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To run one Windows app with administrator privileges while keeping User Account Control (UAC) on, right-click the app or its shortcut and select Run as administrator. Approve the prompt only if you recognize the app and intended action. Windows will request approval or administrator credentials for that launch.
Run an app as administrator once
- Find the app in the Start menu, on the desktop, or in File Explorer.
- Right-click the app or its shortcut and select Run as administrator. If the option is not visible in the Start menu, right-click the app and look under More.
- Read the UAC prompt. Confirm the app and its publisher, then select Yes only if you trust it and meant to launch it with elevated privileges.
This requests elevation for that launch; it does not require disabling UAC. Microsoft describes this as the simplest way to start an application in administrative mode: How User Account Control works.
What happens when you approve the prompt
Windows apps launched through File Explorer normally run with standard user permissions. Even if your signed-in account belongs to the Administrators group, apps generally start with a standard token until you approve an elevation request. UAC mediates that request so the app can use administrative privileges for the elevated launch.
If you are using an administrator account with Admin Approval Mode, Windows typically asks you to approve the elevation. If you are signed in with a standard account, the prompt requires valid credentials for an administrator account. If you do not have those credentials, ask an authorized administrator or your organization’s IT administrator; there is no supported way to grant yourself elevation without them. Prompt behavior can also be affected by system policy, especially on managed computers. See Microsoft’s explanation of UAC prompt behavior and UAC settings and configuration.
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Use a different administrator account
If the app needs to run under a separate account, Windows provides Run as different user:
- Hold Shift and right-click the app’s executable file or shortcut.
- Select Run as different user.
- Enter the administrator account name and password, then select OK.
This starts the app using that account’s credentials, which can change access to per-user settings and files. Some applications do not support running as another user. If the app is on a network share, the account used to launch it may not have permission to access that share. Details: Microsoft’s runas guidance.
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Choose the right launch option
| Option | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Run as administrator | Requests elevation for the app using your current account; UAC handles approval or administrator credentials. | A one-time task that requires administrative access. |
| Run as different user | Launches the app with a different account’s credentials. | When an authorized administrator account distinct from your signed-in account is needed; account-specific or network access may differ. |
Why you should not disable UAC
UAC lets you authorize administrative access when an app needs it. Turning it off is not necessary to elevate one app, and Microsoft warns that disabling Admin Approval Mode disables related UAC settings and reduces operating-system security. Keep UAC enabled and respond to the prompt for the specific launch: Microsoft’s UAC configuration guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When an app keeps asking for elevation
Repeated prompts may be justified if the app genuinely needs to write to protected locations such as %ProgramFiles% or change system-wide settings. But an app should not request administrative privileges by default without a need. Microsoft’s developer guidance says most desktop applications should run at the asInvoker execution level. Unnecessary elevation increases an app’s attack surface and can make people more likely to approve prompts without checking them. If only one operation needs higher privileges, Microsoft describes using a separate elevated helper process rather than elevating the whole app: Running with Administrator Privileges.
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Do not assume an old compatibility setting is a current Windows 10 or Windows 11 procedure. Microsoft’s RUNASADMIN compatibility-mode reference is specifically from the Windows 8 Compatibility Cookbook: Windows 8 compatibility fixes.
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