How to View Programs Running in Background
In today’s fast-paced digital world, multitasking is a necessity. Many of us have several programs running simultaneously in the background, each performing various tasks without our direct interaction. However, there may come a time when you need to view these background programs to manage system resources, troubleshoot issues, or simply out of curiosity. This article will guide you through the process of viewing programs running in the background on different operating systems.
Windows
On Windows, there are several ways to view background programs:
1. Task Manager: The most common method is to use the Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager.” In the Processes tab, you will see a list of all running programs, including those in the background.
2. Resource Monitor: Another option is the Resource Monitor, which provides more detailed information about system resources. Press Windows + R, type “resmon,” and press Enter. In the Overview tab, you can see a list of processes and their resource usage.
3. Command Prompt: For a quick overview, you can also use the Command Prompt. Press Windows + R, type “cmd,” and press Enter. Then, type “tasklist” and press Enter. This will display a list of all running processes.
macOS
On macOS, you can view background programs using the Activity Monitor:
1. Open the Activity Monitor by searching for it in Spotlight (Cmd + Space) or by navigating to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
2. In the Activity Monitor window, you will see several tabs, including CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, and Network. Each tab shows the usage of that particular resource by the programs running in the background.
3. To view all processes, click on the “CPU” or “Memory” tab. You will see a list of all running programs, sorted by their resource usage.
Linux
On Linux, you can use the top or htop command to view background programs:
1. Open a terminal window (you can usually find it in the Applications > System Tools > Terminal menu).
2. Type “top” and press Enter. This will display a list of all running processes, sorted by CPU usage.
3. Alternatively, you can install htop by running “sudo apt-get install htop” (for Debian/Ubuntu) or “sudo yum install htop” (for CentOS/RHEL). Once installed, you can open htop by typing “htop” in the terminal.
In conclusion, viewing programs running in the background is a crucial skill for managing your system effectively. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can easily monitor and manage background programs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
