How to launch computer management from the command line

Windows operating system comes integrated with several different important system tools that help with proper management and configuration of the computer system. These tools have designated tasks assigned for them. For instance, to see all incoming and outgoing emails, there is a Mail app. To see all events, there is the Event Viewer. To schedule repeated tasks, there is Task Scheduler. And to manage drivers and hardware devices, there is the Device Manager. In a nutshell, operating systems in general, not only the Widows come with a lot of important programs for better management.

Computer Management can now be described as a system tool with an interactive user interface that allows users to manage user accounts, view events logs, view and manage computer devices, and many more. This guide shows you three ways to enter Computer Management.

The Computer Management tool is part of all Windows operating systems that nerds and IT professionals appreciate. This app can be viewed as a fully featured control panel that gives you access to several advanced administration tools such as Device Manager, Disk Management, Services, Task Scheduler, Event Viewer, and Performance Monitor, alongside many others. When the need to troubleshoot Windows arises, Computer Management gives you access to many elements you need in one place. Nonetheless, you need to know how to run Computer Management in order to use it. This guide focuses on how you can launch Computer Management in Windows 10 and the latest version of Windows; 11.

Note: While the screenshots are taken in Windows 10, things work just the same way on Windows 11. So, regardless of which Windows modern version you use, this guide will help you easily launch Computer Management.

How to launch Computer Management from Command Line, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal

Command Line is a text-based user interface that displays a blank line and cursor on the screen, allowing the user to directly instruct the computer on what to do by typing in instructions that are immediately executed. All major operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux, and Unix support command lines. This is a tool that programmers and power users can engage with to perform all kinds of file management operations directly. The use of Command Line is often more efficient than Graphical User Interface (GUI) operations.

A Command Line program is an instruction interpreter or processor that uses a command-line interface to receive instructions from a user in the form of lines of text. This offers a way of setting parameters for the environment, invoking executables, and providing information to them as to what actions they are to perform.

While the Command Line might be overwhelming for the average computer user, Geeks and IT professionals love it as it allows them to do many administrative tasks with ease. After typing the command you want to give the computer, you only need to hit the Enter key and the system will execute the given instruction effortlessly. Easy and straightforward.

Wondering how you can launch the Windows Command Line program? Here is how:

How to quickly open Command Prompt using the Start Menu Search Bar

One of the fastest ways to open the Command Line in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 is to use search. In Windows 11, click or tap the search button on the taskbar, type cmd, and press Enter or click/tap on the Command Prompt result.

In the event that you need to launch Command Prompt as administrator, use the Run as administrator link situated on the right side of the search panel. On the other hand, you can also right-click on the Command Prompt search result and then select Run as administrator.

On Windows 10, press Windows key + S or alternatively, click the Start Menu search bar icon. In the search input field on the taskbar, type in cmd, press the Enter key or click on the Command Prompt result. Just like in Windows 11, to launch Command Prompt as administrator, click or tap on the Run as administrator link situated on the right side of the search panel. If your computer has a touchscreen, you can press and hold on a touchscreen on the Command Prompt result, and then select Run as administrator.

How to open Command Prompt from the Start Menu

On Windows 10, press the Windows key on the keyboard or simply use the mouse to click on the Windows icon located at the bottom left of the screen. Scroll down to the Windows System folder, click on it, and select Command Prompt from the programs under it.

On a Windows 11 PC, you can launch Command Prompt from the Start Menu by opening the Start Menu, heading to All apps, scrolling down until you find the Windows Tools shortcut, and then, clicking on it. On the screen that appears, there is a Command Prompt shortcut. Double-click or double-tap on it, and your favorite command-line app opens. In the event that you need to launch Command Prompt as administrator, use the Run as administrator link situated on the right side of the search panel.

Launching Computer Management from Command Line

Now that you know how to launch the Windows Command Line, it is time to see learn how to launch Computer Management via this program. Have it in mind that the command you need to use works just as well in PowerShell and Windows Terminal. Hence, regardless of the command line program you wish to use, the result will always be the same. To launch Computer Management from the command line, follow the steps below.

Launch the command-line program you prefer, using any of the guides provided above.
Then, in the command-line app you’ve started, run this command and press Enter:

mmc compmgmt.msc

Alternatively, you can type:

compmgmt.msc

The command automatically launches the Computer Management tool.

