Device Manager is where Windows lets you view hardware, update drivers, disable devices, roll back driver changes, and check device errors. For basic viewing, standard access is often enough, but some driver and hardware actions may require administrator privileges to apply changes successfully.
Opening Device Manager as an administrator can help when driver updates fail, device settings are locked, or Windows blocks changes due to permission limits. There are several reliable ways to launch it with elevated rights, including Windows Search, Run, Command Prompt, PowerShell, Windows Terminal, and Computer Management.
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Why Open Device Manager as Administrator
Device Manager lets you view hardware installed on a Windows PC, check driver status, disable or enable devices, update drivers, uninstall devices, and inspect hardware properties. You can open it as a standard user for basic viewing, but many device-level changes require administrator privileges. Without elevation, Windows may let you look at the device list while blocking actions that modify drivers, services, or system hardware settings.
Opening Device Manager as an administrator is especially useful when you need to fix driver-related problems. For example, if a Wi-Fi adapter is not working, a graphics driver update failed, or a USB controller keeps showing an error code, you may need elevated access to uninstall the device, roll back a driver, scan for hardware changes, or apply a driver package. These actions can affect all users on the computer, so Windows protects them behind administrator approval.
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Common tasks that may require administrator access
- Updating drivers: Installing or replacing a driver often writes files to protected Windows folders and updates system driver records.
- Uninstalling a device: Removing a device entry or deleting its driver software can require elevated permissions.
- Enabling or disabling hardware: Turning off a network adapter, camera, Bluetooth adapter, or storage controller changes system-wide hardware availability.
- Rolling back drivers: Restoring a previous driver version may modify protected driver store data.
- Changing advanced device settings: Some device properties, power management options, and resource settings are locked for non-admin accounts.
- Resolving error codes: Fixes for Device Manager errors such as Code 10, Code 28, Code 31, or Code 43 may involve driver installation, device removal, or hardware rescan actions.
Administrator access also matters in managed environments. On a work or school computer, Device Manager may be restricted by policy even if you can open the window. You might see missing buttons, greyed-out options, or prompts asking for an administrator username and password. In those cases, launching Device Manager with elevated rights is only possible if your account is allowed to administer the device or an IT administrator provides credentials.
Using admin privileges should be done carefully. Disabling the wrong storage controller, display adapter, keyboard, touchpad, or network device can make the computer harder to use until the setting is reversed. Before making driver changes, it is sensible to confirm the device name, download drivers from the PC maker or hardware manufacturer, and create a restore point when changing critical components. Elevated Device Manager access is powerful because it can repair stubborn hardware issues, but the same access can also disrupt stable devices if used casually.
Open Device Manager as Admin from Windows Search
Windows Search is often the quickest way to launch Device Manager with elevated permissions, especially when you do not want to browse through Control Panel or Settings. The process is slightly different from opening a normal app because Device Manager may appear as a Control Panel result, a Microsoft Management Console snap-in, or a system tool depending on your Windows version and search indexing state.
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- Type Device Manager.
- In the search results, look for Device Manager.
- If you see Run as administrator on the right side of the search panel, click it.
- If a User Account Control prompt appears, select Yes.
On Windows 11, the Run as administrator option may appear directly under the selected result or inside a small arrow/menu area next to it. On Windows 10, it is usually shown in the right-hand action pane after you select the Device Manager result. If you are signed in with a standard user account, Windows will ask for an administrator username and password before continuing.
Use the right-click menu in Search
If the action pane does not show an elevated launch option, try using the context menu instead. Search for Device Manager, then right-click the result and choose Run as administrator if it is available. This works best when Windows Search returns the executable management console entry rather than only a Settings shortcut. If right-clicking opens Device Manager normally or only shows Open, use another launch method later in the article, such as Run, Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Computer Management.
