11 quick ways to run an app with elevated permissions on Windows 10

On Windows 10, the ability to run an app as administrator is an essential skill that every user should know because, by design, apps operate in user mode to prevent potential unwanted system changes that may negatively affect the experience. However, sometimes, some trusted programs may require elevated permissions to work as intended, and knowing the steps to run them with appropriate permissions will come in handy.

Whatever your reason it might be, Windows 10 includes several methods to quickly start an app with elevated privileges using the Start menu, File Explorer, Command Prompt, and more.

But remember that this is only true for traditional desktop (Win32) programs since apps available through the Microsoft Store can’t run elevated.

In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the different ways to launch an app with administrator privileges to complete an elevated task.

How to run app as administrator using Stat menu

Using the Start menu, you have at least two quick ways to start an application as an administrator.

Start context menu

To run a program as administrator from the Start menu context menu, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Right-click the app (anywhere on the menu).
3. Select the More submenu, and click the Run as administrator option.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Start menu keyboard shortcut

To start an app with admin right using the keyboard shortcut, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Use the Ctrl + Shift keyboard, and click the app from the list.
3. (Optional) Select app using the arrows keys.
4. Use the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keyboard shortcut.

How to run app as administrator using Search

If you use the search experience, you also have two ways to run apps with administrative permissions.

Search result menu

To open an app as an administrator from the search box, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

   Quick tip: You can also open search directly from the taskbar (if available), or use the Windows key + S keyboard shortcut.

2. Search for the app.
3. Click the Run as administrator option from the right side. (Sometimes, the option is hidden until you click the down-arrow button.)

   

   Source: Windows Central

4. (Optional) Right-click the app and select the Run as administrator option.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Search keyboard shortcut

To run a program from search with a keyboard shortcut, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for the app.
3. Use the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keyboard shortcut.

How to run app as administrator using desktop

On Windows 10, you can also start apps elevated from the desktop or taskbar.

Desktop context menu

To start an app with elevated privileges from the desktop, use these steps:

1. Use the Windows key + D keyboard shortcut to view the desktop.
2. Right-click app, and select the Run as administrator option.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Taskbar context menu

To run apps elevated from the taskbar, use these steps:

1. Right-click the app in the taskbar.
2. Right-click the app name.
3. Select the Run as administrator option.

   

   Source: Windows Central

How to run app as administrator using Run

To start a program as an admin user from the Run command, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Run and click the top result to open the app.

   Quick tip: You can also open the Run command using the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut.

3. Type the name of the app. For example, explorer.exe.

   

   Source: Windows Central

4. Use the Ctrl + Shift keyboard shortcut and click the OK button.

How to run app as administrator using Task Manager

To launch an app as an administrator from Task Manager, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.

   Quick tip: Other alternative ways to open the experience include, right-clicking the taskbar and selecting the Task Manager option. Using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut, and using the Ctrl + Alt + Delete shortcut and clicking the Task Manager option.

3. Click the File menu
4. Select the Run new task option.

   

   Source: Windows Central

5. Type the name of the app.
6. Check the Create this task with administrator privileges.

   

   Source: Windows Central

How to run app as administrator using File Explorer

File Explorer includes at least two ways to launch apps as an administrator user.

Context menu

To open app elevated with File Explorer, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the folder with the executable file.
3. Right-click the app and select the Run as administrator option.

   

   Source: Windows Central

Ribbon menu

To run a program as an administrator with the ribbon menu, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the folder with the executable file.
3. Select the app.
4. Click the Application Tools tab.
5. Click the Run as administrator button.

   

   Source: Windows Central
   Quick note: If you click the arrow button, then you can select to launch the app as admin or as a different user.

How to run app as administrator using Command Prompt

To run an app elevated from Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the console.
3. Type the following command to run an app with administrator privileges and press Enter:

   `runas /user:”COMPUTER-NAME\ADMIN-USER” “C:\PATH\TO\PROGRAM.EXE”

   In the command, make sure to update the syntax with your computer name and administrator user and with the correct path of the program.

   For example, this command start PowerShell 7 with administrator privileges:

   runas /user:"office-pc\user@email.com" "C:\Program Files\PowerShell\7\pwsh.exe"

   

   Source: Windows Central

4. Confirm the password and press Enter.

If you want to run an app always as an administrator, you can use these steps.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources: