How to Run as Administrator Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ever tried to open a program in Windows 10 and been greeted with a “permission denied” or “access restricted” message? That’s because some actions require administrator privileges — special permissions that allow you to make changes affecting the entire system.

In this detailed guide, we’ll show you how to run as administrator in Windows 10 using multiple methods — whether you’re opening an app, a command prompt, or a batch file. We’ll also explain why it’s important, when to use it, and what to do if “Run as administrator” doesn’t work.

Let’s dive right in!

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💡 What Does “Run as Administrator” Mean in Windows 10?

When you run a program as an administrator, you’re giving it elevated privileges — meaning it can:

• Access system-level files and folders

• Install or remove software

• Modify Windows settings

• Change network configurations

• Run commands that affect other users

In short, it’s like having the “master key” to your computer.

Programs like Command Prompt, PowerShell, Registry Editor, and Device Manager often need administrative access to function correctly.

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⚙️ Why Do You Need to Run Programs as Administrator?

Windows 10 includes security layers to prevent unauthorized changes. Running an app as an administrator bypasses these restrictions — useful in many cases.

Here’s why you might need to do it:

Without admin rights, these actions will fail or show an error like “Access is denied.”

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🪟 How to Run as Administrator in Windows 10: 8 Simple Methods

There are several ways to run programs as administrator, depending on how you prefer to launch them. Let’s go through each one step-by-step.

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🖱️ Method 1: Use the Right-Click Context Menu

This is the most common and beginner-friendly way.

Steps:

1. Locate the program’s icon on your desktop or in the Start menu.

2. Right-click the program.

3. Select Run as administrator from the context menu.

4. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to confirm.

That’s it! The app now runs with elevated privileges.

💡 Tip: You can tell a program is running as administrator if you see “Administrator” in the window title bar (for example, “Administrator: Command Prompt”).

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⌨️ Method 2: Use Keyboard Shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + Enter)

This is one of the fastest ways to launch apps with admin rights.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + S to open the search bar.

2. Type the name of the program (for example, cmd or powershell).

3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

The program will open immediately with administrator privileges.

⚡ Quick, efficient, and perfect for command-line tools like CMD or PowerShell.

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🔍 Method 3: Run as Administrator from the Start Menu

You can also launch an app as admin directly from the Start Menu.

Steps:

1. Click the Start button.

2. Find the app in the list or search for it.

3. Right-click the app → select More → then click Run as administrator.

This method is particularly helpful for built-in Windows utilities like Notepad or Command Prompt.

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🪄 Method 4: Always Run a Program as Administrator by Default

If you regularly use a program that always requires admin access (like a developer tool or network utility), you can set it to always run as administrator automatically.

Steps:

1. Right-click the program’s shortcut and select Properties.

2. Go to the Compatibility tab.

3. Under “Settings,” check Run this program as an administrator.

4. Click Apply → OK.

Now, every time you open that app, it will start with administrative privileges by default.

💬 Ideal for apps like Command Prompt, Visual Studio, or system optimizers.

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🧰 Method 5: Run as Administrator Using Task Manager

If your desktop or Start menu is frozen, Task Manager can help.

Steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

2. Click File → Run new task.

3. Type the program name (e.g., cmd).

4. Check the box Create this task with administrative privileges.

5. Click OK.

This launches the program as an administrator even if other parts of Windows aren’t responding.

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💻 Method 6: Run as Administrator via Command Prompt

You can use Command Prompt to open another program as administrator — even if you’re not currently running CMD in admin mode.

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt normally.

2. Type the following command:

   runas /user:Administrator "C:\Path\To\Program.exe"


3. Replace the path with your actual program path (e.g., C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe).

4. Press Enter, and you’ll be prompted for the admin password.

This is useful when you know the admin credentials but are logged in as a standard user.

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⚡ Method 7: Use PowerShell to Run as Administrator

If you prefer PowerShell, here’s how:

Steps:

1. Search for PowerShell in the Start menu.

2. Right-click it → select Run as administrator.

3. Once open, you can launch other apps using the following command:

   Start-Process "C:\Path\To\Program.exe" -Verb RunAs


This gives you more flexibility, especially for automating tasks via scripts.

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🧩 Method 8: Use Run Dialog Box

The Run dialog is another quick method for launching programs as administrator.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

2. Type the program name (e.g., cmd or control).

3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

The app will open instantly with elevated permissions.

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🔐 What Is User Account Control (UAC)?

When you run a program as administrator, Windows 10 may show a User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking for confirmation.

This feature helps prevent malware or unauthorized apps from making system changes.

You’ll see one of two types of prompts:

• Standard User Prompt: Asks for an administrator password.

• Administrator Prompt: Asks for confirmation to allow the app.

