Win11 Can't start Device Manager as Administrator in Win+x menu, can in Win10; intentional?

Rhys Drummond 11 Reputation points
2022-02-23T04:17:17.503+00:00

Background: Main / local account is 'Standard', and a separate Administrator account is enabled with password, for admin tasks. UAC is set to 'Max'.

Win+x opens the Power User Menu, of which Device Manager can be accessed.

  • In Win10, if you hold Ctrl+Shift when you click Device manager, it starts as Administrator.
  • In Win11, Ctrl-Shift doesn't work, and you can't run as Administrator.

Workaround: To run Device Manager as Administrator, either:

  • Start an elevated command prompt (Win+R, cmd, Ctrl-Shift-Enter), then run devmgmt.msc
  • Start directly (Win+R, devmgmt.msc, Ctrl-Shift-Enter)

It is a massive issue for us because all our client machine logins are now mandated to be 'Standard' (non-Administrator) users, and we still need to be able to do Admin tasks easily.

This is a major productivity killer. Is it intentional, and if so why, and can it be overridden? Is it a design philosophy change in Win11?

Thanks.

[posted on elevenforum.com and answers.microsoft.com, no solutions there]

Windows for business Windows Client for IT Pros User experience Other
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  1. Docs 15,756 Reputation points
    2022-02-23T06:58:48.687+00:00

    The links that were posted opened the websites but did not open the threads.

    Please post links that open directly the threads on each elevenforum and microsoft answers.

    If task manager is an option:

    Ctrl + alt + del > File > run new task > devmgmt.msc > Create this task with administrative privileges

    These are many shortcuts for Windows 10 and 11:

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/31758-keyboard-shortcuts-windows-10-a.html

    https://www.elevenforum.com/t/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-11.2253/

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  2. James McCool 0 Reputation points
    2025-03-24T13:58:27.8233333+00:00

    Run MMC as an admin, then load the device manager snap-in.

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