Windows Device Manager is used to manage devices and hardware connected to the system. It provides the ability to view detailed device configuration, install drivers, set low-level configuration, etc. The device manager can be accessed in different ways but in this tutorial, we examine how open or access or start the Device Manager via the MS-DOS command-line interface. We also describe the PowerShell way of starting a device manager. All of the following commands can be used in operating systems Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows Server versions to open Device Manager via MS-DOS and PowerShell command-line interface.
Open Device Manager with devmgmt.msc Command
The devmgmt.msc command is most used and popular command to open Device Manager via the MS-DOS and PowerShell command line interfaces. The devmgmt.msc can be also used to open Device Manager via Windows Run.
devmgmt.msc
Open Device Manager with hdwwiz.cpl Command
The Device Manager is provided as Control Panel tool and named as Hardware Wizard . The hdwwiz.cpl control panel shortcut can be used to open Device Manager via MS-DOS or PowerShell command line interfaces.
hdwwiz.cplOpen Device Manager with mmc devmgmt.msc Command
Alternative and a bit more long way opening the Device Manager via MS-DOS and PowerShell command line is using the mmc devmgmt.msc command. As we can see this command is a long version of the “devmgmt.msc” command which is the same.
mmc devmgmt.mscOpen Device Manager with control Command
Windows operating systems provide the control command in order to start specific Control Panel tool. The control command can be also used to open Device Manager via command line interface. The Microsoft.DeviceManager is provided as the /name option to the control command.
control /name Microsoft.DeviceManagerOpen Device Manager with control hdwwiz.cpl Command
We have allready examined the control command. The control command also use the *.cpl files which are shortcuts to the Control Panel tools. The control hdwwiz.cpl command can be used to access Device Manager.
control hdwwiz.cpl