Personalization Add "Open in Windows Terminal (Admin)" context menu in Windows 11


Windows_Terminal_Admin_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove a Open in Windows Terminal as administrator context menu for all users in Windows 11.

Windows Terminal is a modern host application for the command-line shells you already love, like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and bash (via Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)). Its main features include multiple tabs, panes, Unicode and UTF-8 character support, a GPU accelerated text rendering engine, and the ability to create your own themes and customize text, colors, backgrounds, and shortcuts.

Windows 11 includes a Open in Terminal context menu by default when you right click or shift + right click on a folder or folder background, but this does not open Windows Terminal elevated (run as administrator).

The Open in Windows Terminal as administrator context menu will allow you to select to open an elevated Windows Terminal to the current folder path with the default shell profile, Command Prompt shell profile, or Windows PowerShell shell profile.


You must be signed in as an administrator to add, remove, and use the "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator" context menu.


EXAMPLE: "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator" context menu

Show_more_options.png
Open_in_Windows_Terminal_as_administrator.png




Here's How:

1 Do step 2 (add-expandable), step 3 (add), or step 4 (remove) below for what you would like to do.

2 Add Expandable Right Click "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator" Context Menu

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Add_expandable_Open_in_Windows_Terminal_as_administrator.reg

Download

If you installed PowerShell 7 and would like to add it to this context menu, then you can download and merge the Add_PowerShell_7_as_admin.reg file below afterwards.

Download

If you installed Ubuntu for WSL and would like to add Ubuntu to this context menu, then you can download and merge the Add_Ubuntu_as_admin.reg file below afterwards.

Download


(Contents of .Add_Open_in_Windows_Terminal_as_administrator.reg file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin]
"HasLUAShield"=""
"MUIVerb"="Open in Windows Terminal as administrator"
"Extended"=-
"SubCommands"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\001flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Default Profile"
"HasLUAShield"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\001flyout\command]
@="powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \"Start-Process -Verb RunAs cmd.exe -ArgumentList @('/c','start wt.exe','-d','\"\"\"%V\\.\"\"\"')\""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\002flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Command Prompt"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5324"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\002flyout\command]
@="powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \"Start-Process -Verb RunAs cmd.exe -ArgumentList @('/c','start wt.exe','-p','\"\"\"Command Prompt\"\"\"','-d','\"\"\"%V\\.\"\"\"')\""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\003flyout]
"MUIVerb"="PowerShell"
"HasLUAShield"=""
"Icon"="powershell.exe"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\003flyout\command]
@="powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \"Start-Process -Verb RunAs cmd.exe -ArgumentList @('/c','start wt.exe','-p','\"\"\"Windows PowerShell\"\"\"','-d','\"\"\"%1\\.\"\"\"')\""



[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin]
"HasLUAShield"=""
"MUIVerb"="Open in Windows Terminal as administrator"
"Extended"=-
"SubCommands"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\001flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Default Profile"
"HasLUAShield"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\001flyout\command]
@="powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \"Start-Process -Verb RunAs cmd.exe -ArgumentList @('/c','start wt.exe','-d','\"\"\"%V\\.\"\"\"')\""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\002flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Command Prompt"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5324"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\002flyout\command]
@="powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \"Start-Process -Verb RunAs cmd.exe -ArgumentList @('/c','start wt.exe','-p','\"\"\"Command Prompt\"\"\"','-d','\"\"\"%V\\.\"\"\"')\""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\003flyout]
"MUIVerb"="PowerShell"
"HasLUAShield"=""
"Icon"="powershell.exe"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\Shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\shell\003flyout\command]
@="powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \"Start-Process -Verb RunAs cmd.exe -ArgumentList @('/c','start wt.exe','-p','\"\"\"Windows PowerShell\"\"\"','-d','\"\"\"%V\\.\"\"\"')\""


3 Add "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator" Context Menu

This will add a non-expandable "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator" context menu that opens with your default profile.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Add_Open_in_Windows_Terminal_as_administrator.reg

Download

(Contents of .reg file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin]
"HasLUAShield"=""
"MUIVerb"="Open in Windows Terminal as administrator"
"Extended"=-

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\command]
@="powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \"Start-Process -Verb RunAs cmd.exe -ArgumentList @('/c','start wt.exe','-d','\"\"\"%V\\.\"\"\"')\""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin]
"HasLUAShield"=""
"MUIVerb"="Open in Windows Terminal as administrator"
"Extended"=-

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin\command]
@="powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden \"Start-Process -Verb RunAs cmd.exe -ArgumentList @('/c','start wt.exe','-d','\"\"\"%V\\.\"\"\"')\""


4 Remove "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator" Context Menu

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Remove_Open_in_Windows_Terminal_as_administrator.reg

Download

(Contents of .reg file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\OpenWTHereAsAdmin]

5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
I'm not absolutely sure, but "Add_Open_in_Windows_Terminal_as_administrator.reg" seems to not work when freshly tried on either of the most recent Windows Dev releases. Nothing at all happens when tried. To be clear, it installs fine but doesn't actually do the job.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
rseiler said:
I'm not absolutely sure, but "Add_Open_in_Windows_Terminal_as_administrator.reg" seems to not work when freshly tried on either of the most recent Windows Dev releases. Nothing at all happens when tried. To be clear, it installs fine but doesn't actually do the job.
Click to expand...
Hello mate, :alien:

I just tested on my system for changes, but it still works for me.

Do note, you will need to click/tap on "Show more options" in the context menu before seeing "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator" like in the example at the top of the tutorial.

When you click on "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator", you should see a command prompt flash, and then get a UAC prompt to approve opening Terminal as admin.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Brink said:
Hello mate, :alien:

I just tested on my system for changes, but it still works for me.

Do note, you will need to click/tap on "Show more options" in the context menu before seeing "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator" like in the example at the top of the tutorial.

When you click on "Open in Windows Terminal as administrator", you should see a command prompt flash, and then get a UAC prompt to approve opening Terminal as admin.
Click to expand...

OK, that's fine, it's just something interfering here then. I do see it on the subordinate context menu, but it doesn't trigger UAC or anything else. I have an ancient one (also from here way back) for admin cmd that I put on instead.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
rseiler said:
OK, that's fine, it's just something interfering here then. I do see it on the subordinate context menu, but it doesn't trigger UAC or anything else. I have an ancient one (also from here way back) for admin cmd that I put on instead.
Click to expand...
Did you make any changes to UAC settings that could be causing no prompt?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Brink said:
Did you make any changes to UAC settings that could be causing no prompt?
Click to expand...

No, but I did find the problem: I was concentrating on opening from the top of a given drive, and that doesn't work. It does from directories.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
rseiler said:
No, but I did find the problem: I was concentrating on opening from the top of a given drive, and that doesn't work. It does from directories.
Click to expand...

:shawn:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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