High uptime can lead to performance issues, memory leaks, or outdated system updates. Regularly restarting your device ensures that updates are applied and resources are refreshed. Knowing your computer’s uptime helps you decide when a restart might improve efficiency.
How to Check Uptime on Windows
Step 1: Open Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly
- Or press the Windows key, type Task Manager, and select it from the Start menu

Alternative Method
You can also right-click the taskbar and choose Task Manager.

Step 2: Locate the Uptime Info
- In Task Manager, click the Performance tab
- Select CPU from the left-hand menu
- Look for Up time in the bottom section – this indicates how long your PC has been running since the last reboot

How to Check Uptime on macOS
Step 1: Open System Information
- Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner
- Select About This Mac

Step 2: Open System Report
- In the About window, click System Report

Step 3: Check Time Since Boot
- From the sidebar, select Software
- Look for Time since boot in the details panel. This shows the uptime in days, hours, and minutes

Other Ways to Check Uptime (Advanced Users)
- Use
systeminfo
in Command Prompt (Windows) to get full system boot time - Use
uptime
in Terminal on macOS for a quick summary
Related Articles from MagnetClicks
- How to Monitor Computer Overheating
- How to Speed Up Your Computer
- Fix a Frozen or Unresponsive Computer
Knowing your system uptime helps you maintain performance and decide when a reboot is due. Whether you use Windows or macOS, the built-in tools make it easy to check how long your system has been running. Pair this with regular maintenance and monitoring to keep your computer in peak condition.