There are many reasons why a user might need to run a program with high priority in Windows 10. Doing so helps optimize workflow and ensures the system allocates processing power where it’s needed most. Whether you’re trying to ensure a resource-intensive application gets the memory it requires or simply want to improve performance for a specific task, adjusting process priority can make a noticeable difference.
For IT professionals managing multiple systems or power users who value efficiency, adding a “Run With Priority” option to the right-click context menu can save time and streamline system management. This simple behavioral tweak offers greater flexibility and control over how CPU resources are distributed.
How to add the “Run with Priority” to the context menu
⚠️ Take note that incorrect registry changes can lead to system instability. It is strongly recommended that you back up your Registry beforehand.
- Click Start, search for Notepad, and open it.
- Paste the following script into a blank notepad:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\Priority]
“MUIVerb”=”Run with priority”
“SubCommands”=””
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\001flyout]
@=”Realtime”
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\001flyout\command]
@=”cmd.exe /c start \”\” /Realtime \”%1\””
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\002flyout]
@=”High”
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\002flyout\command]
@=”cmd.exe /c start \”\” /High \”%1\””
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\003flyout]
@=”Above normal”
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\003flyout\command]
@=”cmd.exe /c start \”\” /AboveNormal \”%1\””
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\004flyout]
@=”Normal”
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\004flyout\command]
@=”cmd.exe /c start \”\” /Normal \”%1\””
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\005flyout]
@=”Below normal”
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\005flyout\command]
@=”cmd.exe /c start \”\” /BelowNormal \”%1\””
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\006flyout]
@=”Low”
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\Shell\Priority\shell\006flyout\command]
@=”cmd.exe /c start \”\” /Low \”%1\””
- Go to File in the Menu bar, and click Save.
- Name it Add_Run_With_Priority.reg
- Click the Save as Type box, and choose All Files. Select where you want to save it, and click Save.
- Go to the registry file you just saved and double-click it. A dialogue box will open telling you that the file will be added to the Windows Registry. Click Yes.
- Restart File Explorer. Run with priority should appear in the context menu now.
- To restart Explorer, right-click the Windows Taskbar. Select Task Manager.
- Go to the Processes tab. Look for Windows Explorer and select it. Click Restart task.
How to remove the “Run with Priority” context menu
⚠️ We recommend creating a backup before proceeding.
- Click Start, search for Notepad, and open it.
- Paste the following script into a blank notepad:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\Priority]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\RunWithPriority_High]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\RunWithPriority_Low]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\RunWithPriority_Normal]
- Click File in the Menu bar, and select Save.
- Name it Remove_Run_With_Priority.reg
- Click the Save as Type box, and choose All Files. Select where you want to save it, and click Save.
- Go to the registry file you just saved and double-click it. A dialogue box will open telling you that the file will be added to the Windows Registry. Click Yes.
- Restart File Explorer. Run with priority should appear in the context menu now.
Alternative methods
If you don’t want to manually edit the Windows Registry every time you want to add or remove “run with priority” in the context menu, there are also third-party software, such as Process Lasso, that deal with Windows process automation and optimization.
These apps are for more advanced users who want greater control over their CPU usage. They allow users to easily manage resource allocation and automate CPU prioritization.
What is process priority?
Every CPU has its limitations; it can only allocate so much memory to run programs. This is why it’s important to optimize your process resources and ensure that the right things are getting the appropriate amount of resources. Managing process priorities is a great way to do that.
With process priority, you determine which programs get more CPU power as they run. Stated simply, this feature guides your computer in determining which processes are the most important and need more attention and resources. The higher the priority, the more CPU time they get, and the lower the priority you place on the program, the less they have in terms of CPU allocations.
Why add “run process with high priority” to the context menu?
If you really want to optimize your computer, process priority is essential. Setting process priorities from the context menu can optimize your workflow and improve your overall operational efficiency.
It’s also a great tool for refining the computer’s performance or ensuring that a specific program has enough CPU memory allocated for it. This usually happens when you’re running video editing apps, compiling large codebases, or processing extensive data.
Troubleshooting and other common issues
The context menu option to change CPU process priority in Windows 10 didn’t appear
- Restart File Explorer. To do this:
- Right-click the Windows Taskbar and select Task Manager. Go to the Processes tab, and find Windows Explorer. Right-click it and select Restart.
- You can also check if the registry file was applied correctly. To do that, go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell and check if the Priority key is there. If it’s not there, you can try adding the key to the Registry again.
Error when executing the registry file
Check you have administrator privileges
- Make sure you have administrator privileges before running the .reg file. Here’s how you can check:
- Click the Start Menu and Go to Settings.
- Go to Accounts. Click Your Info. If you have Administrator privileges, you should see the word Administrator under your username.
- Right-click on the Add_Run_With_Priority.reg and select Run as an Administrator.
Ensure the file type
- Make sure that the file is saved with the .reg extension.
Unable to change CPU priority in Windows 10 for certain applications
Some applications are crucial for the computer to function. You can’t change the process priority of those applications.
FAQs when running a program with high priority in Windows 10
Does a change in process priority in Windows 10 affect system performance?
Possibly. Every computer has limited resources. Changing an application’s process priority to “high” will make it run faster, but it might also mean there will be less memory for other things, including other applications necessary for system performance.
Can I set the priority permanently for a program?
Windows doesn’t have a native feature for permanently saving process priority settings. However, third-party applications can help you do that.
What happens if I set too many applications to high priority?
This is not recommended since it can lead to system instability. If you place too many applications on high priority, this may not leave enough resources for applications essential to keeping the computer running.
How can I check the priority of a running process?
- Right-click on the Windows Taskbar, and Select Task Manager.
- Go to the Details tab and find the application you want to check.
- Right-click the application and select Priority.
- You can see the priority based on the selected priority in the menu.
Final thoughts on adding “Run With Priority” in Windows context menu
Knowing how to set a task to high priority in Windows 10 is an essential skill for any IT professional. The ability to do that from the context menu gives you more flexibility and saves time in your day. Mastering this skill brings you one step closer to further optimizing your workflow and ensuring that your IT setup is working at its best.
