How to Access MsConfig in Windows 10 – Complete Guide to Open MsConfig

Windows 10 has an extensive list of settings that users can change. Some of these settings are simple such as changing the wallpaper, changing which graphics card is used by an app, managing storage space, managing microphone, camera and location access for apps, and more. These are simple user-end settings.

Windows 10 also has more complex settings that can be changed if a user has admin access on a system but these settings aren’t changed often and few end users need to access them unless they’re troubleshooting problems on the system.

MsConfig on Windows 10

When a user boots Windows 10, it loads in a normal environment where all the apps that a user has installed are allowed to run. All services that Windows 10 needs to run are likewise enabled. A long list of Windows 10 tools also loads. 

When a system runs into a problem though, one of the basic troubleshooting steps is to check if a problem occurs when third-party apps and services, and other non-essential tools and services are disabled i.e., if it happens in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode is fairly easy to access but the MsConfig or the System Configuration dialog gives users control over the Safe Mode settings. Users can choose what is and what isn’t disabled.

There are several different ways to access the MsConfig dialog on Windows 10.

1. Access MsConfig – Run box

To Acess the MsConfig dialog box from the run box;

1. Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
2. Enter msconfig and tap the Enter key.

2. Access MsConfig – File Explorer

To access the MsConfig dialog box from File Explorer;

1.  Open File Explorer.
2. Click inside the location bar.
3. Enter msconfig and tap Enter.

3. Access MsConfig – Task Manager

To access the MsConfig dialog box from Task Manager;

1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager from the context menu.
2. Go to File>Run new task.
3. Enter msconfig.
4. Enable the ‘Create this task with administrative privileges box.
5. Tap Enter.

4. Access MsConfig – Command Prompt or PowerShell

To access the MsConfig dialog box via Command Prompt or PowerShell;

1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights or Open PowerShell with admin rights.
2. Enter the following command and tap enter (the same command works in both command lines).

start msconfig

MsConfig Settings

No matter how you open the MsConfig dialog box, you will see the same settings.

• General: Select which system services and device components will run when you start the system.
• Boot: Has extensive settings for configuring safe boot and normal boot options.
• Services: Lists every single service that is run on Windows 10 and allows users to unselect the ones they do not want to run at startup.
• Startup: This tab is deprecated. 
• Tools: An exhaustive list of Windows 10 tools and a quick launch button for each one along with the path to the tool’s EXE is given in this tab.

MsConfig – Conclusion

MsConfig doesn’t have settings that the average user should change however, it’s often hard to avoid this particular dialog when you’re trying to fix a complicated problem on Windows 10. Make sure you understand what you’re doing and how to undo it before you make any changes. 

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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