Windows 11 changed how Task Manager reports CPU utilization on its Processes, Performance, and Users pages. The change standardizes the figures across those views; it does not, by itself, mean your workload or processor performance changed. To see the older Processes-page figure on a supported installation, enable the optional CPU Utility column on the Details page.
What changed in Task Manager’s CPU readings?
Microsoft said Task Manager would change the CPU utilization calculation used on the Processes, Performance, and Users pages so those views use consistent, standard metrics. The old Processes-page value remains available as an optional column named CPU Utility on the Details page, hidden by default. Microsoft’s change description, reported by Windows Central, frames this as a reporting-method change—not a change to the CPU itself.
Before the change, figures could differ between Task Manager pages because they did not all represent CPU activity in the same way. The new calculation is intended to make the built-in views easier to compare. Microsoft has not published a measured performance gain or a quantified user-outcome figure for the change.
Why can two CPU percentages describe different things?
Microsoft distinguishes between time-based processor counters and utility counters. Processor Time measures the percentage of time a processor is busy. Processor Utility measures work performed while taking the processor’s performance state into account, including Turbo Boost. Since one describes busy time and the other describes work in light of performance state, their percentages can differ without either reading necessarily being erroneous. Microsoft’s explanation of Processor Utility and Processor Time describes this distinction.
#1 Best Overall
That is why a changed Task Manager number alone does not establish that a program started using more CPU, that the processor became faster, or that the computer’s workload changed. First check which view or counter is reporting the number.
How to show the old Processes-page value
- Open Task Manager.
- Select Details.
- Right-click a column header.
- Select CPU Utility in the column list.
The column is optional and hidden by default. Its availability depends on the Windows update state of the PC; the reported rollout does not establish that every Windows 11 device received it simultaneously.
When did the change roll out?
The change was first described in the Windows Insider build context in March 2025. On August 29, 2025, BleepingComputer reported that it was rolling out with the Windows 11 24H2 KB5064081 preview, which updates systems to build 26100.5074. These are rollout details, not a guarantee that every PC received the change on that date. BleepingComputer’s rollout report covers the preview and the legacy-column option.
Why might Task Manager still differ from another monitoring tool?
Microsoft says the updated Task Manager figures are intended to align with industry standards and third-party tools, but that does not guarantee an exact match in every comparison. Monitoring tools may use different counters or sampling approaches. Microsoft’s CPU analysis documentation notes that sampling-based views can miss activity between samples, so the measurement method matters when interpreting differences.
Recommended Free Tools
For a useful comparison, check that you are looking at the same time interval, processor scope, and type of measurement. A brief discrepancy is not enough on its own to diagnose a problem.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the later Task Manager updates do—and do not—mean
Microsoft’s June 23, 2026 update note for KB5095091 (OS Build 28000.2340) describes other Task Manager changes: optional NPU and NPU Engine columns, NPU memory columns, GPU neural engines on the Performance page, and a CPU speed-display improvement for virtual machines resuming from hibernation. Those are separate updates; they are not evidence of another CPU utilization calculation change. Microsoft’s KB5095091 preview note lists those changes.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Less chaos, more calm. The refreshed design of Windows 11 enables you to do what you want effortlessly.
- Biometric logins. Encrypted authentication. And, of course, advanced antivirus defenses. Everything you need, plus more, to protect you against the latest cyberthreats.
- Make the most of your screen space with snap layouts, desktops, and seamless redocking.
- Widgets makes staying up-to-date with the content you love and the news you care about, simple.
- Stay in touch with friends and family with Microsoft Teams, which can be seamlessly integrated into your taskbar. (1)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
