Windows 11 just gave Task Manager a smart new feature to tame resource-hungry apps.
Note that this change is currently in preview only, with the new Build 22557 rolling out to testers earlier this week, complete with a host of useful moves, including an enhancement to the Builder. task management.
You may remember that the Task Manager was changed to give it a look that better matches the sleek and modern look of Windows 11, along with a polished look, but there’s another big introduction in Build 22557 and it’s Efficiency mode.
The idea with this feature is when you detect an application is using a lot of system resources (CPU, GPU, memory or maybe all of them!) in Task Manager, instead of killing it. to free up resources – which you may not want to do or may have unfortunate consequences – you can switch it to Active mode.
As Microsoft has made clear, this will push the application in question right down the priority list when it comes to system resource allocation, thus regulating its resource usage, making your PC responsive. – if it’s operating under that particular workload – and provide better power efficiency.
Apps or services that are in Efficient mode will be marked with a small leaf icon, with suspended apps having a pause icon (as shown in the screenshot above).
Note that some processes may not be eligible for Efficient mode, such as Windows core services, where disabling them can actually negatively affect system performance. and slow down your pc. In these cases, the option to enable Effective mode will be grayed out, ensuring you can’t do any harm playing with this new tool.
Analysis: Microsoft is slowing it down with Efficiency mode
Efficiency mode will certainly prove a useful possibility for Windows 11 users whose machines are running slow thanks to an application that is dominating resource usage, as it makes it easier to tame such a process without needing to use it. must completely pour it.
As we mentioned at the outset, it can be a particularly valuable asset for those running Windows 11 on a laptop, where demanding applications not only slow down the system. but also increase power usage and thus drain more battery. With these types of programs tamed through the Efficiency mode, users can expect more overall battery life, one of the top concerns for portable computers.
As noted, this feature is currently only in beta, but it’s not yet available to all testers and is rolling out to a small number of Windows Insiders to begin with. Microsoft appears to be taking this cautiously and will “monitor the feedback and see how it reaches out before making it available to the public”.
We can expect Efficiency mode to launch with Windows 11 22H2 when it launches in the second half of this year.
