How to check which programs are slowing down your computer
Both Windows and macOS have a built-in tool that shows exactly which program is using the most CPU, memory, or disk — no need to install anything extra.
Windows: Task Manager
Open Task Manager and sort processes
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to the "Processes" tab, and click the CPU, Memory, or Disk column header to sort the list from the most demanding down.
Use Resource Monitor for deeper diagnosis
On the "Performance" tab, you'll find a link to "Open Resource Monitor" — it shows even more detailed data on exactly which process is responsible for the load.
macOS: Activity Monitor
Open Activity Monitor
Press Command + Space, type "Activity Monitor," and press Enter — or find it under Applications → Utilities.
Switch between the CPU and Memory tabs
The CPU tab shows which apps are using the most processing power. The Memory tab shows a memory pressure graph — the closer to red, the more strained the system is.
What to do with this information
Finding the specific process taking an unusual amount of resources lets you make a targeted decision: close it, update it, or — if its name tells you nothing and it's behaving suspiciously — report it for a check instead of guessing at the cause of general slowness.
When it's a job for IT
- You see an unfamiliar process with a strange name consistently using a lot of resources.
- The load is high even though no single process explains it.
- The check points to a specific company application that regularly uses a disproportionate share of resources.
Couldn't fix it yourself?
Report the issue — it goes straight into our ticketing system, and our AI assistant assesses priority right away.