The latest update of Windows 11 has introduced a rather irritating glitch affecting many users. Those who have installed the update known as KB5067036, applicable to both Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, are facing an unusual issue: Task Manager continues to run in multiple instances even when attempts are made to close it.
Reports have surfaced indicating that if users interact with the Task Manager and then close it using the typical close button in the top right corner, the window may disappear, but the application remains active in the background. This behavior leads to the frustrating scenario where reopening Task Manager—be it through keyboard shortcuts or other methods—may result in launching a new instance. Consequently, users could find several instances running at once.
The root of this quirky glitch seems tied to the KB5067036 update, which might be interfering with the command to close Task Manager. The tool remains operational even after its window is closed, leading to an unwanted duplication experience for many. Strangely enough, this issue is confined solely to Task Manager; other utilities in Windows 11 do not seem to exhibit this behavior.
Understanding the impact of this glitch
While having multiple instances of Task Manager open may sound alarming, the overall impact on system performance isn’t severe for many users. The amount of resources consumed can vary significantly depending on the workload on a particular machine. In the testing conducted, even with common applications running, the memory usage for Task Manager hovered around 80.6 MB of RAM, and CPU usage remained below 1%. Therefore, it would require an unusually high number of instances to notice a significant spike in resource consumption.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that the specifications of individual computers play a significant role here. For instance, a machine with 8 GB of RAM may behave quite differently compared to one with 64 GB. Most users might not even open Task Manager more than once a day, so while the glitch is inconvenient, it may not be detrimental to everyday computing tasks.
Notably, KB5067036 is classified as an optional update, as it does not contain vital security enhancements. Its purpose, as stated, is to improve “functionality, performance, and reliability” within the operating system.
Possible workarounds for users
If you’ve encountered this issue after installing the update, there are a couple of temporary solutions available. The first method involves using the End Task option within Task Manager itself. By right-clicking on the unwanted instances and selecting this option, you can close them. The downside is that this requires a manual action for each instance.
The alternative is a quicker approach for those familiar with command-line operations. By typing cmd into the Windows 11 Start menu and running the Command Prompt as an administrator, you can execute the command taskkill /im taskmgr.exe /f, effectively closing all running instances of Task Manager in one go. This method offers a more streamlined experience, especially for users who find themselves facing the issue repeatedly.
As Microsoft has yet to publicly acknowledge this peculiar glitch, users are left navigating through these temporary fixes while awaiting a resolution in potential future updates. Nonetheless, the experience serves as a reminder of the intricate relationship between software updates and user experience—what is designed to improve functionality can sometimes introduce unforeseen challenges.
