How to Run Command Prompt as Administrator

How to Run Command Prompt as Administrator: Command Prompt as Administrator — the mode of launching the command line utility in the Windows operating system with full administrative rights. The command line is a tool for performing administrative tasks on a computer without using a graphical interface.

The Command Prompt application runs on the Windows operating system in two modes: a normal user or a computer administrator. The command line, launched as a Windows administrator, provides full access to the execution of any commands on the computer, in contrast to the standard user mode, where not all commands work.

When working on a computer, it is often necessary to use the command prompt (cmd.exe) in elevated administrator mode. To apply certain system settings, you must have full administrative rights, for example, there were problems on the computer, the user found a way to solve the problem, and for this you will need to use the command line.

To solve the problem, start the command prompt with administrator rights, perform the necessary actions in the command line interface (command line interpreter).

In the instructions of this article, we will look at different ways to open a command prompt as an administrator in the Windows operating system: in Windows 10, in Windows 8.1, in Windows 8, in Windows 7. Here you will find 5 universal methods that work in all versions of Windows, and some methods applicable only for some OS versions.

Run Command Prompt as Windows Administrator – Method 1

This method is suitable for all versions of Windows: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7. To call the command line with full administrative privileges, use the search function in the operating system.

In Windows 7, enter the Start menu, in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 move the mouse cursor to the top or bottom right edge of the Desktop, in Windows 10 the search field is located on the Taskbar.

1. Enter the expression “cmd” or “command line” in the search field.
2. Right click on the application shown in the search results, select “Run as administrator”.

How to Run Command Prompt as Administrator – method 2

The next way to open a command prompt with full rights in different versions of the Windows operating system is to launch the utility from the Start menu.

1. Enter the Start Menu (Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 require you to go to the Apps screen).
2. Among the programs, in the “System Tools – Windows” folder (in Windows 7 – “Standard”), find the “Command Prompt” program.
3. Right-click on the application, select “Run as administrator”.

How to call the command line as administrator – method 3

There is another way to open Command Prompt as Administrator in any version of Windows. To do this, you will need to run the cmd.exe utility directly from the folder where it is located in the operating system.

1. Open the system drive “C:” in Explorer.
2. Enter the “Windows” folder, go to the “System32” folder.
3. Right-click on the “cmd” application, select “Run as administrator” from the context menu.

How to Run Command Prompt as Administrator – method 4

Another universal method that works in all versions of Windows starting with Windows 8 is done using the Task Manager.

1. Launch Task Manager .
2. Enter the “File” menu, select “Run new task”.
3. In the “Create task” window, in the open field, type “cmd” (without quotes), check the box next to “Create a task as an administrator”, and then click on the “OK” button.

Run Command Prompt with Administrator Rights – Method 5

In this method, we will create a special shortcut to launch the cmd.exe application with administrator rights.

1. Enter the folder along the path: “C:\Windows\System32”.
2. Right-click on the “cmd” application, select “Submit” from the context menu, then “Desktop (create shortcut)”.
3. Right-click on the shortcut, select “Properties”.
4. In the “Properties” window, in the “Shortcut” tab, click on the “Advanced …” button.
5. In the “Advanced properties” window, check the box next to “Run as administrator”, click on the “OK” button.

Windows 10 Command Prompt as Administrator

In the initial versions of Windows 10, it was easy to call the command line. Then, Microsoft changed its policy a bit: instead of the command line, it is proposed to use Windows PowerShell (a more advanced analogue of the command line), so some ways to start the command line stopped working in the operating system.

You can return the command line to its original place, instead of Windows PowerrShell, following the instructions from this article.

1. Simultaneously press the “Win” + “X” keys.
2. In the window that opens, you will see the item “Command Prompt (Administrator)”, located in the same place.

Command Prompt as Administrator Windows 8.1

The easiest way to launch Command Prompt in the Windows 10 operating system is from the Start menu on the Desktop.

1. On the desktop, right-click on the Start menu.
2. In the menu that opens, click on “Command Prompt (Admin)”.

Command Prompt as Administrator Windows 8

This method works on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. In Windows 10 Explorer, instead of the command line, we are offered to use Windows PowerShell.

1. Launch Windows Explorer.
2. Log in to some drive or open any folder.
3. In the Explorer window, left-click on the “File” menu.
4. From the context menu, select “Open Command Prompt” first, and then “Open Command Prompt as Administrator”.

Command Prompt as Administrator Windows 7

In the Windows 7 operating system, all the universal methods described in this article work:

• In the start menu, type “cmd” or “command prompt”, right-click on the application, run as administrator.
• Enter the “Start” menu, then “All Programs”, then “Accessories”, then “Command Prompt”, using the right button, launch the command prompt with administrator rights.
• Launch “cmd.exe” from the folder along the path: “C:\Windows\System32”.
• Opening a command prompt with a job in the Task Manager.
• From a specially created shortcut on the desktop.

Article Conclusions

If necessary, the user can run the command line tool with full rights as an administrator in the Windows operating system. The article describes different ways to run the command line as an administrator, working on operating systems: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7.