If Search opens Device Manager without elevation
Device Manager can sometimes open without a visible administrator prompt, particularly if you are already signed in with an administrator account and User Account Control behavior is configured to be less intrusive. To check whether you have the needed access, try performing an action that requires elevation, such as updating a driver, uninstalling a device, disabling hardware, or scanning for hardware changes. If those actions are blocked, greyed out, or produce an access denied message, close Device Manager and relaunch it using a method that explicitly requests administrator privileges.
- Check the account type: Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and confirm that the account is listed as an administrator.
- Use exact search terms: Search for Device Manager rather than a device category such as printers, audio, or display adapters.
- Expand the search result: Select the result once and look for additional actions on the right side of the Start menu search panel.
- Try the management console name: Search for devmgmt.msc. If it appears, right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
- Confirm UAC is enabled: If User Account Control has been disabled or heavily restricted by policy, elevation prompts may not appear as expected.
For many users, Windows Search is the fastest elevated path because it requires only a few keystrokes and no command syntax. If the administrator option is missing, that does not necessarily mean Device Manager cannot be opened with elevated permissions; it usually means the Search result is limited, the account lacks admin rights, or Windows is presenting Device Manager as a Control Panel item rather than a direct management console entry.
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Launch Device Manager with Run or Command Prompt
The Run dialog and Command Prompt are quick ways to start Device Manager when you know the console file name: devmgmt.msc. This opens the Microsoft Management Console snap-in for Device Manager. If you launch it from a standard Run box or a non-elevated Command Prompt, it may open without administrator rights, which can prevent driver updates, device removal, adapter changes, or hardware rescan actions from completing successfully.
Open Device Manager from the Run dialog
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type devmgmt.msc.
- Press Enter or select OK.
This method is fast, but it usually runs Device Manager under the same permission level as your current desktop session. On many Windows systems, the Run dialog does not offer a built-in “Run as administrator” button for .msc management consoles. If you need elevation, open an elevated Command Prompt first, then start Device Manager from there.
Open Device Manager from an elevated Command Prompt
- Open the Start menu and type cmd.
- Select Run as administrator for Command Prompt.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears.
- Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
Starting Device Manager from an elevated Command Prompt is more reliable when you need administrative access. The Command Prompt window should show Administrator: Command Prompt in the title bar. After you run devmgmt.msc, Device Manager should inherit the elevated context from that console session. You can then try tasks such as uninstalling a faulty device, updating a driver, disabling a network adapter, or scanning for hardware changes.
Useful Command Prompt variations
- devmgmt.msc opens Device Manager directly.
- mmc devmgmt.msc opens the Device Manager snap-in through Microsoft Management Console.
- start devmgmt.msc launches it in a separate window from the current command session.
If Device Manager still behaves as if it is not elevated, close all open Device Manager windows and relaunch it from an elevated Command Prompt. Windows may reuse an existing non-admin management console process, especially if Device Manager is already open. Also confirm that you are signed in with an account that has administrator privileges, or that you can provide administrator credentials when User Account Control asks for them.
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Open Device Manager as Admin Using PowerShell or Windows Terminal
PowerShell and Windows Terminal provide a reliable way to start Device Manager with elevated permissions, especially on systems where Windows Search does not show the expected admin option. This method is useful for administrators, support technicians, and advanced users who prefer command-based tools or need to launch Device Manager while already working in a terminal session.
Start Device Manager from an elevated Windows Terminal
- Right-click the Start button.
- Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin). On some Windows 10 systems, this may appear as Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- If the User Account Control prompt appears, select Yes.
- In the elevated terminal window, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
Device Manager should open in a separate window. Because it was launched from an elevated terminal, actions that require administrator rights, such as uninstalling a device, changing driver settings, disabling hardware, or scanning for hardware changes, are more likely to work without permission errors.
Use PowerShell directly
If you specifically want to use PowerShell, open it with admin rights first. Press Windows + S, type PowerShell, right-click Windows PowerShell, and select Run as administrator. Then run this command:
Start-Process devmgmt.msc
For most users, entering devmgmt.msc by itself is enough. The Start-Process command is simply another clean way to launch the Microsoft Management Console snap-in from PowerShell. If PowerShell is already elevated, Device Manager inherits that elevated context.
