ByWindows 11 users may sometimes face problems opening the Device Manager. This problem can occur due to various reasons, such as system file corruption, driver issues, or problems related to administrative permissions. In this article, we will explain some effective methods to solve this problem.
1. Restart Windows
Many times, a simple restart resolves this issue. So, first, restart your system and check if the problem persists or not.
2. Open Device Manager with Run as Administrator
Sometimes, Device Manager does not open due to a lack of administrative permissions. To fix this:
Press Windows + X and open the Command Prompt (CMD) with “Run as Administrator“.
Type the command below:
devmgmt.msc
Press Enter and see if Device Manager opens.
3. Check System Files (SFC & DISM Commands)
If the Windows system files are corrupted, Device Manager may not open. To fix this:
Search for “Command Prompt” by pressing Windows + S and select “Run as Administrator”.
Type the below command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
Wait until the scan is complete.
If the problem persists, run these commands one by one:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Now, restart the system and check if the problem is resolved.
4. Restart Windows Services
If essential Windows Services are not working properly, Device Manager will not open. To fix this:
Press Windows + R and type services.msc and press Enter.
Find the “Remote Procedure Call (RPC)” service and restart it.
Similarly, restart the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service.
Now try to open Device Manager.
5. Log in with a new user account
If the problem is occurring only in your current user account, you can try creating a new user account.
Open Settings and go to the “Accounts” section.
Click on “Family & other users” and select the “Add a user” option.
After creating a new account, sign in to it and check if the Device Manager is opening.
6. Open Device Manager in Safe Mode
If Device Manager is not opening in normal mode, you can try this by going into Safe Mode:
Press Windows + R and type msconfig.
Go to the “Boot” tab and enable “Safe Boot”.
Press Apply > OK and restart the system.
Now try to open Device Manager.
7. Reset Group Policy Settings
If Device Manager is blocked due to a group policy setting, to reset it:
Press Windows + R and type “gpedit.msc” and press Enter.
Go to “User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System”.
Set the “Prevent access to Device Manager” setting to “Not Configured”.
Restart the system.
8. Update Windows
Sometimes, this problem may occur due to an outdated or bug-ridden Windows version. To fix it:
Go to Settings > Windows Update.
Click on “Check for updates”.
Install all available updates and restart the system.
9. Use System Restore
If the above methods do not solve the problem, you can use System Restore.
Press Windows + R and type “rstrui” and press Enter.
Select “Choose a restore point” where your Device Manager was working correctly.
Complete the restore process by pressing “Next”.
After the system restarts, open Device Manager and check.
Conclusion
If the Device Manager is not opening in Windows 11, then this problem can be easily solved by following the above methods. We have given you many solutions like restarting, checking system files, restarting Windows Services, going into Safe Mode, and updating Windows. If the problem persists, the last option of resetting Windows can be adopted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why is the Device Manager not opening in Windows 11?
There may be many reasons behind the Device Manager not opening in Windows 11, such as system file corruption, lack of administrative permissions, Windows Services error, Group Policy settings, or problems related to Windows Update.
2. How can I open Device Manager through Command Prompt?
You can open Device Manager by opening Command Prompt (CMD) in Run as Administrator mode and typing the command given below and pressing Enter:
sh
Copy
Edit
devmgmt.msc
3. Can Device Manager be opened by going to Safe Mode?
Yes. If Device Manager is not opening in normal mode, then you can open it by going to Safe Mode. For this:
Press Windows + R and type msconfig and press Enter.
Go to the “Boot” tab and enable “Safe Boot”.
Restart the system by pressing Apply > OK.
Now try to open Device Manager.
4. What to do if Windows Services are disabled.
If Windows Services are not working properly, then:
Press Windows + R and type services.msc.
Restart the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) services.
Now try to open Device Manager.
5. Can Windows Update solve this problem?
Yes, sometimes an outdated Windows version or a bug can cause this problem.
Go to Settings > Windows Update.
Click on “Check for updates” and install all available updates.
Restart the system and check if the Device Manager opens or not.
6. What to do if System Restore also does not solve the problem.
If the problem persists after System Restore, as a last resort:
Reset Windows
Try creating a new user account
Clean install Windows (if none of the other solutions work)
7. Can Group Policy Settings block Device Manager?
Yes, Group Policy Settings can cause Device Manager access issues. To fix this:
Press Windows + R and type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
Go to “User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System”.
Set the “Prevent access to Device Manager” setting to Not Configured.
Restart the system and try again.
8. Can I open Device Manager without administrative permissions?
If you do not have administrative permissions, you will need to contact your System Administrator. However, you can try opening CMD (Command Prompt) in Run as Administrator mode.
9. Can drivers be updated without opening the Device Manager?
Yes, you can update drivers using Windows Update or Driver Update Software. For this:
Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Optional Updates.
Install the available driver updates and restart the system.
10. What does Device Manager Error Code 0x80070005 mean?
Error Code 0x80070005 means that you do not have the required permissions. To fix it:
Open CMD (Run as Administrator) and type devmgmt.msc.
Update Windows.
Create a new user account and login to it and try again.
