Opening Device Manager on Windows

Device Manager is a Windows tool that shows every piece of hardware connected to your computer — your graphics card, network adapter, USB devices, and more. To open it, press the Windows key and R at the same time, type devmgmt.msc into the box that appears, and press Enter. The Device Manager window will open when ready.

If the Run dialog does not appear, you can also right-click the Start button in the bottom left corner and select "Device Manager" directly from the menu. On Windows 11, this menu appears when you click the Start button and then right-click on "This PC" or "My Computer" in the sidebar.

A third route: open Settings, go to System, then scroll down and click "Device Manager" at the bottom of the page. All three methods open the same window — use whichever feels fastest to you.

Key Takeaways

  • Device Manager on Windows shows every hardware device connected to your computer, including network adapters, graphics cards, and USB devices.
  • The fastest way to open Device Manager is to press Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
  • You can also right-click the Start button and select Device Manager, or open it through Settings on Windows 11.
  • On Mac, the equivalent tool is System Report, which you reach by clicking the Apple menu, selecting "About This Mac," and then clicking "System Report."
  • A yellow exclamation mark or red X next to a device means that device has a problem — usually a missing or outdated driver.

What you see when Device Manager opens

Device Manager displays your hardware in categories: Display adapters, Network adapters, Sound, video and game controllers, USB controllers, and others. Click the arrow next to any category to expand it and see the specific devices inside.

Most devices show a normal icon with no warning. If you see a yellow exclamation mark or a red X next to a device name, that device is not working correctly — usually because the driver (the software that lets Windows talk to the hardware) is missing, outdated, or corrupted. A question mark means Windows does not recognize the device at all.

You do not need to do anything with most devices. Device Manager is useful when you are troubleshooting a problem — a printer that will not print, a network connection that keeps dropping, or a USB device that your computer does not recognize.

Opening System Report on Mac

Mac does not have a tool called Device Manager, but System Report shows the same information. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner, select "About This Mac," and then click the "System Report" button. A window will open showing your Mac's hardware details.

In System Report, click "Hardware" in the left sidebar to see categories like Memory, Storage, Graphics, and Network. Each category expands to show details about that piece of hardware — how much memory you have, what graphics card is installed, and what network adapters are connected.

Unlike Windows Device Manager, System Report does not show warnings or error states for individual devices. If a device is not working on Mac, you usually troubleshoot through System Preferences or by checking the specific app that uses that device.

Why you might need to open Device Manager

The most common reason to open Device Manager is to update a driver. If a device stopped working or is behaving strangely, right-click it in Device Manager and select "Update driver." Windows will search for a newer version online and install it if one is found.

You might also open Device Manager to uninstall a driver — for example, if a recent update broke something. Right-click the device, select "Uninstall device," and restart your computer. Windows will reinstall a basic version of the driver on restart, which often fixes the problem.

Device Manager also helps you identify what hardware is actually in your computer. If you are not sure whether you have a built-in microphone or what your graphics card model is, Device Manager will tell you. This information is useful when you are buying software or troubleshooting compatibility problems.

Understanding device status icons

A device with no icon or a normal icon is working correctly. You do not need to do anything with it. A yellow exclamation mark means the device is installed but not working — the driver is missing, outdated, or there is a hardware conflict. A red X means the device is disabled or has failed completely. A question mark means Windows found hardware but does not know what it is.

If you see a warning icon, right-click the device and select "Properties" to see more details about what went wrong. The error code or message in the Properties window will tell you whether you need to update the driver, disable conflicting software, or check the hardware connection itself.

Devices with warning icons do not always need your attention. Some devices are disabled by design — for example, if you have multiple network adapters, one might be disabled because only one is in use. If the device is not one you use, you can leave it as is.

Updating drivers from Device Manager

To update a driver, right-click the device in Device Manager and select "Update driver." Windows will show two options: "Search automatically for updated driver software" and "Browse my computer for driver software." Choose the automatic option first — it is faster and usually works.

Windows will search online for a newer driver. If one is found, it will read and install it automatically. You may be asked to restart your computer for the change to take effect. If no newer driver is found, Windows will tell you that your driver is up to date.

If automatic update does not work, you can visit the device manufacturer's website directly and read the latest driver from there. Save the driver file to your computer, then return to Device Manager, right-click the device, select "Update driver," and choose "Browse my computer for driver software." Navigate to the folder where you saved the driver and select it.

When to restart after making changes

Some driver updates require a restart before they take effect. Windows will usually prompt you to restart when you finish installing. If you do not see a prompt but the device still is not working, restart your computer manually and check again.

If you uninstall a driver, restart your computer when ready. Windows will reinstall a basic version of the driver during startup, which often fixes problems caused by a corrupted or incompatible driver version.

You do not need to restart just for opening Device Manager or looking at your hardware. Changes only require a restart when you update, uninstall, or disable a driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Device Manager and System Information?

Device Manager shows individual hardware devices and their status — whether they are working, disabled, or have errors. System Information (which you can open by typing "msinfo32" into the Run dialog) shows an overview of your entire system — your processor, total memory, Windows version, and installed devices all in one place. Device Manager is for troubleshooting individual devices; System Information is for getting a full picture of your computer.

Can I break something by opening Device Manager?

Opening Device Manager and looking at your devices will not break anything. Disabling or uninstalling a driver can cause problems if you choose the wrong device, but you can always restart your computer and reinstall the driver. If you are just browsing to see what hardware you have, there is no risk.

Why does Device Manager show devices I do not recognize?

Many devices are internal or system-level hardware that you do not interact with directly — chipset drivers, system controllers, and bus controllers are all necessary for your computer to work but are not devices you use yourself. You can safely ignore devices you do not recognize unless they have a warning icon.

How do I know if a driver update is safe to install?

Driver updates from Windows Update or the device manufacturer's official website are safe to install. They are tested before release. If you are downloading a driver from a third-party website, make sure it is the official manufacturer's site — check the URL carefully and look for security indicators like a padlock icon in your browser's address bar.

What should I do if a device has a red X and I need it to work?

Right-click the device and select "Enable device." If that does not work, try updating the driver. If the device still does not work after updating, check the physical connection — make sure cables are plugged in and USB devices are fully inserted. If it is an internal device, you may need to check your computer's BIOS settings or contact the manufacturer for support.