How to Open Administrative Tools (Windows Tools) in Windows 11

In Windows 11, Administrative Tools is now called Windows Tools. To open it, click Start, type Windows Tools, and press Enter. The same folder is also in Control Panel, and the Run command control admintools opens it too.

Microsoft describes Windows Tools as a folder in the Windows 11 Control Panel with tools for system administrators and advanced users. In Windows 10 the same folder is called Administrative Tools. This guide covers every dependable way to open the folder, how to open the most-used tools without it, and what to do when the folder or a tool seems to be missing.

What You Need to Know First

• Version: these steps are for Windows 11. On Windows 10, look for Administrative Tools instead; the routes are otherwise very similar.
• The name changed, the purpose did not: if a guide tells you to open Administrative Tools on a Windows 11 PC, it means Windows Tools.
• Your edition matters: Microsoft notes that the tools in the folder can vary by Windows edition. For example, Microsoft says the Local Group Policy Editor is not available on Windows Home.
• Some tools need an administrator: opening the folder is harmless, but many tools inside it change system settings. Windows may ask you to approve the change or enter an administrator password before a tool opens.

How to Open Windows Tools (Administrative Tools)

Searching from the Start menu is the shortest route and needs no commands.

1. Click Start on the taskbar, or press the Windows key. The Start menu opens with a search box at the top.
2. Type Windows Tools. You do not need to click the search box first; Windows starts searching as you type.
3. Click Windows Tools in the results, or press Enter when it is the top result.
4. Double-click the tool you want to open.

A folder window titled Windows Tools opens with shortcuts to tools such as Computer Management and Event Viewer. Nothing on your PC changes until you open a tool and change a setting inside it.

Open Windows Tools From Control Panel

Windows Tools is a Control Panel folder, so Control Panel is the most direct place to find it if search is not helping.

1. Open Control Panel. Microsoft says you can search for it in the Start menu, or press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter.
2. Look at View by in the top-right corner. If it says Category, click System and Security, then Windows Tools.
3. If you prefer one long list, change View by to Large icons or Small icons, then click Windows Tools in the alphabetical list.

The same Windows Tools folder opens either way. Changing View by only changes how Control Panel is laid out, and you can switch it back to Category at any time.

Open Windows Tools With a Run Command

The Run box is a small window where you type the name of a program or command to start it. It is the fastest route if you like the keyboard.

1. Press Windows + R. The Run box opens in the lower-left corner of the screen.
2. Type control admintools.
3. Press Enter or click OK.

Microsoft lists control.exe admintools among its legacy Control Panel commands as the command that displays the Administrative Tools folder. That page was written for older versions of Windows and does not mention Windows 11 by name, so if the command does nothing on your PC, use the Start search or Control Panel route instead. The same command can be typed into Command Prompt or Windows Terminal.

Keep Windows Tools One Click Away

If you open the folder often, pin it or make a shortcut so you can skip the search.

• Pin it: search for Windows Tools in Start, right-click the result, and choose Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar if those options are offered. To undo it later, right-click the pinned icon and choose the unpin option.
• Use the app list: open Start, go to the full list of apps, and scroll to the letter W. Windows Tools is normally listed there.
• Create a desktop shortcut: right-click an empty part of the desktop, select New, then Shortcut. Type control admintools as the location, click Next, name it Windows Tools, and click Finish. Delete the shortcut icon whenever you no longer want it; deleting a shortcut does not remove the folder.

Open Common Tools Directly

You do not have to go through Windows Tools every time. Microsoft’s system configuration tools page lists a direct route for each of these. Where a command is shown, press Windows + R, type it, and press Enter.

Tool	Fastest way to open it	What Microsoft says it is for
Task Manager	Right-click Start, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Monitoring performance, ending unresponsive programs, managing startup apps
Computer Management	Right-click Start, or run compmgmt.msc	Managing disks, services, devices, shared folders, and users
Event Viewer	Right-click Start, or run eventvwr.msc	Viewing system, security, and application event logs
System Configuration	Run msconfig	Troubleshooting Windows startup
System Information	Run msinfo32	Viewing hardware, drivers, and the software environment
Registry Editor	Run regedit	Viewing and changing the system registry
Local Group Policy Editor	Run gpedit.msc	Configuring policies for the local computer; not on Windows Home
Advanced System Settings	Run SystemPropertiesAdvanced	System properties, environment variables, performance settings, user profiles

Each of these can also be found by typing its name into the Start menu search.

For more, see how to open Device Manager and how to open Disk Management.

Before You Change Anything

Looking around inside these tools is safe. Changing settings is where problems start, so read these cautions before you edit anything.

• Registry Editor: Microsoft cautions that improper changes can cause system instability, application errors, or even prevent Windows from starting, and advises backing up the registry before making changes.
• System Configuration: Microsoft warns that incorrect settings can lead to instability or stop Windows from starting correctly, and recommends creating a backup of your system first.
• Local Group Policy Editor: Microsoft recommends that only experienced administrators use it, because policy changes can significantly affect how the computer works.
• Advanced System Settings: Microsoft says changes here should be made with caution, since incorrect settings can affect system stability.

A good habit is to write down the original value of any setting before you change it, so you can put it back if something goes wrong.

Troubleshooting: Windows Tools or a Tool Is Missing

Searching for Administrative Tools finds nothing useful

Search for Windows Tools instead. That is the Windows 11 name for the folder. If search still does not show it, use the Control Panel route above.

Windows Tools is not showing in Control Panel

Check the View by setting. In Category view the folder sits inside System and Security, not on the first screen. Switch to Large icons to see every item in one list. On a work or school PC, your organization can also hide Control Panel items, in which case you will need to ask your IT administrator.

A tool you expected is not in the folder

Microsoft says the contents vary by edition, so a tool listed in a guide written for Windows Pro may not be on Windows Home. The Local Group Policy Editor is the best-known example. Other tools are optional extras: if Active Directory Users and Computers is missing, it has to be installed separately. Follow our Windows 11 ADUC installation guide, including the separate route for Arm-based 24H2/25H2 PCs.

A tool asks for a password or will not open

That tool needs administrator rights. If you are signed in with a standard account, Windows asks for an administrator’s password. On a shared or work PC, ask the person who manages it. You can also right-click a tool in the Windows Tools folder and choose Run as administrator when that option is offered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Administrative Tools go in Windows 11?

It is now called Windows Tools. Microsoft describes both as a Control Panel folder that contains tools for system administrators and advanced users. To open it in Windows 11, click Start, type Windows Tools, and press Enter.

Is Windows Tools the same as the Settings app?

No. Microsoft says Settings is the main app for customizing and managing Windows, and encourages using it instead of Control Panel whenever possible. Windows Tools is a Control Panel folder of more advanced utilities. For everyday changes, press Windows + I to open Settings, or right-click Start and select Settings.

Do I need to be an administrator to open Windows Tools?

You can open the folder itself from any account. Individual tools are different: many of them change system-wide settings, so Windows may ask for administrator approval or an administrator password before they run.

Are these tools safe to use?

Yes for viewing information, but many of them change important system settings. Microsoft specifically warns about improper changes in Registry Editor and System Configuration. Only change something if you know what it does and how to reverse it.

Does the command control admintools still say Administrative Tools?

The command keeps its older name. Microsoft documents control.exe admintools as the command for the Administrative Tools folder, which is the folder Windows 11 now labels Windows Tools.

Next Step

Open Windows Tools from the Start menu once, then pin it if you expect to come back. If you only ever need one tool, such as Event Viewer or Computer Management, right-clicking Start is usually quicker than opening the whole folder.