SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences | Configuration Manager | Endpoint Manager

Let’s learn about SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences. Windows 10 doesn’t have built-in a ConfigMgr client. You need to install the Configuration Manager client application to manage Windows 10 devices. Once the client is installed on a device, you can manage that device from the ConfigMgr server side.

You will also learn what is the main difference between Software Center and Configuration Manager client apps. Those two applications have entirely different used cases. Let’s understand what is the use of both of these applications.

The ConfigMgr client can be installed in different ways. There are many blogs about installing SCCM clients in different ways. I have explained the Client Push method and manual installation steps in the previous posts. There are other ways of installing clients like Intune, etc…

Related Post -> SCCM CB Console Keyboard Shortcuts & Windows Key Shortcut A to Z Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10

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Software Center Vs ConfigMgr Client App?

Are you still confused between the Software Center application and the Configuration Manager application? Do you know which one is the actual SCCM client application? Let’s understand the difference between both.

SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
  • Software Center – IT admin uses Software Center to install applications, software updates, and upgrade Windows. It’s installed as part of the Configuration Manager client installation. But it’s not the ConfigMgr (a.k.a SCCM) client application.
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
  • Configuration Manager – This is the ConfigMgr client application that will have all the details about the SCCM client version, site code, enabled features, etc…

Software Center

Software Center is used for the installation of applications, software updates, and upgrading Windows. There are different ways to launch Software Center.

  • Click on Windows 10 Start Menu
  • Click on Microsoft Endpoint Manager -> Software Center
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
  • You can also launch software center by
    • Windows Key + S
    • Type Software Center in the search bar
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
  • The following are the options available within the Software Center application.
    • Applications
    • Updates
    • Operating Systems
    • Installation Status
    • Device Compliance
    • Options
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences

Configuration Manager Client Application

Configuration Manager App is the ConfigMgr client application that helps you to check the core configuration of the client and troubleshoot client-related issues.

Let’s try to understand where is this SCCM client app located and how can you launch it?

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  • Open Command Prompt
  • Run the following command – Control smscfgrc – Command Line Shortcut to launch Configuration Manager SCCM Control Panel Applet
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
  • Open Control Panel
  • Type the keyword “ConfigMgr” in the search box
  • Select & open “Configuration Manager” app.
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences
SCCM Software Center vs ConfigMgr Client Applet | Differences

Author

Anoop is Microsoft MVP! He is a Solution Architect in enterprise client management with more than 20 years of experience (calculation done in 2021) in IT. He is a blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group HTMD Community leader. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM 2012, Current Branch, and Intune. E writes about ConfigMgr, Windows 11, Windows 10, Azure AD, Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, AVD, etc…

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