Set Default Tab for Task Manager in Windows 10

With Windows 10 version 1903, also known as "19H1", it will be possible to set a default tab for the Task Manager app. As you may remember, the classic Task Manager was able to remember the last open tab. The modern Task Manager app is missing that feature, so the ability to set a default tab is a welcome change for users who regularly switch between tabs.

Windows 8 and Windows 10 have a new Task Manager app. It looks completely different compared to Windows 7's Task Manager and has different features. It can analyze the performance of various hardware components and also shows you all the processes running in your user session, grouped by app or process type.

Windows 10's Task Manager has some nice features, like a performance graph and startup impact calculation. It is able to control which apps launch during startup. There is a special tab "Startup" which is designed to manage startup apps.

Tip: You can save your time by creating a special shortcut to open the Task Manager directly on the Startup tab.

Also, it is possible to make Task Manager show the command line of apps on the Processes, Details and Startup tabs. When enabled, it will allow you to quickly see which folder an app is launched from, and what its command line arguments are. For reference, see the article

Show Command Line in Windows 10 Task Manager

In addition to these great features, Task Manager is able to show DPI awareness for processes.

The upcoming Windows 10 "19H1" will bring more useful features to Task Manager. There is a new menu command under "Options" that allows specifying a default tab.

To set  a default tab for Task Manager in Windows 10, do the following.

1. Open the Task Manager app.
2. Select Options > Set default tab from the main menu.
3. Select the desired tab from the submenu.
4. The next time you open Task Manager, it will open with that tab activated.

You are done.

Alternatively, you can apply a Registry tweak.

Set Default Tab for Task Manager with a Registry Tweak

1. Open the Registry Editor app.
2. Go to the following Registry key.

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TaskManager

   See how to go to a Registry key with one click.

3. On the right, modify or create a new 32-Bit DWORD value StartUpTab.
   Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows you must still create a 32-bit DWORD value.
   Set its value to one of the following values:
   • 0 = Processes
   • 1 = Performance
   • 2 = App history
   • 3 = Startup
   • 4 = Users
   • 5 = Details
   • 6 = Services
4. To make the changes done by the Registry tweak take effect, you need to re-open the Task Manager app.

That's it!

Articles of interest.

• Show Command Line in Windows 10 Task Manager
• Backup Task Manager Settings in Windows 10
• See DPI Awareness in Task Manager in Windows 10
• Power Usage in Task Manager in Windows 10 Version 1809
• Task Manager Now Groups Processes by App
• Get more details about Startup in Windows Task Manager
• Remove Dead Entries from the Startup Tab in Task Manager
• How to open the Startup tab of Task Manager directly in Windows 10
• How to see if process is 32-bit on Details tab of Task Manager
• How to end a process quickly with Task Manager in Windows 10
• How to copy process details from the Task manager in Windows 10
• Get classic old Task Manager in Windows 10
• Use both Task Managers at once in Windows 10 and Windows 8
• Turn Task Manager into a widget with the Summary View feature
• A hidden way to open the command prompt from Task Manager