Save devcon.exe in your System32 folder, then create aliases or batch files for your most common hardware resets. It will save you hours of GUI navigation over time.
devcon [command] [arguments] 1. List All Devices devcon listclass * Better: list devices by status: devcon.exe windows 11
devcon enable "PCI\VEN_10EC*" Disabling critical devices (like your network adapter or display adapter) can cut remote access or blank your screen. Use with care. 4. Restart a Device (Disable + Enable) devcon restart "USB\VID_046D*" This is useful for resetting a malfunctioning USB webcam or audio device. 5. Rescan for New Hardware (like “Scan for hardware changes” in Device Manager) devcon rescan Use this after connecting a new device that doesn’t automatically load a driver. 6. View Device Driver Details devcon driverfiles "PCI\VEN_8086*" Shows the .inf and .sys files used by the driver. 7. Install a Driver for a Specific Device First, put your .inf file in a folder. Then: Save devcon
Syntax:
devcon status * This shows every PnP device with “running,” “stopped,” or “disabled” status. devcon find *VEN_10EC* # finds all Realtek devices devcon find *PCI\VEN_8086* # finds all Intel PCI devices 3. Enable or Disable a Device Disable: List All Devices devcon listclass * Better: list
devcon disable "PCI\VEN_10EC*"
While the graphical Device Manager is the go-to tool for most Windows 11 users, system administrators, developers, and power users often need a faster, scriptable alternative. Enter devcon.exe (Microsoft Device Console). This command-line utility acts as a powerful text-based interface to Plug and Play (PnP) devices, allowing you to enable, disable, restart, update, and query hardware devices directly from the terminal.