List of Microsoft Management .MSC Files in Windows

Windows MMCs Microsoft Management ConsolesWindows MMCs Microsoft Management Consoles

You may have encountered several files with .msc file extension in Windows or Servers. These are integrated into the operating system and can be found in the “C:\Windows System32” directory by default.

system32 folder
Windows\System32 folder containing .msc files

.MSC files, also known as Microsoft Saved Console files, are snap-in control files that open in the Microsoft Management Console with a Graphical User Interface (GUI). These can be used to control and monitor different elements of the operating system, such as disk management, Windows services, etc.

Although users can open various Management Consoles in Windows (22 to be exact), they can also create their own version of Management Consoles that holds one or more .MSC files, which can then be shared with other people.

The Microsoft Management Console has been around since Windows 98 but has since been carried forward into all Windows and Server releases.

In this article, we are going to be discussing all Microsoft Management Consoles in Windows and Server so it is easier for you to understand how to access them, and what each of them is used for.

How to List All MSC Files in Windows

.MSC files can be opened by entering the file’s name with the extension into Run (Windows Key + R Shortcut keys). In Windows, you can obtain the complete list of the available .MSC files by running the following command in Windows PowerShell:

Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Windows\system32\* -Include *.msc | Sort-Object -Property Extension | Select-Object -Property Name | Format-Wide -Column 1
pwsh
All Management Consoles in Windows

You can run each of the .msc files in Run to bring up the respective snap-ins in Microsoft Management Console.

List of All MSC Files in Windows (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7)

Below is a list of all the .MSC files that you may find in Windows along with a brief description of what they are used for:

MSC FileConsole NameDetails
azman.mscAuthorization ManagerManage Authorization Stores
certlm.mscCertificates Local ComputerLoads the list of certificates of the local computer
certmgr.mscCertificatesLoads the list of certificates of the user
comexp.mscComponent ServicesLoads Component Services, Event Viewer, and Services
compmgmt.mscComputer ManagementIncludes System Tools (Task Scheduler, Event Viewer, Shared Folders, Local Users and Groups, Performance and Device Manager), Storage (Disk Management), and Services and Applications (Services and WMI Control)
devmgmt.mscDevice ManagerOpens the Device Manager to manage hardware and devices
devmoderunasuserconfig.mscTo manage the Start Menu, Taskbar, and Notification settings
diskmgmt.mscDisk ManagementOpens Disk Management to administrate connected storage devices
eventvwr.mscEvent ViewerOpens the Event Viewer which displays the operating system, software, and hardware events
fsmgmt.mscShared FoldersLoads the list of shared folders, sessions, and open files
gpedit.mscGroup Policy EditorLoads Group Policy Editor to manage system policies
lusrmgr.mscLocal Users and GroupsInterface to manage local users and user groups
perfmon.mscPerformance MonitorLoads Windows Performance Monitor
printmanagement.mscPrint ManagementManage printers
rsop.mscResultant Set of PoliciesList policies, full results only available through command-line tool gpresult
secpol.mscLocal Security PolicyLoads policies such as account policies, public key policies, or advanced audit policy configuration
services.mscServices ManagerLoads the list of installed services to manage them.
taskschd.mscTask SchedulerLoads the Task Scheduler to manage tasks
tpm.mscTrusted Platform Module ManagementManage the TPM on the local device.
wf.mscWindows FirewallStarts Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
wmimgmt.mscWMI ManagementConfigure and Control the Windows Management Instrumentation Service
List of .msc files in Windows

Learn about the top 10 Management Console snap-ins for Windows 11.

