IT professionals need every available tool or technique, especially if they’re managing many computers and devices. In a lot of situations, finding a way to show the Process ID in Windows Explorer is a great first step in debugging and troubleshooting. If you want to learn how, this guide walks you through the steps.
Methods to hide or show the Process ID in the File Explorer title bar
Showing the Process ID (PID) in the File Explorer title bar is the easiest and most consistent way to view them. Since the PID appears in the title bar, you can easily see the PID assigned to each program whenever needed.
Using Registry Editor (Windows 10 Home and All Versions)
The Registry Editor is another tool you can use to get the Process ID to appear. It’s a much more universal option that can apply to different versions of Windows.
- Go to the Start Menu, search for Run in the search bar, and click the program to open it.
- Type regedit and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
- Check if ShowPidInTitle exists. If present, Double-click and proceed to step 4.
- If missing, Right-click empty space > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value → Name it ShowPidInTitle.
- Change the Value Data to 1 to show the Process ID in the title bar. If you want to hide it again, change the value data to 0.
- Click OK, then close Registry Editor.
- Restart File Explorer. To do this, open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer under the Processes tab, right-click it, and select Restart.
How to restart File Explorer after making changes
You often have to restart a program for changes to take effect, including File Explorer.
Option 1: Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Go to the Processes tab.
- Find Windows Explorer. Right-click on it and press Restart.
Option 2: Command Prompt
Command Prompt is an advanced tool available to IT professionals. You can input different CMD commands to perform different tasks, including restarting programs.
- Go to the Start Menu, search for Run in the search bar, and click the program to open it.
- Type cmd and press Enter. This will open the Command Prompt.
- Type taskkill /f /im explorer.exe && start explorer.exe and press Enter. The File Explorer should restart after.
What is a Process ID (PID)?
Every computer program, no matter its purpose, requires resources to function. So, whenever you use it, the operating system creates a process that allocates the memory and resources the program needs to run. That’s where the process ID comes in. Each running program is assigned a unique PID by the operating system. This ID helps the system and its users track and manage the program while it’s running.
The process ID streamlines and organizes information on your computer. It’s a great tool for task management, troubleshooting, and debugging.
Why show or hide the Process ID in File Explorer?
As an IT professional, there are many ways you can use a PID, especially if you’re monitoring multiple computers at the same time. As stated above, it’s a great help when a computer crashes or experiences performance issues.
Alternative ways to view Process IDs
If the methods provided above aren’t working, you still have options.
Method 1: Task Manager
- Press Shift + Ctrl + Esc.
- Go to the Details tab. You should see the PID column in the main section.
Method 2: Command Prompt
- Click Start > search for Command Prompt.
- Type tasklist|findstr ProcessName
- Press Enter.
Method 3: PowerShell
- Click Start, and search for Windows PowerShell.
- Type (Get-Process -Name ProcessName).Id and press Enter.
Common issues and how to troubleshoot them
What if the Process ID is not showing even after enabling the setting?
Restart File Explorer and double-check that the corresponding registry key was updated properly.
What if the registry changes don’t apply immediately?
If the registry changes don’t apply immediately or after restarting File Explorer, restart your computer and check if the changes have been applied.
What if I can’t find the “ShowPidInTitle” registry key?
Sometimes, it’s not in the Registry Editor yet. If that’s the case, create the key manually.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a PID used for?
It’s often used for monitoring, troubleshooting, and debugging.
Can I see the PID of other applications in the title bar?
No. This feature only applies to File Explorer.
Will enabling this feature slow down my system?
The process ID is a native feature of Windows 10 and does not impact system performance.
How do you enable the title bar in File Explorer?
The title bar is always visible in File Explorer. However, to show the Process ID in the title bar, you’ll need to enable the specific setting through the Registry Editor.
How do I reset File Explorer to default settings?
If you want to hide the Process ID again, you can disable it through the Registry Editor.
Is there any command-line method to enable or disable this feature?
If you want to use the command line to show the PID on the File Explorer title bar, you can do it through Windows PowerShell.
To Enable
- Click Start, and search for Windows PowerShell.
- Type New-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer” -Name “ShowPidInTitle” -PropertyType DWord -Value “1” and press Enter.
To Disable
- Click Start, and search for Windows PowerShell.
- Type Remove-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer” -Name “ShowPidInTitle” and press Enter.
Showing the Process ID in the Windows title bar: Final thoughts
Displaying the Process ID in the File Explorer title bar is a valuable tool for troubleshooting and process management. It allows for quick identification of running processes, eliminating the need for manual searches when tracking or debugging. You can enable this feature using the Registry Editor or PowerShell. Any changes made can be easily reverted if needed. Additionally, the PID can be viewed through other tools such as Task Manager, Command Prompt, or Windows PowerShell, providing alternative ways to quickly locate and manage processes.
