Show the ten processes using the most CPU time
Build a paste-ready command, then review its compatibility and effects before running it.
Get-Process | Sort-Object CPU -Descending | Select-Object -First 10read-onlyno known side effects Compatibility
WindowsVerified for Windows using powershell syntax.
Operational knowledgereview due 2027-01-19
RequirementsGet-ProcessGet-Process must be installed and available on PATH.
Version supportGet-Process Current supported releasesVerified for windows using powershell syntax; consult compatibility notes for platform-specific differences.
Expected signalsNPM(K) PM(M) WS(M) CPU(s) Id SI ProcessNameRepresentative successful output; values vary with the selected target and system state.
Known errorsGet-Process: command not foundGet-Process is missing or is not available on PATH.
VerifyGet-Process | Sort-Object CPU -Descending | Select-Object -First 10The output matches the expected target and exits without an error.Rollback noteNot required: this command is read-only and does not change system state.
Command breakdown
01Get-ProcessCommandRuns the Get-Process stage of this one-liner.
02|PipelinePasses the output on the left to the command on the right.
03Sort-ObjectCommandRuns the Sort-Object stage of this one-liner.
04CPUArgumentPasses CPU to Sort-Object.
05-DescendingOptionConfigures Sort-Object with the -Descending option.
06|PipelinePasses the output on the left to the command on the right.
07Select-ObjectCommandRuns the Select-Object stage of this one-liner.
08-FirstOptionConfigures Select-Object with the -First option.
0910ArgumentPasses 10 to Select-Object.
Example input
Get-Process | Sort-Object CPU -Descending | Select-Object -First 10
Example output
NPM(K) PM(M) WS(M) CPU(s) Id SI ProcessName
------ ----- ----- ------ -- -- -----------
142 512.34 438.21 921.88 8420 1 chrome
86 284.77 231.06 448.41 11244 1 Code
41 156.12 124.83 187.02 6180 1 node
Illustrative output — exact values vary by system and data.
Runbooks
Official sources