How to View CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network Usage in the Windows 10 System Tray

To keep CPU, memory, disk, and network readings visible while you work in Windows 10, install XMeters and add its meters to the taskbar. Windows Task Manager remains the built-in tool for investigating which process is using resources; XMeters provides a compact, at-a-glance display that stays on the taskbar.

What the meters show

XMeters offers CPU, memory, storage, and network monitoring, with configurable colors and meter styles. You can show all four categories or hide the ones you do not need. Its meters are status indicators, not a replacement for Task Manager: they do not identify the app responsible for a spike or give you the same process-level detail.

The Storage meter is for disk activity, not a drive-capacity readout. To check free space, use File Explorer or Windows Storage settings. For exact CPU, memory, disk, and network use by app, open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc.

Install XMeters and add it to the taskbar

1. Open the XMeters download page and get the installer from the developer's site. The vendor currently lists Windows 7, 8, and 10 as supported systems. Avoid download mirrors so you can verify that the installer comes from the source.
2. Run the installer and launch XMeters. When its first-run prompt asks whether to add the XMeters toolbar to the taskbar, choose Yes. The CPU, memory, storage, and network meters should then appear along the taskbar.
3. If you do not see the meters, check whether they are grouped under the taskbar's Show hidden icons arrow. You can also open Windows notification-area settings and enable XMeters so its icons remain visible.

Choose which readings appear

Open XMeters settings by right-clicking one of its meters, then use the settings window to select the categories you want. The available settings are organized around CPU, Memory, Storage, and Network. Turn off categories you do not need to keep the taskbar from becoming crowded.

For CPU, the original XMeters settings include an option to show individual cores. Turn that option off for one combined CPU reading; leave it on if you want to compare activity across cores. Choose a separate color for each metric so the bars remain easy to distinguish against your taskbar background.

Change the meter style and keep icons visible

XMeters supports text, pie-chart, and bar-style meters. Pick the format you can read at a glance: text is compact, while bars make relative activity easier to spot. If the colors blend into your taskbar, change them in the settings for the relevant metric.

Windows may place background-app icons in the hidden notification area. To show XMeters on the taskbar in Windows 10, right-click the taskbar, choose Taskbar settings, then under Notification area select Select which icons appear on the taskbar. Turn XMeters on. You can also click the up-arrow by the clock and drag its icon into the visible notification area.

Use Task Manager to investigate a high reading

When a meter stays high, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. On the Processes tab, review the CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network columns to find which running app is consuming resources. Select a column heading to sort by that resource. The Performance tab shows broader system graphs, while the XMeters taskbar display lets you keep an eye on activity without leaving your current window.

Compatibility and Windows 10 support

The XMeters download page currently lists Windows 10 compatibility, but the developer's site carries a 2017 copyright notice and does not provide a clear recent release history. Treat it as a legacy utility: download only from the developer, review any Windows security prompt, and confirm that the installer works with your system before relying on it.

Microsoft ended standard Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. The PC will continue to run, but Microsoft no longer provides regular free security fixes and technical support for Windows 10. See Microsoft's taskbar guidance and Task Manager overview for Windows' built-in options.

Sources

• XMeters: official product page
• XMeters: official download and compatibility information
• Microsoft Support: customize the taskbar and notification area
• Microsoft Support: Task Manager