In this article, learn how to change the process priority of applications for processor resources in Windows 10/8/7.
Windows shares processor resources between all running processes based upon their priority level. If an application (process) has a higher priority level, it gets more processor resources for better performance compared to a process having lower priority.
If you want, you can manually change the priority for processes to run with a Realtime, Low, below normal, normal, above normal, or High priority level in Windows based on your needs instead of the default priority. The changes you make to the priority level of a process (application) are only temporary and not set permanently. Once you restart the computer or the application is closed, Windows will forget the priority level you set for it.
This guide will provide 3 tools that allow you to save the priority of a process so you don’t have to keep changing it manually every time the process is started.
3 Tools to Permanently Set Process Priority in Windows 10/8/7
Method 1. Process Tamer
Process Tamer is a small process management utility that can automatically change the priority for running processes when they reach a certain level of CPU usage. When it detects a process that is overloading your CPU, it reduces the priority of that process temporarily, until its CPU usage returns to a reasonable level. However, you can easily disable this and just set it to adjust process priorities based on what you select manually. Navigate to the Configuration tab and uncheck “Tame Applications Based on CPU Usage”.
Making Process Tamer remember a priority is quite simple, just click on the Explicit Rule drop-down menu on the row of the process and choose what you want it to be set at. Rules can be added or deleted manually from the Configuration tab. Memory usage is quite low while Process Manager is in the background, around 1.5MB.
Download Process Tamer for free.
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Method 2. System Explorer
System Explorer is free, awards winning software for exploration and management of System Internals. This small software includes many useful tools which help you keep your System under Control. As Process Tamer, System Explorer also has the ability to save a given process priority and keep that setting when the application is run in the future.
To set the priority to be saved in System Explorer, go to the Processes tab and right-click on the chosen process, then hover over Process Priority and change the level you want to use. Go back to the same menu and check Permanent to make the setting stick. Memory usage is high while Process Manager is in the background, around 12MB. This might be a bit much for low-end PCs.
Download System Explorer for free.
Method 3. Bill2’s Process Manager
This utility is a bit like System Explorer in that it can automatically adjust process priorities based on their CPU usage, you can also disable this and rely on your own settings by unchecking the function in Options > Automatic priority.
To set a custom priority, right-click the chosen process entry and select “Create a rule for this process”, check Set priority in the rules window and select the priority you want to run from now on. While in the tray, Bill2’s Process Manager uses around 20MB of memory which isn’t that bad considering the amount of functions on offer.
Download Bill2’s Process Manager from this site.