Windows 11 Task Manager Bug: Process Duplication Instead of Closure

Unraveling an Odd Windows 11 Task Manager Bug

Complex software systems, like Windows, are often prone to bugs, but it’s amusing when these glitches impact features expected to be robust, such as Task Manager. A newly identified issue in the latest Windows 11 non-security update for the 24H2 and 25H2 versions showcases this irony.

The Bug: Task Manager’s Duplicating Processes

The recent update has introduced a peculiar problem where closing Task Manager does not terminate its background process. Instead, when reopened, it creates additional instances, leading to a situation where users may find multiple duplicates of Task Manager running concurrently. This can quickly become overwhelming—imagine launching Task Manager several times to discover your screen cluttered with identical processes!

Bug in Windows 11 Task Manager with duplicated processes — This is getting out of hand. Now, there are ~~two~~ five of them!

Resource Impact and Solutions

While Task Manager itself isn’t resource-intensive, having an excessive number of its processes running can strain system performance, particularly on lower-end hardware. If you’re faced with this multitude of duplicates, a simple restart of your computer is often the quickest fix.

Alternatively, you can manually stop all duplicate processes by using the “End task”command. This approach ensures that upon reopening Task Manager, you won’t inadvertently create additional copies. Another effective strategy includes utilizing the jump list feature; right-click the misbehaving app’s taskbar icon and select “End process”to terminate it instantly—a little-known but invaluable trick for Windows 11 users.

Enabling Hidden Features

Sadly, not all users are aware of this feature, as it is a recent addition to Windows 11 and is disabled by default. To activate it, navigate to Settings > Advanced and toggle on the End Task option.

Current Status of the Bug

As of now, Microsoft has not officially acknowledged this bug. Our tests conducted on various systems and virtual machines with the latest Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 reveal that this problem persists across multiple setups.

Stay updated about such issues as they may affect your computing experience, and don’t hesitate to employ the tips mentioned above to manage your system processes efficiently.

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