Launch Device Manager with elevation from a non-admin PowerShell window
If your current PowerShell window is not elevated, you can request elevation when launching Device Manager. Run the following command:
Start-Process devmgmt.msc -Verb RunAs
Windows should display a User Account Control prompt. After you approve it, Device Manager opens with administrator privileges. This is one of the most convenient command-line methods because you do not need to close your current PowerShell window and reopen it as admin first.
- If the command does nothing: make sure you typed devmgmt.msc correctly, including the .msc extension.
- If UAC never appears: your account may not have permission to request elevation, or User Account Control may be restricted by policy.
- If Device Manager opens but changes are blocked: close it, reopen Terminal or PowerShell as administrator, and launch devmgmt.msc again from that elevated window.
- If Terminal (Admin) is missing: search for Windows Terminal or PowerShell, right-click the result, and choose Run as administrator.
On managed work or school PCs, administrator elevation may be controlled by IT policy. In that case, the command may still open Device Manager, but driver installation, device removal, or hardware configuration changes may remain unavailable. If you see messages such as Access is denied or You do not have sufficient privileges, sign in with an administrator account or contact the system administrator for permission.
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Use Computer Management to Access Device Manager
Computer Management is another dependable way to reach Device Manager, especially when you want an elevated management console instead of opening Device Manager directly. This method is useful on Windows 10 and Windows 11 because Computer Management groups several administrative tools in one place, including Device Manager, Disk Management, Services, Event Viewer, Local Users and Groups on supported editions, and Shared Folders.
To open it with administrator privileges, right-click the Start button and select Computer Management. If Windows prompts you with User Account Control, choose Yes. In the left pane of the Computer Management window, expand System Tools if needed, then select Device Manager. The device list appears in the center pane, where you can view hardware categories, update drivers, uninstall devices, scan for hardware changes, and inspect device properties.
Open Computer Management as admin from search
- Click Start or press the Windows key.
- Type Computer Management.
- Right-click Computer Management in the results.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears.
- Go to System Tools > Device Manager.
You can also launch the same console through the Run dialog. Press Windows + R, type compmgmt.msc, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to request elevation. If the shortcut does not elevate from Run on your system, open an elevated Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal window first, then run compmgmt.msc from there. Device Manager opened inside that elevated console should have the permissions needed for most hardware management tasks.
When this method is the better choice
- You need more than Device Manager: Computer Management lets you check related areas such as Event Viewer logs, services, and disk status without opening separate tools.
- Device Manager shortcuts are missing: If a Start menu shortcut or search result is not behaving correctly, compmgmt.msc often still works.
- You are troubleshooting hardware errors: You can compare Device Manager status codes with system events in Event Viewer from the same console.
- You prefer a full Microsoft Management Console view: The left navigation tree makes it easier to move between administrative snap-ins.
If Device Manager opens inside Computer Management but still does not let you change drivers or device settings, confirm that the window was launched elevated. Close Computer Management, then reopen it using Run as administrator. If the option is unavailable, sign in with an administrator account or ask an administrator to enter credentials at the User Account Control prompt. On work or school devices, Group Policy, endpoint security software, or device management rules may block driver changes even when you can view Device Manager.
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If Device Manager opens but still blocks actions such as updating drivers, uninstalling devices, disabling hardware, or changing device properties, the session may not actually be elevated. In Windows, simply being signed in with an administrator account is not always enough; User Account Control may still require an elevated launch. Close Device Manager completely, then open it again using an admin method such as an elevated Windows Terminal, Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Computer Management. If you see a UAC prompt, choose Yes to allow the elevated session.
