How to Open System Configuration Tool in Windows 10/8/7?

While using Windows, you most certainly need a tool to disable or enable software. It is called the Microsoft System Configuration Utility or MSCONFIG .

On Windows, the System Configuration tool is probably your only way to

• change system parameters,
• fix device drivers,
• check system controls,
• enable or disable programs & software,
• and reconfigure services

So, you need to know the fastest and safest way to access System Configuration tool. For that, you can choose from around eight different ways to open MSCONFIG on Windows 10/8/7 .

We’ve listed them below, so let’s learn them now.

1. From the Start Menu

To begin with, we had to state the obvious. Everybody already knows that you can open every tool or program on your Windows computer from the Start menu.

Same goes for opening System Configuration tool ( msconfig.exe ) on Windows 10/8/7 or even on older versions. You can go to the Start menu, follow steps to navigate to the System Configuration tool and click to open.

• Click on the Start menu
• Type ‘ system configuration ’ in the search box

• Select the tool from search results
• Double-click to open

You can also create a shortcut to this path, and get a System Configuration tile pinned to your Start menu. Right-click on the System Configuration tool from the search results, and click on ‘ Pin to Start ’.

Now, you can simply click on the System Configuration tile on the Start menu, the next time you want to open it.

2. Open with Run Tool

Then, there’s always a customary way to run any program on Windows. You use the Run program.

The msconfig.exe file is not just an executable file, it is a program. And, you can launch any program on Windows by opening it with Run.

• Go to your Windows desktop
• Press the ‘ Windows ’ and ‘ R ’ keys together on your keyboard
• It launches the Run app
• Type ‘ msconfig ’ in the Open field

• Click on OK or press the Enter key
• Your computer throws up the System Configuration window on your screen

Wasn’t that easy and interesting at the same time? In general, using the Run tool has turned out to be the most effective way to open msconfig.exe or System Configuration tool for Windows users.

3. Double-click on .exe File

You can also go for a lengthy way, but one with the least chance of errors. It means opening the msconfig.exe file and launching the System Configuration tool directly from its default folder.

Like every other Microsoft tool, System Configuration has its default program folder in Windows. You can navigate to the folder and double-click on the msconfig.exe file to open it.

You’ll find the msconfig.exe file in System32 folder. So, to open the msconfig.exe file,

• Click on the Start menu
• Open ‘ My Computer ’ or ‘ This-PC ’
• Go to the C: Drive
• Click on ‘ Windows ’ folder
• Go to System32 folder and open it
• Scroll down and locate the executable file named ‘ msconfig ’
• Double-click on it

You can also create a shortcut to this location on your desktop taskbar. Right-click on the msconfig.exe file and click on ‘Pin to Taskbar’ option from the dropdown menu.

This way, you don’t have to go back and forth to the System32 folder every time to open System Configuration tool.

4. Create File Shortcut

Regardless of which Windows version you’re on, there’s always an option of creating file shortcuts. So, once you’ve learned the default location of msconfig.exe file, you can create its shortcut to anywhere you prefer.

You can simply paste the shortcut to any folder. Now, you can run System Configuration instantly whenever you are on that folder.

To create msconfig.exe shortcut,

• Open ‘ My Computer ’ or ‘ This-PC ’ folder
• Go to C: drive and open ‘ Windows ’ folder
• Now, look for System32 folder and open it
• Navigate to exe file
• Right-click on it
• Select ‘ Create shortcut ’
• Now, click on the shortcut icon
• Press ‘ Ctrl ’ and ‘ C ’ on your keyboard
• Then, go to any other folder you prefer
• Press ‘ Ctrl ’ and ‘ V ’ keys to paste the shortcut

If you want to avoid shortcut file, you can copy the msconfig.exe file and paste it wherever you want on your Windows system.

5. Create Desktop Shortcut

While we’re on creating shortcuts, the best place to store them is your desktop. So, whenever you need to use System Configuration tool, its shortcut will always be on the desktop and in front of you.

Follow the same steps mentioned above. But, instead of pasting the shortcut somewhere else, you paste it on the desktop . That’s how you create a desktop shortcut for System Configuration ( msconfig.exe ) tool on Windows.

6. Use Task Manager

Now, coming to the tricky ways, we’ll see how you can open msconfig.exe with the Task Manager. Technically, the System Configuration tool is an executable file. So, you can run it as a task on Windows.

For that, you need to use the Task Manager window.

• Press ‘ Ctrl ’ + ‘ Shift ’ + ‘ Esc ’ keys to launch Task Manager
• Now, go to the File menu and click on it
• Select ‘ Run new task ’ from the menu
• Type ‘ msconfig ’ in the field for ‘ Create new task ’

• Click on OK or press the Enter key to launch System Configuration tool

You can also close the System Configuration tool with Task Manager. Select the msconfig.exe process in Processes list and click on End Task tab.

7. Launch MSCONFIG via Command Prompt

The last two ways of opening msconfig.exe file on Windows involve executing command. First, we’re going to use Command Prompt and launch System Configuration.

For most Windows users, this could be the first time to have learned how to open MSCONFIG with Command Prompt.

• Go to Start menu
• Type ‘ cmd ’ in the search box
• Click on ‘ Command Prompt ’ program from the results
• Now, type ‘ msconfig ’ command in the window

• Press the Enter key
• It throws up a User Access Control prompt
• Click on ‘ Yes ’ to launch System Configuration

Isn’t that a cool way to open System Configuration on Windows?

8. Launch MSCONFIG via Windows PowerShell

There’s also a similar way. Here, you’ll use the Windows PowerShell program and open System Configuration with a command.

• Go to Start menu
• Type ‘ powershell ’ in the search box
• Click on Windows PowerShell program
• Now, type ‘ msconfig ’ command in the window

• Press the Enter key
• It throws up a User Access Control prompt
• Click on ‘ Yes ’ to launch System Configuration

That’s it! We’ve surely covered all the ways you can open System Configuration on Windows. But, if you know any other way, do let us know in the comments below.

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