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To run services.msc as administrator, open the Services console using one of five Windows routes: Start search, an elevated Command Prompt, the Run dialog, Task Manager, or a shortcut. Choose Run as administrator (or the equivalent elevated-task option) and approve the User Account Control (UAC) prompt. You must have an administrator account or authorized administrator credentials; the launch method itself does not grant access.
Choose the quickest route for your situation
| Method | Best for | Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Start search | A quick, one-time launch | None |
| Elevated Command Prompt | When you are already working in a command shell | None |
| Run dialog | A quick keyboard-driven launch | None |
| Task Manager | When Task Manager is your available entry point | None |
| Shortcut | Repeated access | Create a shortcut once |
Windows wording and available options can vary by version. Whichever route you use, the account still has to be authorized to elevate.
1. Run Services from Start search
- Open Start and search for
Servicesorservices.msc. - Open the context menu for the Services result and select Run as administrator.
- Approve the UAC prompt, or enter administrator credentials if Windows requests them.
This is usually the most direct option when you only need to open the console once. The five launch routes in this guide are documented by Techbout.
2. Launch it from an elevated Command Prompt
- Search for Command Prompt from Start, open its context menu, and choose Run as administrator.
- Approve UAC if prompted.
- In the elevated Command Prompt, type
services.mscand press Enter.
Opening an ordinary Command Prompt and then typing services.msc does not elevate the console. The command inherits the permissions of the process that launches it.
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3. Use the Run dialog with the elevation shortcut
- Open the Run dialog with Windows+R.
- Type
services.msc. - Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter instead of Enter alone.
- Approve UAC or provide administrator credentials if Windows asks.
This is a convenient keyboard-only route when you know the console name.
4. Start an elevated task from Task Manager
- Open Task Manager.
- Choose File > Run new task.
- Enter
services.msc. - Select Create this task with administrative privileges, then confirm.
The checkbox may not be available for some non-administrator accounts, and Task Manager’s interface can differ across Windows versions. If you cannot select it or Windows asks for credentials you do not have, use an authorized administrator account.
5. Create a shortcut for repeat use
- Create a new shortcut whose target is
C:WindowsSystem32services.msc. - When you need an elevated console, right-click the shortcut and select Run as administrator.
- To make the shortcut request elevation each time, open its Properties, choose Advanced, and enable the option to run as administrator.
The context-menu option is useful for occasional elevated access; configuring the shortcut is better if you regularly need it.
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Under UAC, a member of the local Administrators group commonly runs applications with a standard-user token until elevation is requested and approved. Selecting Run as administrator asks Windows to start the application with an administrator token; it does not bypass account controls. A standard account needs authorized administrator credentials to elevate. Microsoft describes how UAC and administrator credentials govern elevated applications in its User Account Control documentation.
Opening Services and changing a service are different actions. You may be able to view service status and configuration details without elevation, while starting, stopping, or changing protected services commonly requires administrative rights. Microsoft Learn says, “By default, only members of the Administrators group can start, stop, pause, resume, or restart a service,” and notes that Start-Service requires an elevated PowerShell session for administrator-group members. The precise rights can depend on the individual service. See Microsoft’s Start-Service documentation.
Using a separate administrator account
If you are signed in to a standard account but have permission to use a separate administrator account, Windows can launch an application under that account. Hold Shift while right-clicking the application or shortcut, choose Run as different user, and enter the administrator username and password. Microsoft documents this option and warns that an application, MMC console, or Control Panel tool launched from a network location can fail if the share credentials differ from those used to start it: UAC: How it works.
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Do not disable UAC or change a standard account into an administrator merely to open the console. If a task requires rights you do not have, ask an authorized administrator to perform it or grant the appropriate access.
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