In Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 operating systems, executing a command in elevated prompt is essential to perform advanced tasks such as enabling Hibernation mode and creating bootable Windows USB flash drive and repairing Windows system files.
While it’s possible to launch the Command Prompt as administrator by entering CMD in Start menu or Start screen and then simultaneously pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys, novice users and mouse addicts always need to go through the Start menu or Start screen, to launch the Command Prompt with admin rights.
A few weeks ago, we covered a small tool named Ele to open elevated prompt right from the Command Prompt without having the close the opened normal Command Prompt. Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a way to set the elevated prompt as default one. In this guide, we are going to show you how to always launch Command Prompt as administrator in Windows 7/8/10.
Method 1:
Step 1: Open up Windows Explorer, navigate to the following directory to find Command Prompt shortcut.
C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories
(C is your Windows drive and YourUserName is your user account name)
In Windows 8, the Command Prompt shortcut is located in Programs\Windows System directory.
Step 2: Here, you should find Command Prompt shortcut. Right-click on the Command Prompt shortcut, click Properties. Switch to Shortcut tab, click on Advanced, check Run as administrator, finally click Ok and then Apply.
Step 3: That’s it. From now onwards, whenever you launch the Command Prompt, you will see the elevated prompt.
Method 2
If the above method isn’t working for you, you can try out given below instructions.
Step 1: Open Windows drive and navigate to the following directory:
C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories
In Windows 8, the Command Prompt shortcut is located in Programs\Windows System directory.
Step 2: Delete the Command Prompt shortcut from the directory.
Step 3: Open your Windows drive, navigate to Windows\System32 folder, locate the cmd.exe file. Right-click on the cmd.exe file, click Send to and then click Desktop (Create Shortcut) folder.
Step 4: Now, right-click on the Command Prompt on the desktop and select Properties. Switch to Shortcut tab, click on Advanced, check Run as administrator option, click Ok button and then Apply.
Step 5: Finally, move the newly created shortcut to:
C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories
That’s it! From now onwards, whenever you launch the CMD from Start screen or Start menu, elevated prompt will automatically be launched.
Ed says
Just a note that on my Win 10 System you have to go into …\Accessories\System Tools
robert sibanda says
not really helpful coz I was looking for a hacking trick so that I can use cmd to change the password when I am loged on to a guest account
khan asd says
hi…can you tell how to run cmd prompt as administrator using java program,actually I am trying to make a software which requires cmd prompt to be opened as administrator.your method is good but as a programmer I want to make it automatic for my app users..please suggest the way
Rezwanur Rahman Pantho says
Thanks.
fernand says
i don’t why this happens to me, but even with ctrl + shift + enter my CMD still opening as a normal user, and it’s not just it.
every program i try to open with ctrl + shift + enter opens as normal user.. for it to work properly i right to click and blablabla
this really piss me off, cuz everyone seems to accomplish it easily, but with me it doesn’t work, wish i know at least why.
Michael Harding says
Neither of these Methods work for me although Method 1 has been my default setting for years. I was hopoing there might be a workable Method 3.
admin says
Thanks Shamu726, fixed the typo.
shamu726 says
I think you meant to say “Ctrl + Shift + Enter” not “Ctrl + Alt + Del”. “Ctrl + Alt + Del” opens task manager.
Happy Bulldozer says
I use my own “evelated shortcut” for cmd.exe, Process Explorer, “regnav” script and some other tools.