Windows 10: Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10

How to: Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10


Information 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 be able 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 by Searching Start Menu
• Option Four: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Start Menu
• Option Five: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Search
• Option Six: Open Elevated Command Prompt from File Explorer
• Option Seven: To "Open Command Prompt Here as administrator"

EXAMPLE: Elevated Command Prompt










OPTION ONE [/i] Open Elevated Command Prompt from Win+X Quick Link Menu


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

*Arrow Show Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell on Win+X menu in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

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







OPTION TWO [/i] Open Elevated Command Prompt from Task Manager



Note 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.

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)







OPTION THREE [/i] Open Elevated Command Prompt by Searching Start Menu
1. Open the Start menu, and type cmd to open the search box. (see screenshot below)

2. When Command Prompt shows up in the search results, right click or press and hold on it, then click/tap on Run as administrator.







OPTION FOUR [/i] Open Elevated Command Prompt from Start Menu
1. Open the Start menu, and click/tap on All Apps at the bottom. (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.







OPTION FIVE [/i] Open Elevated Command Prompt from Search
1. Do step 2 or step 3 below for how you would like to search.

2. Press the Windows + S keys, type cmd, and go to step 4 below.

3. Open you Start menu, type cmd in the search box, and go to step 4 below.

4. When Command Prompt shows up in the search results, right click or press and hold on it, then click/tap on Run as administrator.







OPTION SIX [/i] Open Elevated Command Prompt from File Explorer
1. Open File Explorer, 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.







OPTION SEVEN [/i] To "Open Command Prompt Here as administrator"


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 How to Add 'Open command window here as administrator' context menu in Windows 10 instead.

1. Open File Explorer, select or open a folder or drive that you want to open the command prompt at that location. (see screenshot below)



2. Click/tap on the File tab on the Ribbon, and click/tap on Open command prompt as administrator. (see screenshot below)




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Open a Command Prompt at Boot in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Command Prompt in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10
• How to Open a Command Prompt in Windows 10
• How to Run an App as Administrator in Windows 10
• How to Open Elevated Windows PowerShell in Windows 10
• How to Add 'Open command window here' context menu in Windows 10
• How to Add 'Open command window here as administrator' context menu in Windows 10
• Show Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell on Win+X menu in Windows 10
• How to Create an Elevated Command Prompt Shortcut in Windows 10
• How to Customize Command Prompt Window Position in Windows
• How to Change Command Prompt Font and Font Size in Windows
• How to Customize Command Prompt Colors in Windows
• How to Change Command Prompt Transparency Level in Windows 10
• How to Change Command Prompt Default Window Size in Windows
• How to Change Command Prompt Screen Buffer Size in Windows
• How to Turn On or Off Wrap Text Output on Resize of Command Prompt in Windows
• Enable or Disable Legacy Console for Command Prompt and PowerShell in Windows 10

:)

 

how do i make myself the administrator

What folder, specifically?



I'd open an
elevated command prompt and type in "explorer.exe" and press enter to open the Windows Explorer application as the administrator OR simply open an

elevated command prompt and rmdir the directory in question from there.

 

Add User

You have to follow the directions as given... heh

"1. Open an elevated command
prompt."

Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10

 

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.

 

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)

 

i was signed in to Windows as an administrator

 

Hello Raven, *Smile

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?

 

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

 

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.

 

@Tony4219, see the note under Option 7



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.

 

Thanks Yes, I did see it, but I'm still at 14393, so I mentioned "it's already here" .Darn.

 

Hello Tony,

If you like, you could use this option below for a context menu instead. *Smile

Open command window here as administrator - Add in Windows 10

 

Thanks Brink!. Kewl. I just added it. That was ANOTHER thing that has bugged me for a while, as one of my kbds many times did not do the shift+rightclick all the time reliably. Feeling better already.

While I have your ear ...
Does

(can't paste the URL) Elevated Program Shortcut without UAC Prompt - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums have a chance at working in Win10?

This involves using TaskScheduler to provide the elevation to a special shortcut. I haven't tried it, but ran across the URL this morning.

I am using old Winbuilder.exe, per TheOven.org, for Win10PESEx64 for preboot environment work and will try to adapt it.

 

Yep, the elevated shortcut will still work in Windows 10, but I have an updated tutorial below for W10 below.

Elevated Shortcut without UAC - Create in Windows 10