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In Windows 8.1, with each restart, when I launch the Task Manager the first time during a session, it defaults to the Fewer Details view like so:

Windows 8.1 Task Manager in "Fewer Details" mode

I can get to the More Details view by clicking the More Details arrow, resulting in this:

Windows 8.1 Task Manager in "More Details" mode

Is there anyway to cause Windows to always default to the More Details view?

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  • I did this once and when I run now Taskmgr I always get all details.
    – magicandre1981
    Jun 20, 2015 at 6:13
  • @magicandre1981 Does it stay that way after a reboot though? Mine changes back after rebooting.
    – Trav
    Jun 20, 2015 at 13:10
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    yes, it stays there.
    – magicandre1981
    Jun 20, 2015 at 18:06
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    @magicandre1981: Perhaps you could leave the window set to "less details" -> export the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\TaskManager\Preferences -> set Task Manager to "more details" -> reboot -> check if "more details" is still on -> export registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\TaskManager\Preferences again -> compare the differences... I've read that things like the "always on top" and interval values can be changed by changing the hex values. Careful, though, the values are BINARY.
    – Kinnectus
    Jul 15, 2015 at 16:00
  • @BigChris here are the files: dropbox.com/sh/8d9krai10j7hw3q/AACB6sIfwVZowr4sHOzKpWjba?dl=0. I exported them from a Windows 8.1
    – magicandre1981
    Jul 15, 2015 at 16:15

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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+50
  1. Leave Task Manager set to "less details"
  2. Export the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\TaskManager\Preferences and save it to, say, your Desktop
  3. Set Task Manager to "more details"
  4. Restart your computer (to simulate the settings being reverted)
  5. Re-open Task Manager and check if "more details" is still on
  6. Export registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\TaskManager\Preferences again
  7. Compare the differences of the registry keys (in the exported .reg files on your Desktop)

I've read that things like the "always on top" and refresh interval values can be changed by changing the hex values. Careful, though, the values are BINARY so decoding and working them out could be difficult...

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  • Do you have any idea if the values that change and what they will change in to will always be the same?
    – marijnr
    Oct 30, 2018 at 9:18
  • @marijnr are you asking if there is a specific location in the binary data that identifies the specific change? I'm sorry, I've absolutely no idea... the file being binary may not have set locations because of such preferences as which columns and orders you set which, inevitably, will change the binary entry and its length.
    – Kinnectus
    Oct 31, 2018 at 10:47
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The display should default to the More Details view if in the View menu one unchecks the "Group by type" option :

image

For further customization of the display, right-click on the area where column names are displayed (name, memory, etc.), then enable other options such as "Process name" :

image

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  • I clicked the "More Options" button when I first started Task Managed & it's stayed the same ever since & I shut my machine down every night. Not sure why yours would keep changing back... Will keep having a look online and see if there is anything on making this change permanent. For more info on Task Manager, there are some helpful tips & tricks here: nextofwindows.com/… :)
    – James
    Jul 17, 2015 at 8:48
  • @Trav have you been having any more problems with your Task Manager reverting back to the Simple mode recently?
    – James
    Jul 21, 2015 at 10:45

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