[Windows 10 Secret Tip] Open Programs as Administrator Using RUN Dialog Box
Generally when we launch a program in Windows operating system, it opens with normal user rights. But sometimes we need to open a program with Administrator rights for troubleshooting or administrative purposes. When we launch a program as Administrator, it’s called elevation. You might have read a lot about starting apps as elevated. It’s same as running a program as Administrator.
There are many ways to run a program as Administrator. You can activate hidden secret built-in Administrator account and use it to run apps as Administrator. You can also right-click on a program shortcut or executable file and select “Run as Administrator” option to execute the program as Administrator.
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Apart from above mentioned methods, there is a very simple and quick way to run programs as Administrator. Open Start Menu or Cortana search (in Windows 10), type program name and once it appears in search results, press and hold CTRL+SHIFT keys together and press Enter key. It directly opens the program elevated i.e. as Administrator.
All these ways to run programs as Administrator have been mentioned long time back in following exclusive tutorial:
[Guide] Different Ways to Open Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows
Now here is a good news! Microsoft has added a similar functionality to RUN dialog box in newer Windows 10 versions.
We all know that we can press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box in all Windows versions. RUN dialog box is used to open any desired program by typing its name or by selecting it using Browse dialog box.
In previous Windows versions, it was not possible to launch programs as Administrator using RUN dialog box but in newer Windows 10 versions, Microsoft has added this much awaited feature.
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Now you can open any desired program as Administrator using RUN dialog box with the help of same keyboard shortcut which was used to run programs as Administrator using Start Menu i.e. CTRL+SHIFT.
To launch any program as Administrator i.e. elevated, open RUN dialog box, type program name or select it using Browse dialog box. Now press and hold CTRL and SHIFT keys together and click on OK button or press Enter key.
That’s it. It’ll launch the program elevated and you can perform administrative tasks using the program.
Nice addition by Microsoft!
Also Check:
How to Open Any Program by Typing its Name in RUN Dialog Box in Windows?
How to Remove An Item from RUN Dialog Box History / MRU List in Windows?
Is there a way to do this without any keyboard shortcuts or clicks? Only a typed run command?
^^ Use following command:
runas /profile /user:User_Name “Program_EXE_Path”
Replace User_Name with Administrator’s username and Program_EXE_Path with desired program’s EXE path.
^^ Command prompt returns “Enter the password”. I enter the password, hit enter key, and then a message flashes too quickly on the screen to read, the command prompt closes, nothing else happens. I do have administrator privileges. Suggestion? Thanks.
^^ Type the command in Command Prompt and the check the result of the command.
Wow, that’s a great tip. I always type “CMD” in start and then right click…… 😉
Thanks.
Interestingly enough, the “runas” command string suggested by VG in the comments works for me on a computer with username and password but does not work on a different computer with username and PIN.
This was added since 1703, not before. Nice trick though.