How to Highlight Running Processes in htop on Ubuntu

This guide explains how to highlight running processes within the htop system monitor on Ubuntu. You will learn the specific keyboard shortcuts and configuration settings required to visually distinguish active tasks from idle ones. By following these steps, you can efficiently manage system resources and identify high-load processes quickly.

Understand Default Color Coding

htop automatically highlights running processes using color coding. By default, processes in a “Running” state appear in a distinct color, often white or bright green, depending on your terminal theme. Sleeping or idle processes usually appear in a dimmer color. You do not need to enable a specific toggle for this basic functionality as it is active upon launch.

Customize Process Colors

To ensure running processes are clearly visible, you can adjust the color scheme. Press F2 to open the Setup menu. Navigate to the “Colors” section using the arrow keys. Look for the “Running” or “Process” color settings. Change these to a high-contrast color like bright white or yellow. Press F10 to save and exit. This ensures active tasks stand out against the background.

Sort by Process State

To group active tasks together, sort the list by their current state. Press F6 to access the Sort menu. Select STATE from the options. This organizes the list so that processes marked as “R” (Running) are grouped together. This makes them easier to spot without changing color settings.