New CPU Usage Formula in Windows 11 24H2 Task Manager Now Available for All Users

Understanding Changes in CPU Usage Calculations in Windows 11 24H2 KB5058411

The Windows 11 24H2 KB5058411, released in May 2025, has made significant updates to how CPU usage is calculated in Task Manager. With this update, the formulas for CPU usage in the Processes tab now align with the established metrics used in the Performance and Users tabs. This shift marks a substantial improvement in accuracy, helping users accurately assess CPU performance across the board.

Main Features of the Update

Unified CPU Usage Metrics: The Processes tab now adheres to a single formula that is consistent with industry standards, which enhances the clarity and reliability of the data presented.
Accurate Performance Monitoring: Users will now see a direct correlation between the CPU usage percentages displayed in all tabs, addressing previous discrepancies that could confuse performance diagnostics.
Legacy Support: Users who prefer the earlier metrics can revert to the old calculations by accessing the Details tab and selecting Show CPU Utility.

Previous CPU Usage Calculation Methodology

Historically, the Processes tab employed a proprietary metric known as “Processor Utility.”In contrast, the Performance and Users tabs have relied on a more precise standard, specifically % Processor Time/Utility. This divergence in metrics led to confusion, especially for users monitoring CPU performance closely.

The Processes tab did not account for the number of CPU cores when calculating usage; thus, if even a single core was active in an octo-core CPU, it would inaccurately report CPU usage as 100%.Additionally, the legacy metric’s ties to base clock rates sometimes produced readings over 100% when turbo boost features were engaged, leading users to question their system’s reliability.

New and Improved CPU Usage Formula

Post-update, Windows 11 now utilizes a standardized formula for calculating CPU usage across the board:

CPU % = (Δ Process CPU Time) ÷ (Δ Elapsed Time × Logical Processors)

This enhancement ensures that if the total CPU usage displays as 69%, the cumulative CPU usage from individual processes will reflect that same percentage, thereby simplifying performance assessment for users.

Alignment with Industry Standards

This pivotal update aligns Windows 11 Task Manager with frameworks utilized by various performance monitoring tools, including perfmon and PowerShell commands like Get-Counter. Consequently, IT professionals and power users will benefit from a far more coherent and accurate representation of CPU metrics, making it easier to diagnose system performance issues.

For those interested in further resources and updates regarding CPU performance monitoring within Windows, be sure to check out the official Windows official site as well as the Task Manager usage article for detailed analytical guidance.