Windows PCs have many internal and external hardware devices. Therefore, Windows platforms include a Device Manager utility with which users can manage their PCs’ hardware devices. That tool is among the more important ones in Windows 10. So, many users need to open and utilize the Device Manager in Windows 10.
The Device Manager is a component of the Microsoft Management Console in Windows that has its own separate window. It provides you with a detailed overview of installed devices on your PCs. You can utilize the Device Manager to uninstall or disable devices and update their drivers. It also includes an “Add legacy hardware” option you can select to open a hardware wizard for installing non-plug-and-play devices that aren’t automatically detected by Windows.
Therefore, Device Manager is undoubtedly an invaluable utility for many users. It’s easy to find and open that utility, but there are numerous ways you can do that. This is how to get to Device Manager in Windows 10 with nine alternative methods.
Method 1. Open Device Manager in Windows 10 from the Quick Access Menu
The Quick Access menu is otherwise known as the Win + X menu. That menu includes numerous handy shortcuts for Windows system tools. You can open that menu by pressing the Windows key + X hotkey on your keyboard. Then select “Device Manager” on the Win + X menu to open that tool.
Method 2. Search for Device Manager in the Start Menu
Step 1: First, click the “Start” button on the left side of Windows 10’s taskbar.
Step 2: With the Start menu open, type Device Manager with your keyboard. When you start typing that keyword, you’ll see the search tool shown directly below.
Step 3: Now click Device Manager to open it.
Method 3. Open Device Manager in Windows 10 from Control Panel
Step 1: Click the “Type here to search” button that’s right beside the Start menu on Windows 10’s taskbar.
Step 2: Next, type the keyword Control Panel within the search text box.
Step 3: Select Control Panel to open the window in the shot directly below.
Step 4: Click “Category” on the View by menu and select the “Large icons” option.
Step 5: Then, you can click Device Manager in Control Panel to open that tools window.
Method 4. Open Device Manager in Windows 10 from Computer Management
Step 1: First, press the Windows keyboard key or click the “Start” taskbar button to open that menu.
Step 2: Scroll down the Start menu until you get to W shortcuts.
Step 3: Click the Windows Administrative Tools folder on that menu. That will expand a folder that includes Computer Management, among other tools.
Step 4: Click Computer Management to open the window in the screenshot directly below.
Read More: How to Open Computer Management in Windows 10
Step 5: Then, you can select “Device Manager” there to utilize it within that window.
Method 5. Open Device Manager in Windows 10 from CMD
Step 1: The Command Prompt (CMD) is a handy command-line utility in Windows 10 you can open tools with. To open Device Manager from CMD, you’ll first need to press the Windows key + S hotkey.
Step 2: Next, type Command Prompt within the search box that opens.
Step 3: Click the Command Prompt search result to open that command-line utility.
Step 4: Input devmgmt.msc in the Command Prompt’s window as shown directly below.
Step 5: Press the Enter keyboard key to execute the command, which will open Device Manager on Windows 10.
Method 6. Open Device Manager in Windows 10 via Windows PowerShell
Step 1: PowerShell is another command-line utility in Windows you can enter Device Manager Windows 10 commands in much the same. To open PowerShell, click File Explorer’s taskbar button.
Step 2: Then click the File tab shown directly below.
Step 3: Select “Open Windows PowerShell” on the File tab.
Step 4: Now type devmgmt.msc in PowerShell’s window.
Step 5: Don’t forget to press Enter to execute the Device Manager command.
Method 7. Create A Device Manager Shortcut on Windows 10
The Recycle Bin has a desktop shortcut that makes it immediately accessible. If you want Device Manager to be directly accessible from the Windows desktop much the same, you can set up a new shortcut for it. You can set up a Device Manager Windows 10 shortcut as follows.
Step 1: Right-click a space on your desktop and select “New” on the context menu that opens.
Step 2: Select “Shortcut” to open a Create Shortcut window.
Step 3: Next, type devmgmt.msc in the location text box as shown in the screenshot directly below.
Step 4: Then click “Next” to continue.
Step 5: Enter Device Manager as the title for the shortcut.
Step 6: Press the “Next” button to add a new Device Manager to the desktop like the one directly below.
Step 7: Now, click your new Device Manager desktop shortcut to open that tool.
You can apply a hotkey to the Device Manager shortcut. Right-click the Device Manager desktop shortcut and select “Properties” to open the window directly below. Click in the Shortcut key box, and then press a keyboard key for a Device Manager hotkey. The keyboard key you press is combined with Ctrl + Alt to form a three-key hotkey for opening Device Manager. Click the “Apply” button to save the hotkey. Then click “OK” to exit the window and try out your new hotkey.
If you prefer to have a taskbar shortcut, left-click and hold the Device Manager shortcut to drag it onto the taskbar. When you see a “Pin to Taskbar” tooltip, release the left mouse button. Then you can click the Device Manager icon on your taskbar to open it from there.
You can also add that shortcut to the Start menu. Right-click the Device Manager desktop shortcut and select the “Pin to Start” option. Then you can click a Device Manager tile on the Start menu to open that utility.
Method 8: Open Device Manager With Run
You can open Device Manager with the Run accessory. Pressing the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut will open Run command window. Then type devmgmt.msc within the Open text box, and click the “OK” button in Run.
Method 9: Open Device Manager From File Explorer
Step 1: First, open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key and E simultaneously.
Step 2: Right-click This PC on the left side of File Explorer to open a context menu.
Step 3: Select “Manage” on the context menu to open Computer Management.
Step 4: Then select Device Manager in the Computer Management window.
FAQs about Device Manager on Windows 10
Can I utilize Device Manager within standard Windows user accounts?
You can open Device Manager and view the device listings within a standard Windows account. However, you can only utilize Device Manager to add and remove devices and configure them within an administrator account.
Do all Windows platforms include Device Manager?
No, but Device Manager has been a part of Windows since the 1990s. So, you can utilize it in Windows 95 and all more recent Windows platforms.
Are the above methods for opening Device Manager only applicable to Windows 10?
The above methods and guidelines for them are more specifically for Windows 10. However, you can open Device Manager with methods three, four, five, six, and seven in other Windows platforms. The Win + X menu method is only applicable to Windows 10, 8.1, and 8. The first method is more specifically for Windows 10’s search tool, but you can probably find Device Manager with different search utilities in earlier platforms.
Can I open Device Manager outside Windows 10?
Not exactly, but you can open the Command Prompt from the Advanced options menu outside Windows 10. Hold the Shift keyboard button and select the “Restart” option to open a blue menu. Select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt” within the Advanced options menu. Then you can try opening Device Manager from the Command Prompt as outlined for method five.
Conclusion
So, there are plenty of ways you can access Device Manager in Windows 10. Of the above methods, opening Device Manager with a desktop shortcut is probably the quickest and most accessible one. Choose whatever method for opening the Device Manager suits you best.
Whatever way you open Device Manager, you’ll find that tool to be a handy one. You can utilize it to update device drivers for your PC and roll them back to previous versions if required. This tool can also come in handy for hardware troubleshooting as it highlights device issues with the exclamation, red x, and down arrow error marks. So, check it out!
