Windows 11 Update Revamps CPU Utilization Measurement for Consistency with Third-Party Tools

Microsoft is shaking things up with its latest Windows 11 update by enhancing Task Manager’s CPU monitoring capabilities. Historically, Task Manager lagged behind third-party apps in providing accurate performance metrics, but that’s about to change. This new update will align Task Manager’s CPU utilization calculations with those seen in other popular tools, making it more powerful and reliable.

Microsoft has officially announced, “We are beginning to roll out a change to the way Task Manager calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and align with industry standards and third-party tools.”

While specifics on how this new calculation method will work are under wraps, we know it will streamline data across Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Users who rely on third-party software like HWINFO may find themselves opting for Task Manager instead, given that it will now provide similarly consistent figures. However, we’ll need to wait for the update to fully experience these improvements.

In addition to the overhaul, Microsoft hasn’t forgotten users who prefer the existing setup. They’ve introduced an optional “CPU Utility” column on the Details tab, preserving backward compatibility. These updates currently appear in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360, part of the 24H2 update. This gradual rollout indicates Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing the user experience, signaling an exciting time ahead for Windows 11 users.