FIX: CPU not showing all cores in Task Manager

The Task Manager is an incredibly useful tool that many Windows users tend to ignore, primarily because all it does is show graphs and numbers that everyone may understand.

It can be used to monitor active processes on your PC, the CPU and RAM usage of different programs, as well as some hardware specifics. For more detailed specs, check out the CPU Z tool.

One good example is how you can use the Task Manager to monitor the number of cores and threads on your CPU.

However, some users reported that they are having issues with this aspect of Task Manager, as it shows fewer cores and threads than the CPU actually has:

Its an old cpu and after a long time i went into the task manager and it only shows 1 core and 2 logical processors even though the intel site mentions 2 cores and 4 threads.

This is a problem that especially occurs on lower-end PCs, such as those that are dual-core in nature.

Since not everyone can afford to constantly upgrade, we’ve created this guide that will show you exactly what to do in this kind of situation.

How to show all cores in Task Manager?

1. Use a different monitoring tool

Sometimes this issue can be a simple display bug from Task Manager. Simply restart the PC and check again. If the number of cores and threads is still inconsistent, you should try using a different monitoring tool for your CPU.

There are plenty of software tools out there that can monitor your CPU activity, and many of them are even better than Task Manager. PRTG Network Monitor is a great example.

It can monitor the number of cores and threads, check the temperature, minimum and maximum processing speeds, and more.

⇒ Get PRTG Network Monitor

2. Make sure all of your CPU cores are enabled

1. Press Windows + R.
   • This will open the Run menu.
2. Type in MSConfig.
3. Go to the Boot tab.
4. Select Advanced Options.
5. Look at where it says Number of processors.
6. If the checkbox is enabled, uncheck it.
   • Your system should now use all of its processors whenever given the chance.
     
7. Reboot the PC.
8. Open the Task Manager or any other monitoring program to view the number co cores. You should see the right number now.

Note: By design, this system setting can only be used to reduce the number of cores your CPU uses, since the system’s goal is always to make the most of your processors.

That being said, if you do find this system setting modified to less than the default value, it may be the result of another software’s tampering.

By following these steps, you should be able to see the correct number of processors when using task Manage or any other monitoring program.

3. Replace the CPU

If you are running a much older PC, then maybe the reason you are seeing fewer cores is that the CPU is giving in. If none of the solutions mentioned above yield any results, then your best bet is to simply get a new CPU.

There are plenty of upgrade options for you to choose from. Besides, getting a brand new CPU will greatly affect your PC’s performance, since the processor is the brain of your computer.

That concludes our article. Make sure to follow our solutions thoroughly and, if you’re aware of another way to solve this problem, share it in the comments section below so that other users can try it, as well.