2

This happened to me recently after updating to the latest update for Windows 11. When I go to Task Manager and try to change the process priority, I am getting an access denied.

I tried restarting computer as well as running Task Manager as Administrator but it doesn't help.

Another note is that I have a laptop with the exact same Windows version and build, it doesn't have an issue there.

Note:

  • I am on Windows 11 Enterprise 22H2 Build 22621.1413
  • The process is launched by my local user (not Administrator)
  • The devices are private devices, and not own and managed by an IT department.
  • Tried with another application, it seem to be application specific (I can change the priority of say Photoshop, but not some particular games)
  • The UAC (User Access Control) for is the same on both machine and install as well

Task Manager Access Denied

Application UAC

Update

Making a quick update. The application just go an update, and the main executable also go updated. I did not make any changes to the permission, but now I can change the Process Priority.

So this was another thing I suspected before, the permission issue might be something that broke after the previous update, and is fix on the current update.

YTKme
  • 190

2 Answers2

2

Changing the priority in Task Manager may not stick for several reasons, mostly if the executable restarts itself. It then loses all attributes and starts again with the default ones.

To permanently set the priority of a process, do this :

  • Find the name of the executable, say PROGRAM.EXE

  • Create a Text Document with .reg extension and enter the following:

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\PROGRAM.EXE]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\PROGRAM.EXE\PerfOptions] 
"CpuPriorityClass"=dword:PRIORITY

  • Replace PROGRAM.EXE with your application and change the PRIORITY to one of the following values:

    Idle: 1
Normal: 2 
High: 3 
4 : Realtime
Below Normal: 5 
Above Normal: 6

  • Double-click to execute the .reg file and click Yes and then OK

To undo this change, delete the registry key that you added.

In addition to the CpuPriorityClass value, also exists IoPriority with the same numerical values as above, except that 0 stands for Very Low and the values 5 and 6 don't exist.

harrymc
  • 498,455
1

Check if your user account\group has SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege privilege. You can check it in Local Group Policy Editor > Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment > Increase scheduling priority.

Administrators group has this privilege by default.

Alternatively, you can check it using Sysinternals Accesschk tool using following command-line: accesschk.exe /accepteula -a SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege

Here's privilege description from policy editor: This security setting determines which accounts can use a process with Write Property access to another process to increase the execution priority assigned to the other process. A user with this privilege can change the scheduling priority of a process through the Task Manager user interface.

P.S. Root cause for the issue it kernel anti-cheat that Genshin Impact uses, it prevents unauthorized process access.

E. Vezne
  • 61