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Views: Processes · Performance · Startup
The task manager
Windows should have shipped.
Pulse is a native replacement for Windows Task Manager — live processes, per-core CPU, GPU power & temperature, disk and network graphs, services and startup control. One switch makes it your default. Customizable colors, compact mode, light & dark.
It's an open beta — feature-complete and stable in daily use, but rough edges are possible. Found a bug or have an idea? Tell us →
1s
Live refresh
16
Per-core CPU graphs
0
Trackers
Everything the old one has — done right
Built to actually replace it
Not a skin. A ground-up native tool that does the whole job and then keeps going where Task Manager stops.
Live process list
Every process with live CPU, memory, threads, PID and status. Sort any column, filter by name, right-click for Restart / Open file location / Copy, and double-click for full details.
Performance graphs
A full-history CPU graph with a per-logical-core grid, plus memory, GPU, disk and network — each with its own live, gridded graph.
GPU, power & temps
On NVIDIA cards, read utilization, memory, temperature, power draw in watts, core clock and fan speed straight from the driver — figures Task Manager never shows.
Startup & services
Manage every startup app (Run keys and Startup folders) with its publisher, and browse all Windows services — start, stop or restart any of them right from Pulse.
Be your default
One switch in Settings makes Ctrl+Shift+Esc, the taskbar menu and Run → taskmgr all open Pulse instead. Fully reversible — flip it back anytime.
Private & open
No accounts, no telemetry, no network calls. Open source under MIT so you can read exactly what it does. It runs on your machine, for you.
Pulse vs the built-in
Why switch?
| Pulse | Windows Task Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Live processes (CPU / memory / threads) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Per-logical-core CPU graphs | ✓ Always visible | Right-click to enable |
| GPU power, temperature & clocks | ✓ NVIDIA | ✗ |
| Disk & network graphs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Startup apps manager | ✓ | ✓ |
| Services (start / stop / restart) | ✓ | Opens services.msc |
| Always on top | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom graph colors & compact mode | ✓ | ✗ |
| Column chooser | ✓ | ✗ |
| Close to system tray | ✓ | ✗ |
| Set as default Task Manager | ✓ Built-in | n/a |
| Per-process disk, GPU & network | ✓ | ✓ |
| Suspend / set priority / end tree | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ MIT | ✗ |
| Telemetry | None | Yes |
Get started in a minute
Install Pulse
Two ways to run it. The installer is easiest; the portable zip needs no install at all.
Installer Recommended
- Download Pulse-Setup.exe from the latest release.
- Run it — if SmartScreen warns "unknown publisher," click More info → Run anyway (this build isn't code-signed yet).
- It installs per-user — no admin prompt — and adds a Start-menu shortcut.
- Optional: in Settings, flip "Make Pulse the default Task Manager" so Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens it.
Portable
No installer. Unzip anywhere and run Pulse.exe — nothing is written outside the folder.
# download, unzip, run
Pulse-portable-x64.zip
└─ Pulse.exe
Pulse-portable-x64.zip
└─ Pulse.exe
Windows 10 20H2+ / 11
x64
Self-contained — no .NET / WinAppSDK needed
Download portable zip
Admin rights are only needed to end system-level processes. winget & Scoop packages are planned.
Replace Task Manager today
Free, open source, and about the size of a photo. Give your Ctrl+Shift+Esc an upgrade.