Device Manager is an important tool that most users will need at one time or another. Therefore, it is essential that you know how to open Device Manager in Windows 11 and 10 quickly and efficiently. We’re going to show you several easy ways to do it today so you can choose the right one for you.
What is Device Manager?
Device Manager is a component of Windows 11, 10 and earlier Microsoft operating systems that allows users to view and make changes to their computer hardware. It is most often used for managing drivers, whether installing, updating, or replacing them.
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There are many ways to open it, from keyboard shortcut to hidden tools menu, command prompt, Run, PowerShell, etc. We will show you the most relevant today. Keep in mind that all the methods we show below both work to open Device Manager in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
How to open device manager in Windows 11 / Windows 10 via keyboard shortcut
The fastest way to navigate your computer is often to keep both hands on the keyboard. We can do this quite easily using the following device manager shortcut:
- Press “Windows + X”, then “M”
Press Windows + X to open the tools drop-down menu, while the M key will automatically select and open Device Manager.
Alternatively, you can use a combination of the Tools menu and your mouse. Since you can press the shortcut to open the tools menu while keeping your hand on the mouse, you might find this more convenient for you.
- Press “Windows + X” and click on “Device Manager”
How to open Device Manager from search in Windows 11 or Windows 10
Sometimes it’s best not to complicate things. Accessing Device Manager through the search menu is slightly slower than using a shortcut, but it’s much easier to remember.
- Tap on the search icon and type “Device Manager”, then click on the first result.
How to access Device Manager through settings
If the other methods don’t work for you, or if you just prefer the old way, you can access Device Manager through your trusty settings menu:
- Tap “Start” and tap the Settings icon
Otherwise, press “Windows + I” on your keyboard.
- Click on “System” in the sidebar
- Press the “About” button, then “Device Manager”
How to access Windows 11 Device Manager through Control Panel
If you want to be even more oldschool, you can also access Device Manager through the old Control Panel app:
- Press Start and type “Control Panel”, then click on the top result
- Type “Device Manager” in the search box and click on the “Device Manager” topic
The search box is located at the top right, if you didn’t already know.
How to open Device Manager from Run in Windows 11 / Windows 10
Another easy way to access Windows 11 (or Windows 10 for that matter) Device Manager is through the run dialog. Here’s how to get there quickly:
- Press Ctrl + R to open Run, type “devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter
Device Manager should open immediately.
How to access Windows 11 Device Manager from File Explorer
If all else fails, you can manually access the Device Manager tool through File Explorer and run it directly from its folder. Here’s how to find it:
- Open File Explorer, navigate to the system32 folder and double click on devmgmt.msc
You can open File Explorer quickly with Windows + E, then paste the following into its address bar:
C:WindowsSystem32
Keep pressing “D” on your keyboard until you find “devmgmt.msc” and double click on it to open it.
How to launch Device Manager from Command Prompt
If you don’t have access to the GUI, you can open Device Manager from CMD with a very simple command. The Windows 11 Device Manager command is as follows:
- Press Start and type “Command Prompt”, then click on the top result
- Type “devmgmt.msc” in the command prompt and press Enter
How to open Device Manager with PowerShell Device Manager command
If you prefer PowerShell at the command prompt, that’s okay – you can also run Device Manager from there. Here’s how:
- Press “Windows + X” and click “Windows PowerShell”
- Type “devmgmt.msc” and hit enter
Device Manager will launch immediately.
How to backup drivers and check device driver version
Now that you know how to open Device Manager in Windows 11, you might be looking to make some changes. Before doing so, we recommend that you back up your drivers and check your device driver version so that you can roll back to an earlier version if necessary.
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