Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10  

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    Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10

    Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10

    How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10
    Published by Category: General Tips
    14 Jun 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10


    A command prompt is an entry point for typing computer commands in the Command Prompt window. By typing commands in an elevated command prompt, you can perform tasks that require administrator rights on your computer without using the Windows graphical interface.

    This tutorial will show you different ways to open an elevated command prompt that will run as administrator with full administrator rights in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in to Windows as an administrator to open an elevated command prompt.



    Contents

    • Option One: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Win+X Quick Link Menu
    • Option Two: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Task Manager
    • Option Three: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Search
    • Option Four: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Start Menu
    • Option Five: Open Elevated Command Prompt from File Explorer



    EXAMPLE: Elevated Command Prompt

    Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10-elevated_command_prompt.jpg






    OPTION ONE

    Open Elevated Command Prompt from Win+X Quick Link Menu


    Starting with Windows 10 build 14971, Windows PowerShell will show in the Win+X by default now instead of Command Prompt.

    Show Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell on Win+X menu in Windows 10


    1 Open the Win+X menu, and click/tap on Command Prompt (Admin). (see screenshot below)

    Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10-win-x_elevated_command_prompt.png






    OPTION TWO

    Open Elevated Command Prompt from Task Manager


    1 Open Task Manager with more details.

    2 Click/tap on File (menu bar), then press and hold the CTRL key and click/tap on Run new task. (see screenshot below)

    If you are signed in as a standard user, then this will open an unelevated command prompt.

    If you are signed in as an administrator, then this will open an elevated command prompt.

    Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10-task_manager.jpg






    OPTION THREE

    Open Elevated Command Prompt from Search


    1 Open Search (Win+S) or the Start menu , and type cmd into the search box. (see screenshot below)

    2 When Command Prompt shows up in the search results, click/tap on Run as administrator.

    Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10-search_cmd.png






    OPTION FOUR

    Open Elevated Command Prompt from Start Menu


    1 Open to All Apps in the Start menu . (see screenshot below)

    2 In All Apps, scroll down and expand open the Windows System folder, right click or press and hold on Command Prompt, click/tap on More, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

    Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10-start_menu_all_apps.jpg






    OPTION FIVE

    Open Elevated Command Prompt from File Explorer


    1 Open File Explorer (Win+E), and navigate to the C:\Windows\System32 folder. (see screenshot below)

    2 Right click or press and hold on cmd.exe, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

    Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10-file_explorer.jpg


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 803
    10 Pro Preview x64
       #1

    You can also launch it from an elevated PowerShell window by typing cmd. This could be useful if you wanted to run a command like mklink that doesn't exist in PowerShell without opening another window :)
    Last edited by Brink; 18 Apr 2015 at 09:07. Reason: removed broken image
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18
    Windows 10, build 10074
       #2

    Thanks for the tutorial. I will try to uninstall a corrupted Mail app in build 10049. I got around it by creating another account but deleting it seems a better option.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 88
    Win 10 64 bit
       #3

    i tried all this and all i get is access denied
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,452
    windows 10 Pro ver 21H2 build 19044.1348
       #4

    Raven2099 said:
    i tried all this and all i get is access denied
    1. excerpt from the tutorial:
    You must be signed in to Windows as an administrator to be able to open an elevated command prompt.

    2. Right click at Start > click Command Prompt (Admin)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 88
    Win 10 64 bit
       #5

    i was signed in to Windows as an administrator
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Raven, :)

    What is giving you the access denied message?

    When you try to open an elevated command prompt, or some command you are trying to run in an elevated command prompt?
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 16,785
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #7

    Brink - Consider adding this to Option 7 para 2

    Instead of clicking on the entry Open command prompt as administrator, right-click on it and select Add to Quick access toolbar. The facility will then always be readily available to you on the QAT so you don't have to remember these instructions to get an Admin prompt open set to the current File explorer folder when you need it. [You can also do this with the standard Open command prompt entry].

    Denis
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 34
    Win10 Home x64 on 3 machines, Win7 Pro x64 on 1.
       #8

    I really wanted this (#7, paragraph 2) to work, but in Win10 Home x64/version 1607/Build 14393.693 the rightclick to add elevated cmd prompt to QAT is greyed out. Best I could do is add the nonelevated cmd prompt to QAT and always remember to rightclick it to RunAsAdmin, which is what I had been doing.

    Pretty soon Win10 will be locked down so tight, we will have to disable UAC.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 12,799
    Windows 11 Pro
       #9

    @Tony4219, see the note under Option 7

    Note   Note
    This option allows you to open an elevated command prompt that opens to the same location as the selected folder or drive.

    This option is no longer available starting with Windows 10 build 14971.
      My Computer


 

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