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Check whether your account has administrator rights
Admin launch options may be missing if you are using a standard local account, a Microsoft family child account, a work or school account with restrictions, or a domain account without local administrator membership. To check your account type, open Settings, go to Accounts, and review your account information. You can also open Control Panel, select User Accounts, and confirm whether your account is listed as an administrator.
- If your account is standard, sign in with an administrator account and try again.
- If this is a work or school PC, contact your IT administrator to request local admin access or driver installation approval.
- If the PC is managed by an organization, some Device Manager actions may be blocked by policy even after elevation.
Use an elevated console when shortcuts do not work
Some Device Manager shortcuts do not show a separate Run as administrator option because Device Manager is a Microsoft Management Console snap-in. In that case, launch it from an elevated shell instead. Right-click Start, select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin), approve the UAC prompt, then run devmgmt.msc. You can also open an elevated Command Prompt and run the same command. If Device Manager starts from that window, it inherits the elevated permissions from the console.
Fix UAC and policy-related problems
If no UAC prompt appears, or the prompt appears but does not accept your credentials, User Account Control or local security policy may be interfering. Confirm that UAC is enabled by opening Control Panel, selecting User Accounts, choosing Change User Account Control settings, and setting the slider to a standard notification level. After changing this setting, restart Windows and test Device Manager again.
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| No admin option appears | Open Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), then run devmgmt.msc. |
| UAC asks for credentials you do not have | Use a local administrator account or ask the device owner or IT department for access. |
| Device Manager opens but driver changes are blocked | Check organization policies, endpoint security software, and whether Windows is in S mode. |
| Device Manager fails to open | Restart Windows, run Windows Update, then try launching devmgmt.msc from an elevated console. |
When Device Manager still refuses to open correctly, test from another administrator profile to rule out a damaged user account. If the issue only affects one profile, create a new local administrator account and use it for hardware management. If it affects every account, run system repair tools from an elevated terminal, such as sfc /scannow followed by DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. After the repairs finish, restart the PC before opening Device Manager again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if Device Manager is actually running as administrator?
Device Manager does not always show a clear “Administrator” label in the window title. A practical way to check is to try an action that requires elevation, such as updating, disabling, uninstalling, or rolling back a driver. If Windows asks for admin approval or blocks the action, it likely was not opened with elevated permissions.
Why don’t I see “Run as administrator” when I search for Device Manager?
In some Windows versions, the Device Manager search result opens as a Control Panel management snap-in and may not show a direct “Run as administrator” option. Instead, open an elevated Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal, then run devmgmt.msc. You can also open Computer Management as administrator and select Device Manager from there.
What command opens Device Manager as admin?
Open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal with administrator privileges, then type devmgmt.msc and press Enter. The elevation comes from the terminal window itself, so make sure you selected “Run as administrator” before running the command. If you open a normal terminal, Device Manager may launch without the permissions needed to change drivers or device settings.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCan I open Device Manager as admin without knowing the administrator password?
No, Windows requires administrator approval for elevated device and driver changes. If you are using a standard account, you need an admin password or help from someone who manages the PC. On a work or school device, those permissions may be controlled by IT policy and may not be available to local users.
What should I do if Device Manager still will not open as administrator?
First, restart the PC and try launching it from an elevated Windows Terminal using devmgmt.msc. If that fails, check that your account is in the Administrators group and that User Account Control has not been disabled or restricted by policy. You can also try opening Computer Management as administrator, running Windows system file checks, or contacting your organization’s IT administrator if the device is managed.
Bottom Line
Opening Device Manager as an administrator is often necessary when you need to update drivers, uninstall hardware, change device settings, or troubleshoot problems that standard permissions cannot modify. The most reliable options are using Windows Search with elevated privileges, running devmgmt.msc from an admin Command Prompt or PowerShell window, or launching it through Computer Management.
If the admin option is missing or Device Manager still does not open elevated, verify that you are using an administrator account, check UAC settings, and try an elevated terminal method instead. Once Device Manager is open with the right permissions, make your driver or hardware changes carefully and restart Windows if prompted.
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