How-To

How to Find the Process ID for Apps on Windows 11

By Brian Burgess

Published February 15, 2023

You might need a process ID to troubleshoot an app or your system’s performance. You can find the process ID for apps on Windows 11 using this guide.

Every app on your Windows system has a unique process ID (PID). This PID value is used to identify running processes within Windows. Knowing the PID comes in handy in different troubleshooting scenarios.

For example, the PID can help you identify two files using the same app simultaneously. The PID is also helpful when debugging an app, terminating a process manually, or checking system resources.

Whatever your reason, follow the steps below to find the process ID for apps on Windows 10 or 11.

How to Find a Process ID (PID) via Task Manager

One of the straightforward ways to get the PID via the Windows GUI is by finding them in Task Manager.

To find an app’s process ID using Task Manager on Windows:

1. Launch Task Manager on your PC.
2. Select the Details tab from the options on the right.
3. Select the PID column and confirm an app’s process ID. You can sort them by PID for easier access if needed.
4. You can also select the Services tab and verify a particular service’s process ID in the PID column.

How to Find a Process ID Using Resource Monitor

In addition to finding an app’s PID in Task Manager, you can also find them in the seldom-used Resource Monitor console. Resource Monitor is a helpful troubleshooting tool that allows you to check information about hardware and software on your system.

To find a PID value using Resource Monitor:

1. Press the Windows key or click the Start button.
2. Type resource monitor and select the top result.
3. Click the Overview tab and confirm the process ID for the apps and services from the PID column.

How to Find an App or Service Process ID Using PowerShell

If you prefer the command line interface experience, you can run a few commands in PowerShell and find the PID you are looking for. You can also use the newer Windows Terminal app, if you prefer.

To find a process ID using PowerShell:

1. Press the Windows key or click the Start button.
2. Type PowerShell and select the Run as Administrator link in the right column.
3. When the terminal launches, run the following command and press Enter:

   Get-Process

4. It will generate a list of process IDs for running apps and services. It will also display additional information like the process name.
5. While the above gives you a lengthy list, you might want to narrow it down to a specific app. To do that, run the following command where you replace “Process-Name” with the actual app you are looking for. For example, we are looking for the PID for Word and Notepad.

   tasklist /svc /FI "ImageName eq Process-Name*"

   

6. Use the following command to view a list of PIDs for app executables only:

   tasklist /apps

   

Getting System Information with Windows

Whether you need to find an app or process PID for coding or troubleshooting, the steps above allow you to find them easily. For example, you might notice that there is a different PID if there are multiple instances of an app that are running. That is normal, so the system identifies each instance.

Finding system information is important, and Windows includes other tools to find different types of system info and specs. For example, you might need to view all user accounts on a Windows 11 PC. Or you may need to find your PC’s total uptime or determine connected printer models and serial numbers.

If you are doing network troubleshooting, you’ll need to know your PC’s IP address and use Windows to find your router’s IP address. And if you plan to upgrade to your system’s hardware, learn how to find available memory slots, find hardware and system specs, and find the Intel CPU generation.

If you need to do a software upgrade or install an app or game, you might need to find your version of Windows 11 next.