Device Manager on Windows is necessary to enable or disable certain devices, or Update drivers , or troubleshoot multiple issues. Therefore, it can be quite frustrating if Windows fails to open Device Manager out of the blue. The reason behind this can easily range from a temporary glitch to corrupted system files. The troubleshooting tips mentioned below should help you fix the Device Manager not opening issue on Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers. So, let's check them out.
1. Try alternative methods
The purpose of Device Manager can range from checking if any drivers are causing peripheral devices to malfunction. You can access the device from start menu In these alternative ways.
Click on Windows key + R To open Run command , And type devmgmt.msc In the box, click Enter.
Alternatively, you can also launch Device Manager via the Command Prompt. To do this, right-click the Start menu icon and select Terminal from the menu.
in Control unit , write devmgmt.msc And press Enter.
2. Open Device Manager with administrator rights.
If alternative methods do not work, you can try accessing Device Manager using Administrator rightsHere's how.
Step 1: Click on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to turn on Task Management on your computer.
Step 2: Click Run a new task above.
Step 3: in a dialog box Create a new task , write devmgmt.msc and check the box Create this task with administrative privileges. Then click "OK".
This should launch Device Manager on your computer. If it doesn't, read on.
3. Access Device Manager from the Computer Management tool.
Computer Management is a comprehensive system tool that provides access to utilities such as the Task scheduler Event Viewer, Device Manager, and more. So, if you can't use Device Manager because it won't open, you can use the Computer Management tool instead.
Step 1: Right click Start button and select "computer management" from the list.
Step 2: Use the right pane to expand. System Tools and move to Device Manager.
You can access all your devices from the middle section and make your favorite changes.
4. Run the system troubleshooting and maintenance.
Windows periodically runs the System Maintenance Troubleshooter to check for and fix any irregularities with desktop shortcuts, disk volume, file paths, etc. You can also run this tool manually if you're having trouble opening Device Manager on Windows. Here's how.
Step 1: Click on Windows key + S To open Search menu and write in Control Panel , and select First result that appear.
Step 2: in Control Panel window , switch Display type To large symbols If not already, go to find the mistakes and resolve it.
Step 3: within order and security , Click Option to run maintenance tasks.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process and restart your computer. Then, check to see if you can access Device Manager.
5. Perform SFC and DISM scans
Problems with system files on your computer can also prevent you from accessing certain utilities, such as Device Manager. Running an SFC (or System File Checker) scan allows Windows to detect Missing or damaged system files And restore it with its cached version.
to conduct SFC Check On your computer, use the steps below.
Step 1: Right click Start button and select Terminal (Admin) option from the resulting list.
Step 2: Type the command below and press Enter.
SFC / scannow
Wait for the process to complete and see if it was able to fix any issues.
Next, run a DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scan. This will thoroughly scan your computer and download internal system files from Microsoft servers if necessary.
Open Windows Terminal with Administrator rights , and run The following commands And press Return After each one:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This may take some time and will offer you options to repair or fix files if it detects any corrupted files. After the scan is complete, restart your computer and see if you can access Device Manager.
6. Restore system performance
system recovery It's a useful feature in Windows that periodically creates a backup of your entire system. You can use this tool to restore your device to a point when the device manager was working properly. While the process doesn't affect your personal data, you will lose any system changes and applications you've installed.
If this works for you, here's how to use System Restore to restore your computer to a previous state.
Step 1: Open Search menu , And type Create a restore point , And press Enter.
Step 2: in System Protection tab , Click System Restore button.
Step 3: Click next one.
Step 4: Locate restore point When it was Device Manager Works well.
Step 5: Finally, tap "ending".
Your computer will restart and return to the selected restore point. After that, you should be able to open Device Manager again.
Manage your devices
Device Manager allows you to configure, manage, and troubleshoot all your devices from one place. It's natural to feel anxious when a tool as important as Device Manager fails to open. We hope one of the solutions above helped you fix the Device Manager not opening issue on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
