Windows 11’s Task Manager Is Broken After Latest Update
If you recently installed the Windows 11 update KB5067036, you might have noticed something strange happening with the Task Manager. Many users are reporting a bug where opening and closing Task Manager repeatedly causes multiple instances of it to appear—and they don’t close properly. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do about it.
The Problem
After installing the KB5067036 update (part of the Windows 11 25H2 release), each time you open and close Task Manager, Windows fails to shut it down correctly. Instead, it creates duplicate Task Manager processes that remain running in the background.
Over time, this can lead to:
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Increased CPU usage
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Higher RAM consumption
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Slower system performance
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Even potential crashes or freezes, especially while gaming or doing intensive tasks
Essentially, the more times you open Task Manager, the more copies of it start running—and all of them consume system resources.
How to Check and Fix It
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Open Task Manager once and check if multiple instances are already running under the Processes tab.
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Right-click on the extra Task Manager entries (make sure you keep the main one open under Apps) and select End Task.
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To completely clear them, the safest fix is to restart your PC.
Avoid opening Task Manager repeatedly until Microsoft fixes this issue in a future update.
Why This Happens
The KB5067036 update introduced several improvements and new features—including a redesigned Start menu and other system upgrades. However, as a preview update, it’s not yet a stable release. Preview updates are optional and mainly meant for users who want to test new features early.
If you have the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option enabled in your Windows Update settings, you likely received this preview automatically. While it brings exciting changes, it also means you might encounter bugs like this one.
How to Stay Stable
If you prefer a smooth, stable experience without unexpected issues:
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Go to Settings > Windows Update
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Turn off the option that says “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available”
This ensures you’ll only receive fully tested, stable updates.
Good News
Despite this Task Manager glitch, the KB5067036 update also fixes a long-standing Windows bug: the “Update and Shut Down” issue. Previously, selecting this option would restart the computer instead of shutting it down. Now, it finally shuts down properly after an update—a small but welcome improvement.
Final Thoughts
If you have the KB5067036 update installed, try to avoid using Task Manager frequently until Microsoft rolls out a fix. If you need to use it, make sure to clean up any duplicate instances or restart your PC afterward.
I’ve also made a video on this topic — you can watch it below.
Check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.