Mac Task Manager Exists and it Works Great! A lot of Windows users switch to Apple Mac ecosystem due to the better optimization of most apps in Mac OS X platform. However, Mac OS X is vastly different from Microsoft Windows and what the users end up missing is ‘Task Manager’!
For many of us, lists are necessary when it comes to getting things done. We end up with so many tasks during the day, it's hard to remember every single thing that needs to be done unless it's laid out in an organized list or project in front of us. This is especially true for those of us who are in front of our Macs all day long, so here are the best to-do apps for Mac to help you stay on task.
Things
Things is my personal favorite of the bunch. While it appears simple, it actually has a lot of powerful features but is still super intuitive and easy to use, even for non-power-users.
For one, you can easily capture new tasks into Things from anywhere, no matter what app you're in, thanks to the Quick Entry feature. I also love the fact that you can create 'Goals' and add projects into them, and you can see your progress from there. And when creating tasks, it's easy to add notes, make it recurring, assign a due date or deadline, add tags for organization and searching, create nested checklists, and flag priority items.
I've been using Things for a few years now, and it's my go-to app when it comes to staying on top of everything. This is especially true when you integrate your calendars into Things as well, so you get everything in your schedule at once.
OmniFocus 3
If you want even more powerful features than Things, then you should look at the opposite side of the coin: OmniFocus 3.
OmniFocus 3 follows in the more traditional GTD (Get Things Done) format, which can take some time to learn and understand fully. But once you get the hang of it, OmniFocus 3 becomes incredibly powerful. There are a ton of ways for you to organize your tasks, such as location, project, context, priorities, people, and much more. There are now enhanced repeating tasks, so you can set things up like 'on the first weekday of each month.' OmniFocus 3 also supports attachments (graphics, video, audio), making it even more invaluable to those who need these things for their tasks.
OmniFocus 3 is free to download and try for 2-weeks. If you want to get the Standard version, it will be $50. There's also a Pro version that costs $100, though you can get it for $50 if you upgrade from Standard.
Todoist
Todoist is another great service to check out, and it's especially useful for those who like automation and insights.
With Todoist, you'll get your basic task management features, including a way to quickly add a task with a natural language parser. But the real magic with Todoist lies behind all of the app integrations, including IFTTT, Slack, Zapier, Amazon Alexa, and more. There are more than 60 of them to go through, so there are a ton of possibilities with what you can do with Todoist.
While Todoist is free to use forever, you can also upgrade to Premium for things like long-term goals and planning. But if you don't need the extras, then the free version should be fine.
Microsoft To-Do
Since Microsoft bought Wunderlist a while back, they've been using that to help develop their own task management software called Microsoft To-Do. And it just recently became available on the Mac.
With Microsoft To-Do, managing your tasks has never been easier. You can create as many lists as needed, and assign them all a color for easy recognition. All of your lists will become available on any device, as long as you sign in to your account. Your tasks can be broken down into more manageable steps if needed, and there is support for files and notes.
A unique feature is the 'suggested tasks,' which may help you remember things you'll otherwise forget. It's personalized just for you and is designed to help you stay focused. Microsoft To-Do also syncs with Outlook, giving you a seamless experience. And if you need to share your lists with friends, family, or coworkers, it's no problem!
2Do
If you like the idea of GTD, but don't want to be over-intimidated by software like OmniFocus, then you should give 2Do a try. It's like OmniFocus, but much easier to pick up and use.
One of the best features of 2Do is the ability to create simple tasks, checklists, or even projects with sub-tasks. Every task item in these can have notes, attachments, and even multiple alarms (sometimes we need that extra push). 2Do also not just does lists, but there are smart lists, which utilize filters and custom views. There is tag support to make organization a breeze, as well as a ton more features.
I used 2Do (along with everything else here) a while ago and must say that it's definitely one of the more underrated to-do apps out there.
Any.do
If sharing is a big priority for you when it comes to task management, then Any.do should be on the top of your list.
Any.do features a clean and smart design that is easy for anyone to pick up the app and start using it without fuss or hassles. You can share lists or even tasks themselves with others, such as your spouse, a family member, friend, or coworker. Any changes are pushed immediately, so you work together in real-time. The cloud syncing is fast and seamless, and there's also support for subtasks, attachments, notes, and more. Any.do can capture and do it all!
Any.do is free to download and use, but there are more features in the Premium subscription. This includes unlimited access to moments, themes, files, and collaboration for $3 a month or $27 a year.
Your favorite?
These are some of the best to-do apps we found on the Mac App Store. What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
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the worst iPhone in the history of iPhones... maybe everTrump calls out Cook on Twitter over the lack of Home button on the iPhone
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Many users who have converted from Windows to Mac computers are often left wondering as to what is the Task Manager equivalent on a Mac and how to open it. In this article, we will be showing you how to open and use Task manager on Mac.
Mac Equivalent of Task Manager
The Task Manger on a Windows Computer is used to quit applications, whenever an application or program gets stuck or freezes on a Windows Computer.
Activity Monitor is the Mac’s version or the equivalent of Task Manager as found in Windows Computers. Similar to the Task Manager, Activity Monitor provides the details of the CPU or the Memory being used by Apps and services on your Mac.
