Windows · Open Task Manager
System
Windows · Linux
Ctrl+Shift+EscMac
Not on this systemOpens Task Manager directly, one step shorter than going through the security screen with Ctrl+Alt+Delete, which is what you want when something is frozen.
- Group
- System
- Keys held
- 3
Win-key combinations are captured before any program sees them — nothing can clash with them, and nothing can override them either.
Reading the key names
- Keys joined by + are pressed together: Ctrl+Shift+P means hold Ctrl and Shift, then P.
- On a Mac, Cmd is ⌘, Option is ⌥ (labelled Alt on some keyboards), Control is ⌃ and Shift is ⇧.
- Windows Ctrl usually becomes Cmd on a Mac, but not always — this reference lists both combinations separately.
- With a Korean, Japanese or Chinese input method active, shortcuts built on letter keys may not fire. Switch to Latin input and try again.
- When a combination does nothing, another program has often claimed it as a global shortcut first.
Common questions
Q. What is the shortcut for Open Task Manager in Windows?
Opens Task Manager directly, one step shorter than going through the security screen with Ctrl+Alt+Delete, which is what you want when something is frozen. It is Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows and — on a Mac.
Q. Is it the same on Windows and Mac?
No — Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows, — on a Mac.
Q. How many keys is that?
3 pressed together. The combination sits under System in Windows.