How to Change User Account Control (UAC) prompt Behavior for Standard Users in Windows
When User Account Control (UAC) is enabled, Windows prompts for consent or prompts for credentials of a valid local administrator account before starting a program or task that requires a full administrator access token. This prompt ensures that no malicious software can be silently installed or run.
With the Always notify or Default UAC setting enabled, your desktop will be dimmed and switched to the secure desktop when you get an elevation request by the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
A user that is a member of the Administrators group can log on, browse the Web, and read e-mail while using a standard user access token. When the administrator needs to perform a task that requires the administrator access token, Windows 10 automatically prompts the user for Y/N approval. This prompt is called an elevation prompt for UAC consent prompt.
The user experience for standard users is different from that of administrators in Admin Approval Mode. The recommended and more secure method of running Windows 10 is to make your primary user account a standard user account. Running as a standard user helps to maximize security for a managed environment. With the built-in UAC elevation component, standard users can easily perform an administrative task by entering valid credentials for a local administrator account. The default, built-in UAC elevation component for standard users is the UAC credential prompt.
See also: How User Account Control works (Windows 10) | Microsoft Docs
The User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users local security policy determines the behavior of the UAC elevation prompt for standard users.
The options are:
Policy Description Automatically deny elevation requests When an operation requires elevation of privilege, an access denied error message is displayed. An enterprise that is running desktops as standard user may choose this setting to reduce help desk calls. Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop When an operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted on the secure desktop to enter a different user name and password. If the user enters valid credentials, the operation continues with the applicable privilege. Prompt for credentials (Default) When an operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted to enter an administrator user name and password. If the user enters valid credentials, the operation continues with the applicable privilege.
This tutorial will show you how to change the User Account Control (UAC) prompt behavior only for standard users in Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to change the UAC prompt behavior for standard users.
This will not affect the built-in Administrator account or administrators.
Contents
- Option One: Change UAC prompt Behavior for Standard Users in Local Security Policy
- Option Two: Change UAC prompt Behavior for Standard Users using a REG file
EXAMPLE: User Account Control (UAC) credential prompt
The Local Security Policy is only available in the Windows 7/8/10 Pro, Windows 7/8/10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two below.
1 Open the Local Security Policy (secpol.msc).
2 Expand open Local Policies and Security Options in the left pane of Local Security Policy, and double click/tap on the User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users policy to edit it. (see screenshot below)
3 Select the UAC behavior you want in the drop menu, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
4 When finished, close the Local Security Policy window if you like.
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
ConsentPromptBehaviorUser DWORD
0 = Automatically deny elevation requests
1 = Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop
3 = Prompt for credentials (default)
1 Do step 2 (Automatically deny), step 3 (Prompt for credentials on secure desktop), or step 4 (DEFAULT - Prompt for credentials) below for what you would like to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Standard_users_UAC_Automatically_deny_elevation_requests.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Standard_users_UAC_Prompt_for_credentials_on_secure_desktop.reg
Download
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Standard_users_UAC_Prompt_for_credentials.reg
Download
5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows
- How to Enable or Disable User Account Control (UAC) prompt for Built-in Administrator in Windows
- How to Change User Account Control (UAC) Settings in Windows 10
- How to Change User Account Control (UAC) prompt Behavior for Administrators in Windows
- How to Hide or Show Administrators in UAC prompt for Standard Users in Windows
- How to Enable or Disable Dimmed Secure Desktop for UAC prompt in Windows
- How to Enable or Disable Ctrl+Alt+Delete Secure Desktop for UAC prompt in Windows