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5 Ways to Find the Process ID for Apps in Windows 11
Inspect and troubleshoot processes more effectively
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Windows is a user-friendly operating system and handles most tasks at the back end with minimal human intervention. And for that, it allots a PID. While regular users don’t need it, finding the process ID for an application is important to some.
If you look through the Task Manager, there would be several tasks running under a parent process. How do you identify these individually? That’s where the PID comes into the picture. It’s also useful when terminating a subprocess or verifying the current one.
For those wondering what this Application ID is, it’s a distinct number assigned to each running process by Windows, or, for that matter, every operating system.
So, let’s find out how to get the process ID for an application in Windows.
How do I find an application’s process ID in Windows 11?
1. Via the Task Manager
Task Manager is surely the easiest way to find the process ID for an application. And given that most of us are already used to it, things should be all the more simple. Also, the Task Manager clubs all sub-processes, making the identification easier.
2. Using the Resource Monitor
Resource Monitor is a built-in tool that lists how the processes are interacting with the OS and the hardware and software resources consumed by each.
3. From the Command Prompt
4. With Windows PowerShell
Windows PowerShell is a useful command-line utility that helps perform advanced actions in no time. Besides, you cancheck the process start timeto further troubleshoot application-related issues using PowerShell.
5. Through a dedicated app
When it comes to something as simple as finding the PID, you don’t necessarily need a third-party app. Especially one that comes with a paid license. But Microsoft’sProcess Explorerwill do the job for free!
Simply head to theofficial website, downloadProcess Explorer, run it (doesn’t require installation), and you will find a column dedicated to PID. Besides, you can use the utility toterminate all processes in Windows.
What can you do with a process ID?
Many use the application or process ID to check the CPU memory usage and identify which process is hogging the maximum resources. This helpsboost the system’s performance.
And for those wondering, does a process ID ever changes, the answer is no! They don’t change as long as the process is active. But after the process is terminated or you reboot the OS, Windows may change the PID.
At the same time, Windows does reuse the process IDs. When assigning one, it will pick an ID from the available lot. This process ID could have been allotted to another previously terminated process.
Again, most of us would never need to find the process ID for an application. But for those who would, a deep understanding of the concept is imperative, especially the ones who develop codes or face performance issues.
Remember, if the computer seems slow, it could be the high number of processes to blame. So, you may want to find outhow many processes should be running in Windows 11.
For any queries or to share more methods to find the PIDs, drop a comment below.
More about the topics:apps,resource monitor,Task Manager
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
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Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim is specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
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