List of All MSC Files in Servers (Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016)

Below is a list of all the .MSC files that you may find on Microsoft Server:

MSC FileConsole Name
adfs.mscActive Directory Federation Services
AdRmsAdmin.mscActive Directory Rights Management Services
adsiedit.mscADSI Edit
certim.mscLocal Computer Certificates
certsrv.mscCertification Authority
certtmpl.mscCertification Templates
ciadv.mscIndexing Service
cluadmin.mscFailover Cluster Manager
da6to4.mscNetwork Interfaces Performance Monitor
daihttps.mscHTTPS Traffic Performance Monitor
daipsecdos.mscIPSec Performance Monitor
daisatapmscISATAP Performance Monitor
dfsmgmt.mscDFS Management
dhcpmgmt.mscDHCP Management
dnsmgmt.mscDNS Manager
domain.mscActive Directory Domains and Trust
dsa.mscActive Directory Users and Computers.
dssite.mscActive Directory Sites and Services
fsrm.mscFile Server Resource Manager
fxsadmin.mscMicrosoft Fax Service Manager
gpmc.mscGroup Policy Management
gpme.mscGroup Policy Management Editor
gptedit.mscGroup Policy Starter GPO Editor
hcscfg.mscHealth Registration Authority
idmumgmt.mscMicrosoft Identity Management for Unix
iis.mscInternet Information Services Manager
iis6.mscInternet Information Services Manager 6.0
lsdiag.mscRD Licensing Diagnoser
napclcfg.mscNAP Client Configuration
mfsmgmt.mscServices for Network File System
nps.mscNetwork Policy Server
ocsp.mscOnline Responder
pkiview.mscEnterprise PKI
remoteprograms.mscRemoteApp Manager
rrasmgmt.mscRouting and Remote Access
sanmmc.mscStorage Manager for SANs
sbmgr.mscRemote Desktop Connection Manager
scanmanagement.mscScan Management
servermanager.mscServer Manager
storagemgmt.mscShare and Storage Management
storexpl.mscStorage Explorer
tapimgmt.mscTelephony
tsadmin.mscRemote Desktop Services Manager
tsconfig.mscRemote Desktop Session Host Configuration
tsgateway.mscRD Gateway Manager
tsmmc.mscRemote Desktops
virtmgmt.mscHyper-V Manager
wbadmin.mscWindows Server Backup
Wdsmgmt-mscWindows Deployment Services
winsmgmt.mscWINS
wbiadmin.mscWindows Server Backup
wsrm.mscWindows System Resource Manager
wsus.mscUpdate Services
List of .msc files in Microsoft Server

How to Open MSC File

Open .msc file using Run dialog

The most common method to open a .MSC file is by putting in its name in Run. Look for the snap-in MSC file from the list given above which you wish to open, and paste it in Run (Windows Key + R shortcut keys).

services
services.msc in Run

Entering the services.msc command above will open the Services Manager.

Open .msc file from File Explorer

You can also open the .MSC files directly from the File Explorer. Navigate to the following location:

C:\Windows\System32

Here, scroll down and you will find the .MSC files with their Type defined as “Microsoft Common Console Document.”

system32 folder 1
.MSC files in System32 directory

Open .msc files using MMC Console

You can also add an MSC snap-in to MMC directly. Follow the steps below to learn how:

  1. Open the root Microsoft Management Console by typing in mmc in Run.
    mmc
  2. Now click File from the top menu and then click Add/Remove snap-in.
    add remove snapin
  3. Now, select the console you want to add to your MMC from the list under “Available Snap-ins” and then click Add.
    add 1
  4. If prompted for more options, select the one that fits your requirements, and click Ok/Finish.
  5. When added, click OK.
  6. Now click on the snap-in you added to the MMC from the left pane and begin your work.
    click

Final Thoughts

Despite the fact that snap-in .MSC files can be extremely useful, especially to system and network administrators, they can also be a complete disaster if you do not understand what you are doing. We recommend that you only access them if you need to troubleshoot your operating system and make any necessary changes so that you know how they work or monitor your resources.  

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Subhan Zafar is an established IT professional with interests in Windows and Server infrastructure testing and research, and is currently working with Itechtics as a research consultant. He has studied Electrical Engineering and is also certified by Huawei (HCNA & HCNP Routing and Switching).

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