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To open Command Prompt as an administrator in Windows 11, open Start, search for cmd, choose Run as administrator for Command Prompt, and approve the User Account Control (UAC) prompt. If Windows asks for credentials, enter those for an administrator account. Windows Terminal may host the elevated Command Prompt; Terminal is the app displaying the shell, not a replacement for Command Prompt.
Search is the simplest route. You can also use the Run dialog, the Win+X menu, or Task Manager if Start or Search is not working.
Method 1: Open Command Prompt as administrator from Start or Search
- Press the Windows key or select Start.
- Type cmd or Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator in the result pane, or right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- At the UAC prompt, select Yes or enter administrator credentials if Windows requests them.
An elevated traditional console commonly shows Administrator: Command Prompt in its title. Exact labels and appearance can vary by Windows build, language, device policy, and console settings.
Method 2: Use the Run dialog
- Press Windows + R.
- Type cmd.exe.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter instead of Enter.
- Approve UAC or provide administrator credentials.
This keyboard shortcut requests elevation. Pressing only Enter opens a standard, non-elevated prompt. If the shortcut does not work on your device, use Start or Search.
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Method 3: Open Command Prompt from Terminal (Admin)
- Press Windows + X, or right-click Start.
- Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin); the label varies.
- Approve UAC or enter administrator credentials.
- Select the arrow beside the new-tab button, then choose Command Prompt.
Terminal may open PowerShell by default. PowerShell and Command Prompt are separate shells; choose the Command Prompt profile when you need cmd.exe. Windows 11 version 22H2 changed the default console host to Windows Terminal, so an elevated Command Prompt may appear in a Terminal tab. This does not mean it opened as PowerShell.
Method 4: Use Task Manager if Start or Search is not working
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- If needed, select More details.
- Select File > Run new task.
- Enter cmd.exe, select Create this task with administrative privileges, and select OK.
- Approve UAC or provide administrator credentials if prompted.
Other ways to launch an elevated Command Prompt
Use Windows Tools
- Open Start > All apps > Windows Tools.
- Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Approve UAC or enter administrator credentials.
Launch cmd.exe from File Explorer
- Press Windows + E and go to C:\Windows\System32.
- Right-click cmd.exe. If necessary, select Show more options.
- Select Run as administrator and approve UAC.
Typing cmd in File Explorer’s address bar does not, by itself, open an elevated prompt.
Create a shortcut that requests elevation
- Right-click the desktop and select New > Shortcut.
- Enter %windir%\System32\cmd.exe as the location and name the shortcut, for example, Command Prompt (Admin).
- Right-click the shortcut, select Properties, then on the Shortcut tab select Advanced.
- Enable Run as administrator, then select OK twice.
The shortcut requests elevation whenever you use it. Use this only if you routinely need an administrator prompt; programs launched from an elevated shell can inherit elevated privileges.
Open an elevated prompt from an existing shell
In PowerShell, run: Start-Process cmd.exe -Verb RunAs
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In a standard Command Prompt, run: powershell.exe -NoProfile -Command “Start-Process cmd.exe -Verb RunAs”
Windows should show a UAC prompt. Simply typing cmd or start cmd in a normal shell opens another non-elevated prompt.
How to check that Command Prompt is elevated
A traditional elevated console commonly shows Administrator: Command Prompt in its title bar. In Windows Terminal, check the window’s administrator designation and make sure the selected profile is Command Prompt. Do not rely on the appearance of the window alone.
You can also run whoami /groups to inspect the current account’s groups. In a non-elevated, filtered administrator session, the Administrators group can be listed as deny-only; in an elevated session it should be enabled. If an administrative command reports Access is denied or says the operation requires elevation, reopen the shell using an elevated method.
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What elevation means and when to use it
Windows normally starts applications with standard permissions, even when you are signed in to an administrator account. Run as administrator requests an elevated session through UAC. Use it when a trusted task requires administrative permissions, and avoid running untrusted commands or programs from an elevated shell.
Windows 11 version 24H2 and later also includes Sudo for Windows, which can elevate individual commands after you enable it in Settings > System > Advanced > Enable sudo. For example, you can run sudo netstat -ab. This is an optional alternative for individual commands, not a requirement for opening Command Prompt as administrator.
Fixes when Run as administrator does not work
Windows asks for a username and password instead of showing Yes
This is normal for a standard account and can also result from organizational policy. Enter credentials for an administrator account. A standard account cannot approve its own elevation; if you do not have administrator credentials, contact the device owner or your organization’s IT administrator.
The Run as administrator option is missing
Search for Command Prompt and right-click the actual result, or use Task Manager’s Run new task option and select Create this task with administrative privileges. Device policy may restrict elevation; contact your administrator if these options are unavailable.
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Terminal opens PowerShell instead of Command Prompt
Open the profile menu beside the new-tab button and select Command Prompt. Terminal is the host application; its default profile may be PowerShell. You do not need to change the default profile for a one-time task.
A command says “Access is denied” or requires elevation
Close the current window and reopen Command Prompt using Run as administrator. Being a member of the Administrators group does not automatically elevate an already-open console.
Can I disable UAC to avoid the prompt?
Do not disable UAC to open Command Prompt. Approve the prompt for a task you trust, or provide valid administrator credentials. If an organization manages the device, follow its administrator’s guidance.
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What is the fastest way to open Command Prompt as administrator?
Open Start, type cmd, select Run as administrator for Command Prompt, and approve UAC or enter administrator credentials.
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Is Windows Terminal the same as Command Prompt?
No. Terminal is an app that hosts command-line shells. Command Prompt is the cmd.exe shell, and PowerShell is a different shell. Select the Command Prompt profile in Terminal when you need cmd.exe.
Can a standard Windows account open an administrator Command Prompt?
It can request elevation, but completing it requires valid credentials for an administrator account. If you do not have those credentials, contact the device owner or IT administrator.
Can I always open an elevated Command Prompt from a shortcut?
You can configure a shortcut to request elevation, but UAC may still prompt each time. Use an elevated shortcut only when you routinely need it, and run only trusted commands from the resulting shell.
Is Sudo for Windows a replacement for an administrator Command Prompt?
No. On Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, Sudo for Windows can elevate individual commands after it is enabled. Use an elevated Command Prompt when you need an administrator shell for a sequence of commands.
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For most readers, the quickest route is Start or Search, then Run as administrator for Command Prompt. Approve UAC or enter administrator credentials, and confirm you selected the Command Prompt profile if Windows Terminal opens. If Start or Search is broken, Task Manager can launch an elevated prompt.
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