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How do I know what's running on my computer?

Anonymous
2020-12-09T17:06:17+00:00

Task Manager is a helpful tool to see what Windows is doing.  But some apps don't show up there.  Or if they do, I'm not looking in the right place.  I sometimes receive notifications from apps when I don't find any evidence of them being active.  The apps sending these notifications are benign.  But the fact that things are running on my computer that I don't know about worries me.  Is there a Windows professional out there who'll take the time to explain this?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-09T17:21:20+00:00

    Thanks, DaveM121.  Can you explain why I receive notifications from apps that I don't see in the list of processes on Task Manager?

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-09T19:44:38+00:00

    Thanks again for the prompt reply.  I noticed this when I received a notification from GroupMe, which is a Microsoft product.  I checked with GroupMe support.  It said it was connected to the People app.  Neither shows up in task manager.

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  3. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-12-09T17:49:46+00:00

    Hi jaygourley

    It depends on what apps you are receiving notifications from, can you please provide a list of those apps . . .

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  4. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-12-09T17:11:15+00:00

    Hi jaygourley

    I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

    All processes running on your PC will be listed on the Processes tab of Task Manager, there will not be any processes missing from that list

    Open the Settings App (gear icon on your Start Menu)

    Go to System - Notifications and Actions

    There you will find a list of Apps and websites that can show notifications and can turn then off form there . . .

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  5. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-12-09T19:49:52+00:00

    Hi jaygourley

    Most likely Microsoft have a process running on SvcHost that is providing the notifications for that app, even though the app itself is not running, in task manager you will see maybe 70+versions of SvcHost running and it is hard to work out what is actually running on that process. . .

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