While the episodes of Apps and native Services freezing on a Mac are fewer compared to Windows Computers, Mac also provides a dedicated Force Quit Applications Manager, in addition to the Activity Monitor.
In case you do come across any App getting stuck on your Mac, you can make use of Force Quit Applications Manager to quit the offending App or make use of the Activity Manager to see more details about this app.
Open Task Manager On Mac
As mentioned above the Mac equivalent of Task Manger is known as Activity Manager and it provides detailed information about how much CPU, Memory, etc. an application or process is using up on your Mac.
1. Click on the Finder icon (Happy Face) from the left corner of the Dock on your Mac
2. On the next screen, click on Applications from the side menu (See image below)
3. In the Applications Folder, click on the Utilities Folder and open it (See image above)
4. In the Utilities Folder, click on Activity Monitor (which is usually the first item in the list)
5. On the next screen (Activity Monitor), you will be able to see the details of CPU being used by all the Apps and Services running on your Mac.
Pin Activity Monitor to Dock on Mac
You can avoid the long way of Opening Activity Monitor on your Mac by pinning the Activity Monitor to the Dock Bar.
1. Once you open the Activity Monitor on your Mac using above steps, it will be visible on the Dock Bar. Simply Right Click on the Activity Monitor icon in the Dock to launch a Menu (See image below)
2. Next, hover your mouse over Options and then click on Keep in Dock option in the side menu that appears (See image above).
From now on you will see the Activity Monitor Icon pinned to the Dock on your Mac and you will be able to access the Activity Monitor by simply clicking on its icon on the Dock.
How to Use Task Manager on Mac
Below is a short guide on how to use the Mac equivalent of Task Manager, known as the Activity Monitor on your Mac.
1. View CPU, Memory and Other System Resources Being Used on your Mac
Once you open Activity Monitor on you Mac, you will see a screen with five Tabs – CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk and Network (See image below).
CPU – Clicking on the CPU tab provides you information about the amount of CPU being used by the various Applications on your Mac.
Memory – Clicking on the Memory tab allows you to see the amount of Memory being used by the Apps and System Programs on your Mac. You will see the Apps using the highest Memory at the top of the list (See image below)
The Memory tab also provides a totals chart at the bottom, displaying an overview of the total Memory usage on your Mac.
Energy – Tapping on this tab will bring up the Energy Usage by the Apps and processes on your Mac. The Apps using the most energy (battery) in the last 8 hours or since your Mac has started up will be listed at the top.
At the bottom of the screen you will see how much battery is left, how long the battery is expected to last and how many hours has the battery been used for.
Disk – Tapping on the Disk tab will show you the amount of data that each application or process has read from your disk and written to your disk.
At the bottom of the Disk tab you will see the total amount of data read and total amount of data written by the disk including all processes and apps.
Network – Tapping on the Network tab will show you how much data each process is sending and receiving over your internet connection.
At the bottom, you will see the total amount of data received and total amount of data sent by your Mac computer.
View Info About an Application or Process
The Activity Monitor also allows you to view additional information about Application and Processes on your Mac.
1. Click on the Application or the process that you want to view more information about.
2. Next, click on the i button from the top left corner of the Activity Monitor window (See image below)
3. A window will pop-up showing you more information about the application or process.
Force Quit Applications in Activity Monitor
Follow the steps below to Force Quit Applications using the Activity Monitor on your Mac
1. Once you have opened the Activity Monitor on your Mac, click on the Application that you want to Force Quit (See image below)
2. Next, click on the x button, located near the top left corner of the Activity Monitor window (See image above)
3. You may see a pop-up asking you to confirm that you do want to Quit the App. Click on Force Quit option in the pop-up to quit this App.
Ctrl + Alt + Delete Equivalent on Mac
In addition to the Activity Monitor, Mac computers also feature a Force Quit Applications Manager which allows you to force quit Apps.
The Force Quit Applications Manager on a Mac can be accessed by holding down Command + Option (Alt key) + Escape Keys on your Mac.
The Force Quit Applications Manager just allows you to Force Quit Apps and does not provide details like how much CPU or memory an application is using.
You will find below the steps to use Force Quit Applications Manager.
Open Force Quit Applications Manager on Mac
If your primary goal is to only Force Quit an application on your Mac and you do not care about how much CPU or Memory the application is using up, then you should make use of the Force Quit Applications Manager to perform this task.
There are 2 ways to open the Force Quit Application manager on your Mac
1. Click on the Apple icon in the top menu-bar on your Mac and then click on Force Quit… Option (See image below)
2. On the Force Quit Applications screen, click on the Application Name that you want to quit and then click on the Force Quit button (See image below).
3. Next, you will see a pop-up asking you to confirm that you do want to Force Quit this app. Click on Force Quit to quit this application.
In case an application is active, you can Force Quit the Application by clicking on the Apple icon in the top-menu bar of your Mac and then clicking on Force Quit (Application Name) from the drop-down menu (See image below).
Note: You can also use the Command + Alt + Esc key combination to launch the Force Quit Application Manager on your Mac.