Which keyboard shortcut directly opens Task Manager in modern Windows?

The keyboard shortcut that directly opens Task Manager in modern Windows is Ctrl+Shift+Esc.

Pressing this three-key combination launches Task Manager without passing through another screen. It is especially useful when an application has frozen, the taskbar is unresponsive, or you need to inspect running processes quickly. The shortcut works independently of which application currently has focus in ordinary Windows desktop use.

Ctrl+Alt+Del is the common mix-up. That combination opens the Windows Security screen, where Task Manager can then be selected; it does not normally launch Task Manager directly. Win+X opens the power-user menu, while Alt+F4 closes the active window or application. Task Manager itself can also be started by searching for it, running taskmgr.exe, or selecting it from a taskbar context menu.

Windows Task Manager is more than an emergency “end task” tool. It reports CPU, memory, disk, network, and GPU activity, lists startup applications, displays users and services, and can terminate unresponsive programs. Its modern interface evolved substantially from the simpler process-listing tools in early Windows releases.