What Device Manager Is Used For
There are plenty of reasons you might need to open Device Manager in Windows, but usually, it’s to troubleshoot some kind of problem with your computer’s hardware. It doesn’t matter if you’re updating device drivers, adjusting system resources, finding Device Manager error codes, or even just checking in on a device’s status—you’ll need to open this utility before you can do any of it.
How to Open Device Manager via Control Panel
It isn’t listed next to your regular programs, so it can be difficult to find if you don’t already know where it is. The Control Panel method is probably the most straightforward way to get there, but we go over all your options below.
Other Ways to Open Device Manager
If you’re comfortable with the command-line in Windows, specifically Command Prompt, one really quick way to start Device Manager in any version of Windows is via its command: In some versions of Windows 10 and 8, assuming you’re using a keyboard or mouse, the fastest way is through the Power User Menu—just press the WIN (Windows) key and the X key together. Depending on your version of Windows, Control Panel is usually available from the Start menu or Apps screen.
In Windows 11, 10 and 8, select Hardware and Sound. You could also jump right to Device Manager through the Power User Menu and not have to go through Control Panel.In Windows 7, choose System and Security.In Windows Vista, select System and Maintenance.In Windows XP, pick Performance and Maintenance.
In Windows 11, 10 and 8, check under the Devices and Printers heading. In Windows 7, look under System. In Windows Vista, you’ll find Device Manager towards the bottom of the window. In Windows XP, you have a few extra steps since Device Manager isn’t as easily available in your version of Windows. From the open Control Panel window, select System, choose the Hardware tab, and then use the Device Manager button. The command-line method really comes in handy when you need to bring up Device Manager but your mouse won’t work or your computer is having a problem that prevents you from using it normally. While you probably won’t ever need to open it this way, you should know that it’s also available in all versions of Windows via Computer Management, part of the suite of built-in utilities called Administrative Tools. Device Manager takes on a slightly different look in Computer Management. Just select it from the left margin and then use it as an integrated feature of the utility on the right. Another method that works in Windows 7 is through GodMode. This is a special folder that gives you access to tons of settings and controls found throughout the operating system. If you already use GodMode, opening Device Manager there might be your preferred way to access it.
