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Up / Down / PgUp / PgDnNotes
Basic navigation keys for long lists of processes.
Htop Navigation, Search, Filter, Sort, and Tree View
Interactive keys and workflows for moving around htop, searching processes, filtering by command, changing sort columns, and working in tree view.
Export
Copy the compact sheet, download it, or print it.
Download
`D` dense toggle · `C` copy all
Search, filter, and tree workflows
Search processes, apply incremental filters, and work with process trees.
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F3 or /Notes
Searches displayed command lines as you type.
Filter process list
Show only processes whose command lines match fixed-string terms.
textANYfiltermatch
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F4 or \\Notes
Filtering is case-insensitive and supports multiple terms separated by `|`.
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F5 or tNotes
Shows parent-child relationships between processes.
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+ - *Notes
In tree view, `+` and `-` control one subtree, while `*` expands or collapses top-level trees.
bash
htop --sort-key=PERCENT_CPU -d 10Notes
Refreshes about every second and surfaces CPU-heavy tasks near the top.
Watch one user's processes in tree view
Combine user filter and hierarchy view.
bashANYusertreepostgres
bash
htop -u postgres -tNotes
Handy for database process trees such as background workers and child processes.
More in htop
Htop Troubleshooting and FAQ Recipes
Troubleshooting recipes for missing visibility, permission issues, terminal quirks, and common htop interpretation mistakes.
Htop Batch Alternatives, Exports, and Companion Commands
Practical command-line companions and non-interactive alternatives to htop for logs, scripts, and copyable output.
Htop Remote, Container, and Server Recipes
Common htop workflows for SSH sessions, containers, services, and production troubleshooting on Linux hosts.
Htop Config, Persistence, and Theming
Persist htop settings, edit configuration files, and manage practical theming and display preferences across sessions.
Htop Columns, Meters, Threads, and Display Options
Customize meters, visible columns, threads, kernel tasks, and display density for different monitoring scenarios.
Htop Process Actions, Signals, and Priority Changes
Use htop to renice, kill, tag, and inspect processes, including shortcuts for signals, strace, lsof, and affinity-related workflows.