How to Access Devices and Printers in Windows 11

Why use the Devices and Printers folder?

This folder is a central hub for everything plugged into your computer. Use it to check whether a device is working, fix connection errors, or change settings for your printers and scanners. A device that works normally shows a plain icon. One with a problem often shows a small warning symbol.

Opening the folder only lets you look at your devices. It does not change anything until you pick an action yourself, so there is nothing to undo and no restart is needed.

What happens when done?

When you finish the steps below, a window opens with an icon for each connected device. From there you can manage your equipment or remove devices you no longer use.

Settings App vs. Legacy Control Panel

Method 1Open Devices and Printers from the Settings App

The Settings ⚙️ app is the route Microsoft wants you to use in Windows 11. It ends with a link that opens the classic Devices and Printers folder.

These steps take you from the Start menu ⊞ to the devices & printers folder.

1. Open the Windows Settings ⚙️ app. Click the Start menu ⊞ and select Settings, or press Windows key + I to open it quickly. The Settings ⚙️ window should open with a list of categories on the left.

   

2. Click Bluetooth 🔷 & devices in the left sidebar. The right side should now show tiles for your devices, including one named Devices.

   

3. Click the Devices tile on the right side. A list of paired and connected devices should appear.

   

4. Scroll down to Related settings. It sits below the list of devices, near the bottom of the page.
5. Click More devices and printers settings. The Devices and Printers folder should open in a new window.

   

Go to Settings › Bluetooth 🔷 & devices › Printers & scanners You can also open that page directly with the address ms-settings:printers.

From the Printers & scanners page you can:

• Add a printer or scanner.
• Remove a printer you no longer use.
• Set a default printer.
• Open a printer’s properties and printing preferences.

To work with a specific printer, click its name in the list. The page for that printer has the options above.

That option is the Let Windows manage my default printer setting on the Printers & scanners page. While it is on, the Set as default button is unavailable. Turn the setting off if you want to pick the default yourself.

Method 2Open Devices and Printers Using the Run App

This is the fastest way to open the folder directly. It uses the shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A} command.

These steps open the folder from the Run box in three actions.

1. Press Win+R on your keyboard. This opens the Run box, a small window that appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
2. Type shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A} in the Open field. Type it exactly as shown, including any spaces.
3. Press Enter. The Devices and Printers folder should open right away.

   

Two other common routes reach the same folder. The first goes through Control Panel 🎛️, the older settings window that Windows 11 still includes.

1. Click Start. Type Control Panel 🎛️ in the search 🔍 box.
2. Open Control Panel 🎛️ from the results. The Control Panel 🎛️ window should appear.
3. Go to Control Panel 🎛️ › Hardware and Sound › Devices and Printers. If you do not see Hardware and Sound, change View by in the top-right corner to Category.

The second route uses Start search and opens the same folder as the Run box does.

1. Click Start. The search 🔍 box is ready for typing as soon as the menu opens.
2. Type the command control printers. A matching result should appear.
3. Press Enter. The Devices and Printers folder should open.

Troubleshooting Device Discovery

If your printer or device is missing from the folder, work through these checks in order. Test the device after each one, and stop when it appears.

1. Check that the device is turned on and plugged in. Try a different USB port or cable if it still does not appear.
2. Make sure Bluetooth 🔷 is turned on for wireless devices. You can check this in Settings › Bluetooth 🔷 & devices
3. Check Device installation settings to make sure Windows is allowed to download manufacturer apps and icons. If it is set to not download them, a device can show up as generic or not show up at all.
4. Run the Bluetooth 🔷 or Printer troubleshooter in Settings › System › Troubleshoot › Other troubleshooters It opens in the Get Help app. Follow the prompts and let it apply any fixes it finds.

Summary

The Devices and Printers folder is still a useful tool for managing hardware. Windows 11 pushes users toward the Settings app, but you can still open the legacy view with the shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A} command, through Control Panel, or from Start search.

For everyday printer tasks, the Printers & scanners page in Settings is enough. If a device fails to appear, use the troubleshooting steps above.