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My Windows PC sometimes bogs down, running much slower than usual. Whatever activity I'm trying to accomplish stalls or freezes momentarily. Often, the only solution is to reboot. But that doesn't fix the underlying problem. Instead, I've been using a free Windows utility that can pinpoint which apps and processes are hogging memory and system resources so I can deal with the culprits.
Known as AppControl, this tool displays a list of all running apps and processes and shows you how much CPU, memory, and other resources they're using. At the main menu, you're able to view details on an app or other file so you know what it does. From there, you can disable or kill a certain process to see if that jolts Windows back to life.
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If AppControl sounds like the built-in Windows Task Manager, that's on purpose. Both tools will show you running apps and processes and allow you to shut down any that are chewing up resources. But AppControl offers a host of additional features and options.
While Task Manager can display only the current status of running apps and processes, AppControl keeps a running count as far back as the last three days. This means you're able to view the recent history of a specific app or process to track its behavior over time.
The tool also clues you in to any software updates that run in the background and any new or unsigned applications that pop up. AppControl tracks CPU and GPU temperatures so you can tell if your PC is running too hot. And with a nod toward privacy, AppControl even tells you if any apps are accessing your webcam, microphone, or location.
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Plus, AppControl is more than just a static tool. With the software itself residing in memory, you're able to set up alerts to notify you of certain events, such as camera access, changes to a Windows service, or an unsigned app launching in the background.
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