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The steps below work on Windows 10 and Windows 11. On current Windows 11 installations, Command Prompt and PowerShell may open inside Windows Terminal; the command and elevation requirement remain the same.
What you need to run Device Manager as administrator
Device Manager is an MMC snap-in rather than a separate administrator-only executable. Its snap-in file is:
devmgmt.mscThe important part is the security token of the program that launches it. An elevated console passes an administrator token to the MMC process. A normal Command Prompt or PowerShell window does not.
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| Method | Command | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|
| Command Prompt | devmgmt.msc |
Reliable on Windows 10 and 11 |
| PowerShell | devmgmt.msc |
Useful when PowerShell is already your normal console |
| Windows Terminal | devmgmt.msc |
Standard Windows 11 administrative console |
| Run dialog | devmgmt.msc |
Quick launch; request elevation with Ctrl+Shift+Enter |
Method 1: Run Device Manager as admin from Command Prompt
- Open Start and search for Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt, or use its available action, and select Run as administrator.
- Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt. If your account is standard, Windows may ask for administrator credentials instead.
- In the elevated window, enter:
devmgmt.msc- Press Enter.
Device Manager opens through the elevated Command Prompt. Check the console title bar before running the command; it should include an administrator indication such as Administrator: Command Prompt.
Method 2: Run Device Manager as admin from PowerShell
- Open Start and search for PowerShell or Windows PowerShell.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Approve the UAC prompt.
- Run:
devmgmt.mscPowerShell does not automatically elevate commands that need administrator rights. Starting PowerShell normally and then entering devmgmt.msc opens the snap-in with the permissions of that normal PowerShell session.
An elevated PowerShell window normally shows Administrator: Windows PowerShell in its title bar. On Windows 11, the same PowerShell session may be hosted by Windows Terminal.
Method 3: Use Windows Terminal as administrator on Windows 11
On current Windows 11 installations, the Windows 10-style Power User menu generally lists Terminal (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin), rather than Windows PowerShell (Admin).
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- Press Windows key + X.
- Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
- Approve the UAC prompt.
- Enter:
devmgmt.msc- Press Enter.
Windows Terminal may open a PowerShell or Command Prompt tab. Either shell can run the same devmgmt.msc command. Look for an administrator indication in the Terminal window title bar before proceeding.
Method 4: Open an elevated console from the Run dialog
The Run dialog can start an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell session, which is the most dependable Run-based approach.
Elevated Command Prompt from Run
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter:
cmd.exe- Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter. Do not press only Enter or click OK; those actions open a non-elevated console.
- Approve UAC.
- Run:
devmgmt.mscElevated PowerShell from Run
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter:
powershell- Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
- Approve UAC.
- Run:
devmgmt.mscMethod 5: Request elevation for Device Manager directly from Run
You can also try launching the snap-in itself:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter:
devmgmt.msc- Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter instead of Enter.
- Approve the UAC prompt.
This direct shortcut is reported to work on Windows 10 and Windows 11, but its behavior can depend on the Windows build, shell configuration, and local policy. If it opens without elevation or fails to launch, use the more reliable sequence of elevating Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Terminal first and then running devmgmt.msc.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 differences
| Issue | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Start search | May offer administrator-related actions depending on the build. | Device Manager may not show a Run as administrator entry when searched directly. |
| Power User menu | May show Windows PowerShell or other administrative console entries. | Usually shows Terminal (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin). |
| Ctrl+Shift activation from Win+X | Reported to work for the Device Manager item in some configurations. | Not dependable; use Terminal (Admin) and run devmgmt.msc. |
| Console host | Command Prompt and PowerShell commonly open in their traditional windows. | Since Windows 11 version 22H2 and the October 2022 update, they normally open inside Windows Terminal. |
The missing Run as administrator option for Device Manager in Windows 11 does not prevent an elevated launch. It only means that starting an elevated console is the better route.
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If Device Manager will not open
Try the fully qualified MMC command
Use the complete paths to the MMC host and Device Manager snap-in from an elevated console:
C:WindowsSystem32mmc.exe C:WindowsSystem32devmgmt.mscThis bypasses ambiguity about which executable or snap-in Windows is resolving. It still must be run from an elevated console when administrator access is required.
Try the 32-bit MMC fallback only for an unusual launch failure
A Microsoft Q&A troubleshooting report also documents this alternative:
C:WindowsSysWOW64mmc.exe C:WindowsSysWOW64devmgmt.mscThis is not the normal command for Device Manager. Use it only when the standard command and fully qualified System32 command fail.
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Check the account used at the UAC prompt
Being the owner of the computer does not automatically give a standard Windows account an administrator token. If the signed-in account is not an administrator, UAC may request the username and password of a separate local or domain administrator. Selecting Yes without credentials works only when the current administrator account is allowed to elevate.
What not to do
- Do not assume a normal console is elevated. Running
devmgmt.mscfrom an ordinary Command Prompt or PowerShell window does not make Device Manager administrative. - Do not look for a Run dialog checkbox. The Create this task with administrative privileges checkbox belongs to Task Manager’s File > Run new task interface, not normally to the Windows Run dialog.
- Do not enable the built-in Administrator account as a routine fix. The command
net user administrator /active:yesis unnecessary for launching Device Manager and may fail on localized or differently configured Windows installations. - Do not rely on Ctrl+Shift-clicking Device Manager in the Windows 11 Win+X menu. That behavior has been reported on Windows 10 but is not a dependable Windows 11 method.
FAQ
What is the command to run Device Manager as administrator?
Use devmgmt.msc. First open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal with Run as administrator, approve UAC, and then run the command.
Why does running devmgmt.msc not automatically give me admin rights?
The snap-in inherits the security token of its parent process. A non-elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell window launches Device Manager without administrator elevation.
Can I open Device Manager as admin from Run?
Yes. Enter devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter, then approve UAC. If that does not work on your build, elevate Command Prompt or Terminal first and run the command there.
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Where is Windows PowerShell (Admin) on Windows 11?
Current Windows 11 installations generally provide Terminal (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin) in the Windows key + X menu. Open that entry and run devmgmt.msc.
How can I tell whether my console is elevated?
Check its title bar. An elevated PowerShell window normally says Administrator: Windows PowerShell; elevated Command Prompt and Terminal windows also display an administrator indication.
What should I do if devmgmt.msc fails to launch?
From an elevated console, try C:WindowsSystem32mmc.exe C:WindowsSystem32devmgmt.msc. The reported 32-bit fallback is C:WindowsSysWOW64mmc.exe C:WindowsSysWOW64devmgmt.msc, but it is not the normal command.
The Bottom Line
The dependable procedure is: open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal with administrator rights, approve UAC, and run devmgmt.msc. On Windows 11, use Windows key + X > Terminal (Admin) if Start does not offer a direct administrator option for Device Manager.
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