You can adjust how often UAC appears by going to:
Control Panel → User Accounts → Change User Account Control settings.

⚠️ Reducing UAC notifications can make your PC less secure, so use caution.

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🧱 How to Run Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows 10

One of the most common uses of “Run as Administrator” is with Command Prompt (CMD).

Here’s how to do it:

1. Press Windows + S and type cmd.

2. Right-click Command Prompt.

3. Select Run as administrator.

4. When prompted by UAC, click Yes.

You’ll see “Administrator: Command Prompt” in the title bar — that’s how you know it worked.

Now you can run system-level commands like sfc /scannow, chkdsk, or net user.

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🧩 How to Run PowerShell as Administrator in Windows 10

PowerShell is a more powerful alternative to CMD. To open it as admin:

Steps:

1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. Click Yes on the UAC prompt.

Now you can execute administrative commands like Get-Service, Restart-Computer, or system configuration scripts.

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⚡ How to Run a File or Script as Administrator

If you’re working with scripts (like .bat or .ps1 files), you can force them to run as admin automatically.

Steps for Batch Files (.bat):

1. Right-click the file → select Properties.

2. Under the Compatibility tab, check Run this program as an administrator.

For PowerShell Scripts (.ps1):

1. Right-click the script → choose Run with PowerShell.

2. Confirm the UAC prompt.

Alternatively, open PowerShell as admin first, then run the script manually.

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🧩 How to Run Explorer or Task Manager as Administrator

Sometimes you might need to restart system utilities with admin rights.

To run File Explorer as Administrator:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).

2. Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select End task.

3. Click File → Run new task.

4. Type explorer.exe, check Create this task with administrative privileges, then click OK.

To run Task Manager as Administrator:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → click File → Run new task → taskmgr → check “Create this task with administrative privileges.”

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🧰 Troubleshooting: “Run as Administrator” Not Working in Windows 10

Sometimes the “Run as Administrator” option might disappear or fail to work. Here’s how to fix it.

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1. Check User Account Type

Make sure your account has administrator privileges.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Your info.

2. Under your name, it should say Administrator.
   If not, log in with an admin account.

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2. Enable the Built-In Administrator Account

If your admin account is disabled or missing, enable the built-in one.

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator (if possible).

2. Type:

   net user administrator /active:yes


3. Press Enter, then log out and sign into the new Administrator account.

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3. Repair Corrupted System Files

Corruption in Windows system files can cause admin issues.

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).

2. Type:

   sfc /scannow


3. Wait for the scan to finish and restart your PC.

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4. Reset UAC Settings

Go to Control Panel → User Accounts → Change User Account Control settings → drag the slider to default → click OK.

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5. Check Group Policy Settings

If you’re on a work or school PC, the “Run as Administrator” option may be disabled via Group Policy.
Contact your IT admin or use gpedit.msc (if available) to adjust permissions.

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🔄 When Should You Avoid Running as Administrator?

Running everything as administrator can be risky. It gives full access to your system, which malware or bad software can exploit.

Avoid using admin mode for:

• Web browsers

• Email clients

• Media players

• Unknown software downloads

Only use elevated permissions when you absolutely need them.

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🧠 Expert Tip: Add “Run as Administrator” to File Context Menu Permanently

You can make “Run as Administrator” appear for specific file types automatically using Registry tweaks (advanced users only).

Example for .exe files:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to:

   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas


3. Make sure the default value is Run as administrator.

⚠️ Be careful when editing the registry. Back it up first.

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🏁 Conclusion: Take Full Control of Windows 10

Knowing how to run as administrator in Windows 10 is an essential skill for every user. Whether you’re troubleshooting, configuring system settings, or installing software, admin rights give you the control you need.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Right-click → “Run as Administrator” is the simplest method.

• Use Ctrl + Shift + Enter for a fast shortcut.

• You can set programs to always run as admin.

• Troubleshoot if “Run as administrator” doesn’t appear.

Used wisely, admin privileges make Windows 10 more powerful — but always handle them with care.

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💬 FAQs About Running as Administrator in Windows 10

1. What happens when I run a program as administrator?

It runs with elevated permissions, allowing it to modify system files or settings.

2. Can I make a program always run as administrator?

Yes. Right-click → Properties → Compatibility tab → check Run this program as an administrator.

3. How can I tell if a program is running as administrator?

The program window title will include the word “Administrator.”

4. Why can’t I see “Run as administrator”?

You may not be logged in as an administrator, or group policies may disable the feature.

5. Is it safe to run all apps as administrator?

No — only trusted apps should be given admin privileges, as it grants full access to your system.

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📝 Summary: Key Takeaways

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By following this step-by-step guide on how to run as administrator Windows 10, you’ll have complete control over your PC while keeping your system secure and efficient. 🧑‍💻