Microsoft Management Console (.msc) Files in Windows 11

Introduction

Microsoft Management Console (mmc.exe) provides a user interface for system management. It allows users to work with administrative tools called snap-ins. These snap-ins can be used to manage hardware, software, and network resources. [1]

Each snap-in is represented by a .msc file. The .msc files are the saved console files that contain the configuration of the snap-ins. They are used to launch specific management tools in Windows, making it easier for system administrators to perform various tasks. You can create custom consoles by adding multiple snap-ins to a single console, allowing you to manage different aspects of your system from one interface.

How to Open .MSC Files

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

1. Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt or Windows Terminal.
2. Type the name of the .msc file you want to open (e.g., diskmgmt.msc for Disk Management).
3. Press Enter.

Method 2: MMC Console

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type mmc and press Enter.
3. In the MMC console, go to File > Add/Remove Snap-in.
4. Select the desired snap-in(s) from the list and click Add.
5. Click Finish and then OK to load the snap-in(s).
6. You can now save the console as a .msc file for future use by going to File > Save As.

How to list all .MSC files in Windows 11

To list all available .msc files in Windows 11, you can use the following command in Command Prompt or PowerShell:

Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Windows\System32" -Filter "*.msc" | Select-Object Name, FullName

dir C:\Windows\System32\*.msc /b

This command will display all .msc files located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory, which is where most of the management console files are stored.

List of MSC Files in Windows 11

Below is a list of .msc files in Windows 11, along with their descriptions:

MSC File	Console Name	Description
azman.msc	Authorization Manager	Manage authorization policies.
certlm.msc	Certificate Manager (Local)	Manage security certificates.
certmgr.msc	Certificate Manager	Manage security certificates.
comexp.msc	Component Services	Configure COM+ applications.
compmgmt.msc	Computer Management	Access various administrative tools.
devmgmt.msc	Device Manager	View and manage hardware devices.
DevModeRunAsUserConfig.msc	Device Mode Run As User Config	Start Menu, Taskbar, and Notification settings
diskmgmt.msc	Disk Management	Manage disk partitions and storage.
eventvwr.msc	Event Viewer	Review system logs and events.
fsmgmt.msc	Shared Folders	Manage shared folders on the network.
gpedit.msc	Group Policy Editor	Manage system policies and configurations.
lusrmgr.msc	Local Users and Groups	Manage user accounts and groups.
perfmon.msc	Performance Monitor	Analyze system performance.
rsop.msc	Resultant Set of Policy	Analyze Group Policy settings.
secpol.msc	Local Security Policy	Configure security settings.
services.msc	Services	Control system services.
taskschd.msc	Task Scheduler	Automate tasks and processes.
tpm.msc	TPM Management	Manage Trusted Platform Module settings.
wf.msc	Windows Firewall with Advanced Security	Configure firewall settings.
wmimgmt.msc	Windows Management Instrumentation	Access WMI settings and configurations.

If you install optional Windows features like Hyper-V, you will find related .msc files in the system32 folder. For example, virtmgmt.msc is used to manage Hyper-V virtual machines. Additionally, Windows Server 2022 has its own set of .msc files that are used for server management and administration tasks [2].

Conclusion

The .msc files in Windows 11 provide a powerful way to manage system settings and configurations. By using the Microsoft Management Console, you can easily access various administrative tools and create custom consoles tailored to your needs.

References

[1] Microsoft Learn - MMC

[2] List of Microsoft Management .MSC Files in Windows