Other ways to launch the Computer Management tool

The use of Command Line is not the only way you can launch the Computer management tool. As a freebie, we have compiled some other methods by which you can easily launch this tool.

How to launch Computer Management using Windows Menu

One of the fastest ways to open applications and programs on the Windows operating system is by using the Windows start menu. Here is how you can use it to launch Computer Management.

Press the Windows key on the keyboard or simply use the mouse to click on the Windows icon located at the bottom left of the screen.
Now scroll down to the Windows Administrative Tools folder.
Select Computer Management from the options.

How to launch Computer Management using the Start Menu Search Bar

The Start Menu search bar is another utility that helps us quickly find stuff from our computer system. Files, programs, etc. can be quickly found using this tool. So, if you do not the location of a particular file in our system, you can use the Start Menu Search Bar to locate it. Here is how this tool can help you quickly open the Computer Management tool.

Press Windows key + S or alternatively, click the Start Menu search bar icon.
Type Computer Management and select the right match for your query.

Shortcut: You can search even faster by pressing the Windows key, type the word Computer, and press the Enter key as soon as you see your search results.

Launch the Computer Management using the Quick Access Menu

Just as the name implies, the Quick Access Menu offers a simple way to access files and programs on our system. Hence, the same can be used to launch the Computer Management tool. Here is how.

Press Windows + X keys to open the Quick Access Menu.
Now select Computer Management from the menu items.

Launch the Computer Management using the Windows Run

The Windows Run is another quick way of opening system tools in Windows, and you can use it to open Computer Management too. This command window allows you to launch programs, open files and folders, and access internet resources, among many others. It is convenient to use, executes commands as fast as the Command Line program, and is friendlier to average computer users. To use the Windows Run, simply type a path, a quick command, or environment variable into its input box, and then click OK or press Enter, and the program will execute the command. To use the Windows Run command to launch Computer Management, follow the steps below.

Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to access the Run window.
Now type either of these two commands without the quotes: “mmc compmgmt.msc”, “compmgmt.msc”.

Now hit the Enter key or click on the OK button.

How to launch the Computer Management tool from Control Panel

The Control Panel is a utility component that provides the ability to view and change system settings on Windows operating systems. It houses a set of applets for user account management, adding or removing hardware and software, modifying accessibility options, accessing networking settings, and many others. Among other things, we can access the Computer Management tool through the Control Panel. To do this, follow the steps given below.

Launch the Control Panel. You can do this by typing “Control” on the Windows Search Menu bar and selecting Control Panel from the query results. This will open the Control Panel window.

Now that you are at the Control panel, go to System and Security. Administrative Tools.”

Now select Administrative Tools.

In the next screen, you should see the Computer Management tool featured here. Click on it to launch the tool.

Note for Windows 11 users: Be aware that Administrative Tools has been renamed into Windows Tools on the latest version of Windows that you are using. Therefore, to access the Computer Management, you would need to go through the System and Security and locate the Windows Tools. Then, find the Computer Management shortcut and click on it.

Pin a Computer Management shortcut on the desktop

Windows Taskbar provides users with quick access to their most-used apps and folders on the system. While some default apps are automatically pinned to the Taskbar, pinning custom applications and folders is done by the user. The Taskbar shortcut can be used to create shortcut access for the Computer Management tool. Once this is done, accessing the tool becomes easier. In order to do this, you will need to follow the steps given below.

Right-click or tap and hold anywhere on the empty space on your desktop (if your computer has a touchscreen feature), and select New from the options.

Then choose Shortcut.

The Create Shortcut wizard will pop up. Type in the command: compmgmt.msc and click on Next to complete the creation.

Launch Computer Management from File Explorer

One of the quick tricks to open the Computer Management is to open File Explorer and right-click or tap-and-hold on the This PC component on the left side of the explorer window. Then, in the menu that is shown, select Manage. This action opens Computer Management.

Departing Thoughts

That is all there is. The Windows Computer Management Tool is a very handy feature to have around, and there are many different ways to access it. These different methods were explained above. We hope that you found this post as helpful as you had wanted. If you are stuck or need some help, kindly leave a comment below and we will try to help as much as possible. If you like this article, check out our other posts and let us know what you think of them. See you around.