Server Manager tour for Windows Server beginners

Server Manager is the window that opens when you first sign in to a Windows Server. It looks busy, but most of it is a set of shortcuts to settings you will use often. This tour explains each part, which settings are safe to change, and how to stop it from opening every time you connect over Remote Desktop.

Before you start

• A Windows VPS running Windows Server 2019, 2022 or 2025 with the Desktop Experience. Server Core installs have no Server Manager window.
• Sign in over Remote Desktop to 203.0.113.10:3389 as Administrator. Your IP, username and password are in your VPS provider's control panel.

Open Server Manager

Server Manager usually opens on its own after login. If it does not:

• Click Start and choose Server Manager, or
• Press Win + R, type servermanager and press Enter.

On Windows Server 2019 and later you may see a pop-up suggesting Windows Admin Center. You can tick Don't show this message again and close it. Admin Center is an optional browser-based tool and is not needed for anything in this guide.

The dashboard

The Dashboard is the start page. It has three parts:

• Quick start: links to add roles, add other servers and create a server group. You can hide it with Hide in the top-right corner of the panel.
• Roles and Server Groups: tiles for each installed role and for Local Server. Each tile has links to Manageability, Events, Services, Performance and BPA results (Best Practices Analyzer).
• Status colours: a red tile or number means something needs attention, such as a stopped service or recent errors. Click the red line to see details.

Red items are not always serious. A service set to start automatically that stopped on purpose shows red, for example. Read the detail before you act.

Local Server properties

Click Local Server in the left pane. The Properties box shows the main settings for this machine, and each blue value is a link that opens the related setting.

• Computer name and Workgroup: click to rename the server. See Rename your Windows server computer name.
• Microsoft Defender Firewall: shows the state of each firewall profile. Click to open the firewall control panel.
• Remote management: whether other machines can manage this server remotely with Server Manager or PowerShell.
• Remote Desktop: whether Remote Desktop is enabled. Leave it Enabled, as it is how you reach the server.
• Ethernet: the network adapter and its IP settings.
• Windows Update and Last checked: links to update settings and history.
• Microsoft Defender Antivirus: real-time protection status.
• IE Enhanced Security Configuration: a strict browsing mode on older servers. It can block downloads in the built-in browser.
• Time zone: click to change it. See Set the time zone on Windows Server.

The right column shows the OS version, processor, installed memory and total disk space. This is a quick way to check what your VPS plan provides.

Lower on the Local Server page you will find Events, Services, Best Practices Analyzer, Performance and Roles and Features sections. They are filtered views of logs, services and installed roles for this server.

Roles and features

Roles are major server jobs, such as Web Server (IIS) or DNS Server. Features are supporting tools, such as .NET Framework 3.5 or Windows Server Backup.

To add one:

1. Click Manage → Add Roles and Features.
2. Choose Role-based or feature-based installation and select your server.
3. Tick the roles or features you need and follow the wizard.

To remove one, use Manage → Remove Roles and Features. Some roles need a restart. For a full walkthrough, see Install Windows Server roles and features.

The Tools menu

The Tools menu in the top-right corner is a launcher for admin consoles. Useful ones on a VPS include:

• Computer Management: users and groups, disks, services and event logs in one window.
• Event Viewer: system and application logs.
• Services: start, stop and configure services.
• Task Scheduler: run scripts and programs on a schedule.
• Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security: detailed firewall rules.
• Disk Management, Performance Monitor and Resource Monitor: storage and performance.

Each tool also opens on its own, for example eventvwr.msc or services.msc from Win + R.

Stop Server Manager opening at every login

If you mostly use the server for one app, Server Manager opening on each login just slows you down.

1. In Server Manager, click Manage → Server Manager Properties.
2. Tick Do not start Server Manager automatically at logon.
3. Click OK.

The setting applies to your user account. You can do the same from PowerShell for all users by disabling the scheduled task that launches it:

Get-ScheduledTask -TaskName ServerManager |
  Disable-ScheduledTask

To undo, run the same command with Enable-ScheduledTask.

Check it works

Sign out, then reconnect with Remote Desktop to 203.0.113.10:3389. Server Manager should no longer open by itself, and you can still start it from the Start menu.

Troubleshooting

• Server Manager is slow to open: it collects data from logs and services on start. Give it a minute, or press F5 to refresh once it has loaded.
• "Online - Data retrieval failures occurred": often caused by a stopped service or event log access issue. Click the message for details. A restart usually clears it.
• Server Manager is missing: you may be on Server Core or a Windows 10/11 desktop. Use sconfig, PowerShell or Settings instead.
• It still opens after ticking the box: a group policy may force it. Check gpedit.msc under Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Server Manager.

Next steps

• First jobs on a new server: Windows VPS first steps.
• A faster text menu for core settings: Use sconfig to manage Windows Server.