How to Run Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows

Sometimes, to complete specific tasks in Windows, you need to run the Command Prompt with administrator privileges. This is required for installing programs, changing system settings, or executing other commands that need elevated access. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to open the Command Prompt as an administrator in Windows.

Method 1: Using the Start Menu

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
  2. In the search bar, type “cmd” or “Command Prompt”.
  3. When the “Command Prompt” app appears, right-click on it and select “Run as administrator”.
  4. A User Account Control (UAC) prompt will appear. Click “Yes” to confirm.

Method 2: Using a Keyboard Shortcut

This method is convenient for quick access to the Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

  1. Press the Windows + X keys together.
  2. In the menu that appears, select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” (depending on your version of Windows).
  3. Confirm the action by clicking “Yes” in the User Account Control prompt.

Method 3: Running from Task Manager

  1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager”.
  2. Click “File” → “Run new task”.
  3. In the input field, type cmd and check the box for “Create this task with administrative privileges”.
  4. Click “OK”.

Method 4: Using File Explorer

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32.
  2. Find the cmd.exe file.
  3. Right-click on it and select “Run as administrator”.
  4. Confirm the action by clicking “Yes” in the User Account Control prompt.