome’s task manager is a great tool if you need to free up some of your system resources. If Google Chrome crashes or freezes a lot and closing a few processes with task manager isn’t enough, you should try more advanced fixes.
