9 Simple Ways to Open Device Manager in Windows

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As a Windows user, you probably open the Device Manager quite frequently. After all, it’s the one-stop shop for managing all of the devices and hardware attached to your computer. It is also a critical part of troubleshooting. But despite the important role it plays, it’s somewhat hidden.

Fortunately getting into Device Manager is pretty easy. In this article, we’ll look at nine different ways to access Device Manager on your PC. The first two are the fastest and easiest methods. However, more tech-savvy users who don’t shy away from digging through extensive menu options or running commands might prefer the rest of the methods outlined. The techniques presented in this post are compatible with Windows 10, as well as Windows 11.

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Also read: The Ultimate Guide to Check Windows 11 Compatibility with Your PC

1. Use the Quick Access Menu

The quickest way to open the Device Manager in Windows is through the Quick Access Menu. If you don’t feel like clicking through a bunch of windows menus with multiple steps and would prefer using a Windows keyboard shortcut, this is definitely the method for you.

  1. On your PC, hold down the Win + X keys and select “Device Manager” from the list that pops up.
  1. Alternatively, you can open the “Quick Access” menu by right-clicking the Start button.

2. Via the Settings App

The Settings app is the first place to go when you want to tweak any settings on a Windows PC. It is also one of the easiest methods to open the Device Manager since you only need to do a quick search to open it.

  1. On your PC, press the Win + I keys to open Settings. In Windows 11, you can also press the Win key and then select the Settings app from the Pinned apps sections at the top (as seen in the screenshot below).

  1. Type “Device Manager” in the Search bar on the left and click Open.

  1. Alternatively, you can click on the Search button at the bottom of your computer, type in “Device Manager” and click Open.

Also read: 10 Ways to Open the Task Manager in Windows

3. With Task Manager

Windows Task Manager is not only a tool used to monitor your PC’s performance. It can also be used as an alternative method to open your Device Manager.

As a matter of fact, you can use the Task Manager to open Device Manager and troubleshoot any problems then return to close the programs not responding. This is an easier route if you are trying to troubleshoot hardware problems and shut down unresponsive programs.

To open Device Manager using the Task Manager follow these steps:

  1. On your PC, click on the Search button.
  2. Type in “Task Manager” and click Open.

  1. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Win + X to open “Quick Access” and select Task Manager from the list.
  2. In the next window, click on File in the top left corner then select “Run new task.”

  1. In the dialog box that pops up, enter the following command and press OK.
devmgmt.msc

4. Use the Run Command

If you’re a keyboard enthusiast, the best way to open Device Manager will probably be the Run command.

  1. On your PC, press Win + R keys to launch the Run command.
  2. Alternatively, you can also use Win + X to open the “Quick Access” menu and select Run from the list.
  3. Type in devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager.

Also read: Find and Open Files Using Command Prompt in Windows

5. With Control Panel

Control Panel is a component of Windows where you can find the majority of Windows settings and configure different aspects. You can also open Device Manager from Control Panel.

  1. On your PC, hit the Search button.
  2. Type in “Control Panel” and click Open.

  1. Type “Device Manager” in the search bar in the upper right corner and click to open it.

6. Use File Explorer

File Explorer is the place you go to browse all the files and folders on your PC. But there’s more to it than just that.

A lot of the places you need to go in Windows are buried deep in Control Panel, but File Explorer is also a worthy contender when you want to access other useful components and make some tweaks.

To open Device Manager from File Explorer in Windows 10, do this:

  1. On your PC, press Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
  2. Click on “This PC” or Computer depending on your version of Windows.

  1. Select the Computer tab on the left pane.

  1. Click on Manage.

  1. Select “Device Manager” from the Computer Management window that pops up.

If the above route is long and tedious, you can also use File Explorer’s address bar to open Device Manager.

  1. On your PC, press the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
  2. In the address bar, type in devmgmt.msc and press Enter. Device Manager will open now.

Also read: How to Enable Copy-Paste in the Windows Command Prompt

7. Give Command Prompt/Powershell a Try

While the Command Prompt is generally used to execute commands and troubleshoot Windows issues, it can also prove to be useful if you want to quickly access your Device Manager.

Some people find Command Prompt or Powershell to be a bit intimidating, but for those who are not afraid to use it, it’s actually an incredibly powerful tool for completing tasks on their computer quickly. Here’s how you can find Device Manager.

  1. On your PC, click on the Search button.
  2. Next type cmd and click “Run as administrator.”

  1. Alternatively, you can use the Win + R keys and type cmd in the Run dialog box that pops up.
  2. Type in the following command and press Enter: 
devmgmt.msc

If you prefer, you can also use Powershell to access Device Manager.

  1. Hit the Search button.
  2. Type Powershell and click “Run as administrator.”

  1. Alternatively, you can use the Win + R keys and type Powershell in the Run dialog box that pops up.
  1. Type in the following command and press Enter: 
devmgmt.msc

8. Through the Computer Management Tool

The Computer Management tool is a powerful all-in-one utility that lets you configure and manage Windows’ many built-in administrative tools, such as Device Manager, Disk Management, and Event Viewer.

You can also use it to quickly access the Device Manager.

  1. On your PC, hit the Win + R keys to open the Run command.
  2. Type in compmgmt.msc in the dialog box that pops up and press OK.

  1. Click on “Device Manager” to open.

Also read: How to Free Up RAM on a Windows Computer

9. Create a Shortcut

If opening Device Manager is a regular everyday task for you, then you may have to consider creating a shortcut on your desktop.

To do so, follow the steps below:

  1. Right-click on any blank space on your desktop.
  2. From the menu, select “New-> Shortcut.”

  1. Type in devmgmt.msc as the new location and click Next.

  1. Name the shortcut as “Device Manager” then click Finish.

  1. The shortcut should now appear on your desktop. Now, simply double click it to go straight to Device Manager.

Wrapping up

Now that you are equipped with multiple ways to access the Device manager, perhaps you’d like to go a step further and learn how to customize your Windows 11 Start Menu so that you can access your frequently used apps more conveniently. You can also check out our article on different ways to open the Control panel since its an equally important component that you may use often.

Image credit: Pexels

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Claire Moraa

I love to write about the latest in technology and how it can be used to solve problems. Crazy about all things Android, Windows and a lot more.

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