How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10

An elevated Command Prompt (also called “Run as administrator”) gives you full access to system-level commands that a normal prompt blocks, such as changing system files, managing user accounts, or fixing network settings. This guide shows you several reliable ways to open one, what to do if you get a User Account Control (UAC) prompt, and how to avoid common pitfalls. You don’t need any special software—just a Windows 10 PC and an account with administrator privileges.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 computer (any version, Home or Pro)
• An account with administrator rights (if you’re the only user, you likely already have this)

Step-by-Step

1. Use the Start Menu (easiest method): Click the Start button (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner. Type cmd or Command Prompt. In the search results, you’ll see “Command Prompt” appear. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator. Alternatively, you can click the arrow on the right side of the search result and choose “Run as administrator.”
2. Accept the UAC prompt: A User Account Control dialog will pop up asking, “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” Click Yes. If you don’t see this prompt, your account might not have admin rights, or UAC is disabled (see Troubleshooting).
3. Confirm the window title: After it opens, look at the title bar of the Command Prompt window. It should say “Administrator: Command Prompt” (not just “Command Prompt”). This confirms you have elevated privileges.
4. Alternative method – Power User menu: Right-click the Start button (or press Windows + X). From the menu that appears, select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) (on newer builds, it may say “Windows Terminal (Admin)”). Click Yes on the UAC prompt. Note: If you choose PowerShell, you can still run most cmd commands by typing cmd and pressing Enter, or simply use the PowerShell syntax.
5. Alternative method – Run dialog: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Type cmd and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter (not just Enter). This is a shortcut that runs the command as administrator. Click Yes on the UAC prompt.
6. Alternative method – Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. If it opens in compact view, click “More details” at the bottom. Go to File menu and select Run new task. Type cmd and check the box that says “Create this task with administrative privileges.” Then click OK. Accept the UAC prompt.
7. Alternative method – File Explorer: Open File Explorer (Windows + E). Navigate to C:\Windows\System32. Scroll down to find cmd.exe. Right-click on it and choose Run as administrator. Accept the UAC prompt.

Common Mistakes

• Not accepting the UAC prompt: If you click “No” or ignore the prompt, the Command Prompt will open in normal (non-elevated) mode. Always click “Yes” when you intend to run as administrator.
• Using the Run dialog with just Enter: Typing cmd and pressing Enter in the Run dialog opens a normal prompt. You must use Ctrl + Shift + Enter to elevate.
• Opening from the Start menu without right-clicking: Clicking the “Command Prompt” result directly (or pressing Enter) opens a non-elevated window. You must right-click and select “Run as administrator.”
• Confusing PowerShell with Command Prompt: PowerShell is a separate shell, but it can run most cmd commands. If you specifically need Command Prompt, choose that option, or type cmd inside PowerShell to switch.

Tips

• Pin it for quicker access: Once the elevated prompt is open, right-click the Command Prompt icon in the taskbar and select “Pin to taskbar.” Then, to open an elevated prompt later, right-click the pinned icon and choose “Run as administrator” (or hold Ctrl+Shift while clicking).
• Create a desktop shortcut: Right-click your desktop, choose New → Shortcut, type cmd.exe as the location, and name it “Command Prompt Admin.” Then right-click the shortcut, go to Properties → Shortcut tab, click “Advanced,” and check “Run as administrator.” Now you can double-click it to get an elevated prompt directly.
• Use Windows Terminal if available: Windows 10 (version 1904 and later) includes Windows Terminal, which can open multiple tabs, including an elevated Command Prompt tab. Right-click the Start button and choose “Windows Terminal (Admin)” to get an elevated terminal.
• Check your account type: To verify you have admin rights, go to Settings → Accounts → Your info. If it says “Administrator” under your name, you’re good. If it says “Standard user,” you’ll need to ask an admin to change it, or enter an admin password when prompted.

Troubleshooting

• UAC prompt doesn’t appear: If you run as administrator and the window opens without a UAC prompt, it might be because UAC is disabled. To re-enable it, type “UAC” in the Start menu and open “Change User Account Control settings.” Move the slider to a level that prompts (e.g., “Always notify” or the default). Restart your PC.
• “Access is denied” error: This usually means your account is not an administrator. Try right-clicking the Command Prompt and selecting “Run as administrator” again, but this time you may be asked for an admin password. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to log in with an admin account.
• “This app has been blocked by your system administrator” error: This can happen if your organization’s policy restricts cmd.exe. Try using PowerShell (Admin) instead, or contact your IT admin. If it’s your personal PC, you can try running the command from File Explorer as described above.
• Command Prompt opens but closes immediately: This often happens if you accidentally run a batch file or if the system is configured to close on exit. To test, open a normal Command Prompt first, then type start cmd and press Enter. If that works, the issue is with the shortcut you’re using.
• Windows Terminal (Admin) is missing: If you don’t see Windows Terminal in the Power User menu, it’s because you haven’t installed it from the Microsoft Store (or your Windows version is older). You can still use Command Prompt (Admin) as described.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between Command Prompt and an elevated Command Prompt? An elevated prompt runs with administrator privileges, allowing you to execute commands that modify system settings, manage users, or access protected files. A normal prompt is restricted to your user-level permissions.
• Can I open an elevated Command Prompt without a password? If your account is an administrator and UAC is set to the default, you just click “Yes” on the prompt—no password is needed. If you’re a standard user, you’ll need an admin password.
• Why does my Command Prompt say “Administrator” in the title bar? That’s the indicator that the window is elevated. If it doesn’t say that, you’re in a normal prompt.
• Is it safe to run as administrator all the time? It’s safer to use a normal prompt for everyday tasks and only elevate when you need to run specific commands that require admin rights. Running everything elevated increases the risk of accidental system damage.
• Can I run an elevated Command Prompt from a script or batch file? Yes, you can create a batch file that uses the runas command or a shortcut with “Run as administrator” checked. However, the UAC prompt will still appear.
• What if I don’t see “Command Prompt” in the Start menu search? This is rare, but you can try typing “cmd” or “command” instead. If it’s still not there, you may have a corrupted Start menu—try restarting your PC or running the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) from a normal prompt.

Related

• Word Crashing Repeatedly After macOS Tahoe? Fixes
• How to Tell If Your SSD Is About to Fail
• Computer Malware Protection: A Practical Guide