Monitor CPU & GPU in Windows System Tray

This guide shows you how to keep a live readout of your CPU and GPU usage right in the Windows system tray (the area next to the clock), so you can spot performance issues, overheating, or runaway processes without opening Task Manager. You’ll learn the built-in method and two reliable third-party tools, with exact steps for each.

What You’ll Need

Windows 10 or Windows 11 (all editions).
Administrator rights on your PC to install software.
An internet connection to download the third-party tools (if you choose that route).
Optional: a GPU from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel that has a driver installed.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Using Task Manager (Built-In, No Install)

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. If it opens in compact mode, click More details at the bottom.
Go to the Performance tab. You’ll see graphs for CPU, Memory, Disk, and GPU (if present).
Right-click anywhere on the CPU graph and select Show as compact view. A small floating window appears with just the CPU graph.
Right-click the compact window’s title bar and choose Always on top so it stays visible above other windows.
Drag the compact window to the system tray area (the right side of the taskbar). It will dock there as a floating widget, not inside the tray itself, but it stays visible.
Repeat steps 3–5 for the GPU graph if you want both visible.
To make the compact window smaller, right-click it and select Settings, then adjust the Compact view size (Small, Medium, or Large).

Method 2: Using HWiNFO (Free, Detailed)

Download HWiNFO from the official website (hwinfo.com). Choose the installer or portable version.
Run the installer and follow the prompts. During installation, check the box for Add HWiNFO to system tray.
Launch HWiNFO. When it asks Sensors-only or Summary, choose Sensors-only.
In the Sensors window, scroll down to find CPU [Temperatures] and GPU [Temperatures] sections.
Right-click on the CPU total usage value (e.g., CPU Total) and select Add to tray.
Do the same for GPU usage (e.g., GPU D3D Usage or GPU Core Load).
Right-click the HWiNFO tray icon (a small red square with a white H) and select Settings.
In the Tray section, check Show tray icons and choose what you want displayed (e.g., CPU usage, GPU usage, temperature).
Click OK. The values now appear in the system tray next to the clock.

Method 3: Using MSI Afterburner (GPU-Focused, Free)

Download MSI Afterburner from the official MSI page (msi.com). It works with most GPUs, not just MSI.
Install it. During installation, it will also install RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) – keep that installed.
Launch MSI Afterburner. Open its settings (the gear icon).
Go to the Monitoring tab.
In the list, find GPU usage, GPU temperature, and CPU usage (if you want CPU too).
Check the box next to each item you want in the tray, then click the … button next to it and select Show in tray.
Go to the User Interface tab and check Start with Windows and Start minimized.
Click Apply and OK. The values appear in the system tray.

Common Mistakes

Using Task Manager’s compact view as a true tray icon – it floats on the desktop, not inside the tray. It’s still useful but not a real tray icon.
Not enabling “Sensors-only” in HWiNFO – if you skip it, you get the full summary window, which can be confusing.
Forgetting to start HWiNFO or Afterburner at boot – without that, the tray icons disappear after restart.
Choosing the wrong sensor – for GPU usage, pick “GPU D3D Usage” or “GPU Core Load”, not “GPU Memory Controller Load” (that’s a different metric).
Overloading the tray – adding too many sensors makes the tray icons tiny and unreadable.

Tips

For a quick, no-install solution, Task Manager’s compact view is fine. For persistent monitoring, use HWiNFO or Afterburner.
In HWiNFO, you can customize the tray text format. Right-click a sensor, select Edit tray value, and use placeholders like %1 for the value and %2 for the unit.
Set HWiNFO to auto-start minimized: in its settings, under General, check Start minimized and Start at Windows startup.
If you have a multi-GPU setup, label each GPU in the tray to avoid confusion.
Use the tray icons to spot thermal throttling – if CPU or GPU usage is high but clock speeds drop, it’s overheating.

Troubleshooting

No tray icon appears – In HWiNFO, right-click the system tray area and click Show hidden icons (the up arrow). If it’s still missing, re-check that you added the sensor to the tray. In Afterburner, make sure “Show in tray” is enabled for at least one sensor.
Values show 0% always – This usually means the sensor isn’t being read. For GPU, update your graphics driver. For CPU, check that HWiNFO is running as administrator (right-click its shortcut → Run as administrator).
Icons are too small to read – In HWiNFO, go to Settings → Tray and increase the Font size. In Afterburner, the tray text size is fixed, but you can use the OSD instead.
Task Manager compact view disappears after reboot – That’s expected. You need to reopen it each time. For a persistent solution, use a third-party tool.
Afterburner shows GPU usage but not temperature – In the Monitoring tab, click the temperature item and check “Show in tray”. Some GPUs require the driver to expose temperature – update the driver if it’s missing.
HWiNFO shows too many sensors – Use the Configure sensors button (the wrench icon) to uncheck sensors you don’t need. This reduces clutter and improves performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see CPU and GPU usage without installing anything? Yes, Task Manager’s compact view works, but it’s not a true tray icon and resets on reboot.
Does monitoring in the tray affect performance? The impact is negligible – both HWiNFO and Afterburner use very little CPU and memory when running in the tray.
Can I monitor CPU temperature in the tray too? Yes, both HWiNFO and Afterburner can show temperature. In HWiNFO, add “CPU Package” and “GPU Temperature” to the tray.
Will these tools work with any GPU? HWiNFO works with virtually all GPUs. MSI Afterburner works with most NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, but not with Intel integrated graphics.
How do I remove a tray icon from HWiNFO? Right-click the sensor in the Sensors window and select Remove from tray.
Can I set the tray icon to show only a number, not a graph? Yes, in HWiNFO you can choose to display just the numeric value. In Afterburner, you can choose between text or a small graph.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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