If your computer feels sluggish and certain apps are dragging or just not performing as they should, bumping their priority up in Windows 10 can sometimes help. Basically, this tweak tells Windows to give more CPU time to that program, so it runs smoother — at least for a little while. It’s often used for resource hogs like video editing apps or demanding games. The catch is, if you pick the wrong one or set too many to high, it can make your system unstable or unresponsive because Windows gets distracted trying to juggle everything. So, it’s not a cure-all, but if you want to try it out, here’s what tends to work in most setups.
How to Set a Program to High Priority in Windows 10
Here’s the step-by-step. It’s pretty straightforward, but note: not all processes will show up immediately, especially if they’re hidden or running under different user accounts. Sometimes, a reboot can help if things aren’t showing up right away. Also, this setting only lasts until the program closes — if you want it to stay that way, you need a more advanced script or third-party tool, which is a whole other can of worms.
Open Task Manager
- Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager. This opens up the control room of your PC, where all processes and apps are listed.
- On some Windows setups, you might need to click “More details” at the bottom to see everything properly. It’s kinda annoying but helps you get to the good stuff.
Find and identify your target program
- Look through the Processes tab for the app you want to speed up. If you don’t see it, make sure to sort or scroll down, or switch to “Details” tab.
- In the Details tab, you’ll see actual process names, which might be less obvious than the app’s GUI label. For example,
chrome.exefor Chrome orvlc.exefor VLC.
Go to the process details
- Right-click your program name in the Processes tab and select Go to details. This highlights the background process with its specific process ID (PID).Be aware: some programs spawn multiple processes, so pick the right one—usually the main or highest CPU-consuming one.
Set the process priority
- In the Details tab, right-click the process, hover over Set priority, and choose High. It’s that simple. Sometimes, you might see “Realtime” or “Above normal” options — avoid “Realtime, ” as it’s kinda risky and can freeze your system.
- This change tells Windows to allocate more CPU cycles to that process, which might result in it running smoother. Just don’t go crazy and set a bunch of programs to high at the same time, or Windows could get confused and start acting flaky.
Confirm the change
- If a confirmation box shows up, click Change priority. That’s it. From now on, Windows is supposed to prioritize that process more.
- Note: this change is temporary and only persists until you close the program. For persistent priority changes, you need a startup script or third-party tool, but that’s more advanced and not always worth the hassle.
Tips for Setting a Program to High Priority in Windows 10
- Use high priority for apps that are really resource-heavy and slow — like rendering or gaming. Overdoing it on system processes is risky; leave Windows system stuff at normal.
- Don’t forget to keep an eye on your task manager afterward — sometimes setting stuff to high causes other apps to slow down or Windows to become unstable.
- Restart the app afterward to make sure the priority setting took hold. On some setups, the change doesn’t stick until you do that.
- If things start acting weird, just reset the priority back to “Normal” by right-clicking and choosing it from the same menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can changing a program’s priority harm my PC?
Usually not outright, but continually setting a bunch of apps to high or realtime can destabilize your system or cause crashes — so use this sparingly.
Why isn’t my app showing in Task Manager?
Make sure you’ve clicked “More details” in Task Manager. If still missing, it might be a background process or running under a different user account.
Will setting a game or app to high priority improve performance?
Most likely. It’s one of those tricks that can make a difference, especially if your CPU is maxed out. Just don’t overdo it.
How do I reset a process’s priority back to normal?
Right-click in Details, hover over Set priority, and pick Normal. Easy.
Summary
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
- Find your process in the Processes or Details tab
- Right-click, go to Go to details
- Right-click the process, choose Set priority > High
- Confirm if needed and restart the app if necessary
Wrap-up
Setting a program to high priority can be a handy trick when a specific app just needs a little extra juice. It’s not magic—don’t expect game-changing results every time—but it’s worth a shot if you’re trying to squeeze a bit more performance out of your machine. Just remember, Windows can get cranky if you push too many buttons, so be mindful about what you prioritize.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours or seconds for someone out there. If not, at least you’ve tried!