9 Quick Ways to Open Device Manager in Windows 11

The Device Manager can help when you’re adding new hardware to your computer or updating drivers of the existing one. The Device Manager is an important Windows tool that lets you manage all the devices and hardware installed on your computer. But despite its importance, it’s somewhat hidden compared to other apps and services.

It’s necessary to update the drivers of your computer’s components, but some don’t come with a dedicated utility. That’s when you can help the Device Manager update orĀ uninstall the drivers. You’ll need to know how to open the Device Manager. Fortunately, it’s a cakewalk to launch it in Windows 11. Here are nine quick ways to open the Device Manager in Windows 11.

1. Open the Device Manager Using the Run tool

The Run tool is the go-to option to quickly access important components of Windows. While there are a number of ways to open the Run tool on Windows 11, we’ll use the most easy one. Here’s how to launch the Device Manager using it:

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type devmgmt.msc in the search bar and click OK.

Device manager command in Run tool

That’s it! You’ll directly land on the Device Manager.

2. Open the Device Manager Using the Power User Menu

The Power User Menu lets you access advanced and frequently used Windows tools quickly. To open the Device Manager using the Power User Menu, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows + X keys to open the Power User Menu.

Step 2: Choose Device Manager from the menu.

Choosing Device Manager from Power user Menu

3. Open the Device Manager Using Windows Search

Another way to access the Device Manager on your computer is through Windows Search. Before you proceed, check whether the Search works in Windows 11. All you need to do is to type in the name and search for the tool.

Here’s how to do that on your computer:

Step 1: Press the Windows + S keys to open the Windows Search.

Step 2: In the search bar, type Device Manager and choose Open from the right pane.

Typing Device Manager in Windows Search

4. Open the Device Manager Using the Computer Management Tool

Computer Management Tool is one such tool that has been with Windows since its early days. It’s the one place destination to access advanced Windows tools like Task Scheduler, Event Viewer, Device Manager, and more.

Here’s how you can use the Computer Management Tool to access the Device Manager:

Step 1: Press Windows + S keys to open the Windows Search.

Step 2: Type Computer Management in the search bar, and choose Open from the right pane.

Typing Computer management in Windows Search

Step 3: Choose Device Manager from the left sidebar.

Choosing Device Manager in Computer Management tool

The Device Manager will appear in the right pane.

Device Manager options in management tool

5. Open the Device Manager Using the File Explorer

Apart from managing files and folders, File Explorer lets you open useful Windows tools such as the Device Manager. Follow the below steps to launch the Device Manager using File Explorer.

Step 1: Press Windows + X keys to open the Power User Menu and choose File Explorer from the list. Alternatively, you can press the Windows + E keys to open the File Explorer.

File Explorer in Power user menu

Step 2: Open the drive in which you’ve installed the OS. Usually, it’s C: drive for most users.

Choosing the OS drive in This PC

Step 3: Open the Windows folder.

Choosing Windows folder in the OS drive

Step 4: Open the System32 folder.

Choosing System32 folder inside the Windows folder

Step 5. In the System 32 folder, search for and double-click on the file named “devmgmt.msc” to launch the Device Manager.

devmgmt file in the System32 folder

 

6. Open the Device Manager Using the Control Panel

The Control Panel hosts many options, one of which is the option to launch the Device Manager. Here’s how to use the Control Panel to access the Device Manager.

Step 1: Open the Windows Search, type Control Panel in the search bar, and choose Open from the right pane.

Typing Control Panel in Windows Search

Step 2: Select Hardware and Sound.

hardware and sound option in Control Panel

Step 3: Choose Device Manager under the Devices and Printers section.

Choosing Device Manager in Control panel

7. Open the Device Manager Using the Command Line Tools

Windows offers two command-line tools — Windows PowerShell and Command Prompt. You can use these tools to eliminate system issues and quickly open advanced Windows tools.

To open Device Manager using Windows PowerShell, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Open the Windows Search, type Windows PowerShell in the search bar, and choose Open from the right pane.

Typing Windows PowerShell in Windows Search

Step 2: In the PowerShell window, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.

Typing devmgmt.msc command in PowerShell

Now, here’s how to open Device Manager using Command Prompt.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt on your computer.

Step 2: Type devmgmt.msc in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.

devmgmt.msc command in CMD

8. Open the Device Manager Using the Task Manager

Usually, the Task Manager is used to manage applications running in the background. But you’d be surprised to learn that you can also use it to open the Device Manager. Here’s how:

Step 1: Right-click on Windows icon to open the Power User menu and choose Task Manager from the list.

Choosing Task Manager in Power User menu

Step 2: Click the Run new task option.

Run new task in the Task Manager

Step 3: In the Create new task box that appears, type devmgmt.msc and click OK.

Create new task in Task Manager

9. Open the Device Manager Using the Settings App

The Settings app is the central hub of the Windows operating system. You can use it to tweak options, personalize your computer, manage your network, open apps, and more.

Here’s how to use the Settings app to open the Device Manager.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Type Device Manager in the search bar and select the same from the result.

Choosing Device manager in settings

Open the Device Manager With Ease

The Device Manager can help you fix the driver woes on your Windows 11 computer. Knowing more than one way becomes really useful when the Device Manager is not opening through your regular method.

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Last updated on 18 January, 2023

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