Task Manager

How To Make A Game High Priority In Task Manager

Are you tired of experiencing lag and low performance in your favorite games? What if I told you there's a simple way to boost your game's performance and make it a high priority in the Task Manager? By following a few steps, you can ensure that your game receives the necessary resources it needs to run smoothly and without interruption. Say goodbye to frustrating stutters and hello to an enhanced gaming experience. So, let's dive into how to make a game high priority in Task Manager.

In Task Manager, you can assign a higher priority level to a specific game, allowing your system to allocate more resources to it. By doing this, the game will receive preferential treatment and have access to more processing power, which can greatly improve its performance. With the increasing demand for graphics-intensive games, making your game a high priority in Task Manager is a crucial step in maximizing your gaming experience. So, let's explore the steps you need to follow to accomplish this and unleash the full potential of your favorite games.



How To Make A Game High Priority In Task Manager

Understanding Task Manager and Game Priority

Task Manager is a powerful tool in Windows operating systems that allows users to view and manage running processes and applications. It provides valuable information about the system's performance and resource usage. One important feature of Task Manager is the ability to set the priority of a process, giving it higher or lower precedence over other processes. This can be particularly useful when running demanding applications such as games, as it allows you to allocate more system resources to enhance the gaming experience. In this article, we will explore how to make a game high priority in Task Manager, optimizing your system's performance for an optimal gaming experience.

Step 1: Opening Task Manager

The first step in making a game a high priority in Task Manager is to open Task Manager itself. There are several ways to do this, and you can choose the one that suits you best. One way to open Task Manager is by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting "Task Manager" from the context menu. Another way is to use the keyboard shortcut by pressing "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" and selecting "Task Manager" from the options. You can also use the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" shortcut to directly open Task Manager without the need for additional steps. Once Task Manager is open, you will see a list of running processes and applications.

Note: If you are unable to open Task Manager or if it is not responding, it could be due to system issues or malware. In such cases, it is recommended to run a thorough system scan and seek technical assistance if needed.

Step 2: Locating the Game Process

Once Task Manager is open, the next step is to locate the process of the game you want to set as a high priority. The processes are listed under the "Processes" or "Details" tab in Task Manager, depending on the version of Windows you are using. The game process may be listed with the game's name or executable file name. Look for the process that corresponds to the game you want to prioritize.

In some cases, the process name may be unfamiliar or cryptic. To easily identify the game process, you can check the "CPU" or "Memory" columns in Task Manager. The game process is likely to be one that utilizes a significant amount of CPU or memory resources. You can also take note of the game's name or executable file location before opening Task Manager to easily locate it later.

Note: It is essential to verify that the game is running before proceeding with setting it as a high priority. If the game process is not listed in Task Manager, it may not be running, and you will not be able to assign it a priority.

Step 3: Changing the Game Priority

Now that you have located the game process in Task Manager, you can proceed to change its priority to make it a high priority. To do this, follow the steps below:

  • Right-click on the game process in Task Manager.
  • Hover over the "Set Priority" option.
  • A submenu will appear with several priority options, including "Real-time," "High," "Above Normal," "Normal," "Below Normal," and "Low."
  • Select the "High" or "Real-time" option to assign the game a higher priority.

Note: It is worth mentioning that setting a process to "Real-time" priority should be done with caution. Assigning a process "Real-time" priority means it will have exclusive access to system resources, potentially affecting the performance of other processes. Therefore, it is advisable to set the priority to "High" for most gaming scenarios.

Step 4: Confirming the Priority Change

After changing the game's priority, you can confirm whether the priority change has taken effect by monitoring the game's performance and system resource allocation. You can do this by observing the game's overall performance, including any improvements in frame rates, reduced lag, or smoother gameplay. Additionally, you can also check Task Manager to see if the game process is now listed as a high priority.

If the game process is listed under the "Processes" or "Details" tab and its priority is displayed as high, then the priority change has been successfully applied. However, if the priority does not reflect the change, you can repeat the process and ensure that you correctly set the priority to "High" or "Real-time."

Note: It is important to note that changing the priority of a game may not always result in significant performance improvements, especially if the game is not bottlenecked by system resources. The impact of priority changes may vary depending on the game's coding, optimization, and hardware limitations.

Additional Considerations

Making a game a high priority in Task Manager can potentially improve its performance and ensure it has access to adequate system resources. However, there are a few additional considerations to keep in mind:

1. System Requirements

Before attempting to set a game as a high priority, it is important to ensure that your system meets the game's minimum requirements. Inadequate system specifications may result in performance issues regardless of priority settings. Check the game's official website or documentation for the recommended system requirements and compare them to your system's specifications.

If your system falls below the recommended requirements, upgrading hardware components such as the CPU, GPU, or RAM may yield better performance improvements than priority adjustments alone.

2. Background Processes

While setting a game as a high priority can allocate more system resources to it, it is important to consider the impact on other processes running in the background. Some processes, such as antivirus scans or system updates, may require sufficient resources to operate effectively. Assigning a game a high priority may limit the resources available to these background processes and cause issues in their functioning.

To ensure a balanced allocation of resources, it is recommended to close unnecessary background processes and applications before starting a game. This can free up resources and prevent conflicts between the game and other critical processes.

3. System Stability

Making a game a high priority in Task Manager can potentially put additional strain on your system's hardware components. If your system is not adequately cooled or if the hardware is not capable of handling the increased workload, it may result in system instability, such as crashes, freezes, or overheating.

Ensure that your system has sufficient cooling mechanisms, such as fans or liquid cooling systems, to dissipate the heat generated by the increased resource usage. It is also advisable to monitor your system's temperature during intense gaming sessions to prevent any damage caused by overheating.

Optimizing Your Gaming Experience

Setting a game as a high priority in Task Manager can be a useful optimization technique to enhance your gaming experience. However, it is important to approach this method with caution and understand its limitations. While priority adjustments can potentially improve game performance, other factors such as system specifications, background processes, and system stability also play significant roles.

By following the steps outlined in this article and considering the additional considerations, you can optimize your system's performance and enjoy a smoother gaming experience. Remember to regularly update your drivers, maintain a clean and organized system, and utilize other optimization techniques to further enhance your gaming setup.


How To Make A Game High Priority In Task Manager

Changing Game Priority in Task Manager

As a professional gamer or game developer, you may want to allocate more system resources to your game to enhance performance and reduce lag. One way to achieve this is by setting a high priority for your game in the Task Manager. This ensures that your game receives preferential treatment from your computer's CPU and other system resources.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make a game high priority in the Task Manager:

  • Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard or right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting "Task Manager" from the menu.
  • Navigate to the "Processes" or "Details" tab, depending on your operating system.
  • Find the game you want to set as high priority in the list of processes.
  • Right-click on the game and select "Set Priority." Choose the "High" option if available.
  • Confirm your selection when prompted.
  • Close the Task Manager and launch your game. It should now run with a higher priority, receiving more system resources.

Key Takeaways: How to Make a Game High Priority in Task Manager

  • Setting a game to high priority in Task Manager can improve performance.
  • To make a game high priority, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
  • Go to the "Processes" or "Details" tab and find the game process.
  • Right-click on the game process and select "Set Priority" or "Set Affinity."
  • Choose "High" or "Realtime" to prioritize the game over other processes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction: When playing games on your computer, you may want to ensure that the game runs smoothly without any lags or performance issues. One way to achieve this is by making the game a high priority in the Task Manager. Here are some commonly asked questions and their answers on how to do that.

1. Why should I make a game high priority in Task Manager?

Making a game high priority in Task Manager allocates more system resources to the game, ensuring it gets the necessary CPU power and memory. This can improve the game's performance and reduce lags or frame drops, providing a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience.

2. How do I make a game high priority in Task Manager?

To make a game high priority in Task Manager, follow these steps: 1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. 2. Go to the "Processes" or "Details" tab, depending on your operating system. 3. Locate the game process in the list. 4. Right-click on the game process and select "Set Priority" or "Priority" in the context menu. 5. Choose "High" or "Realtime" from the options available. 6. Confirm any pop-up dialogues if prompted. 7. The game should now be running at a higher priority, utilizing more system resources.


In conclusion, making a game high priority in Task Manager can help optimize its performance and ensure a smoother gaming experience. By allocating more system resources to the game, it allows it to run more efficiently and reduces the chances of lag or crashes. Setting a game to high priority can be done easily by accessing the Task Manager, right-clicking on the game process, and selecting "Set Priority" followed by "High".

However, it is essential to note that setting a game to high priority may impact the performance of other processes running on your computer. It is recommended to close unnecessary programs and background tasks before elevating the priority of the game. Additionally, regularly updating your drivers, performing system maintenance, and ensuring you have sufficient hardware resources can also contribute to an optimized gaming experience.


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