Accounts Check if App or Process is Running as Administrator (elevated) in Windows 11


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This tutorial will show you how to determine if an app or process is currently running as administrator (elevated) or not in Windows 11.

Windows runs desktops apps and application files (ex: .bat, .cmd, .exe, and .msc file types) in user mode by default without elevated administrator rights unless it prompts you with UAC to run elevated (highest privileges).

Windows has standard user and administrator types of user accounts.

Standard User - Standard user accounts are good for everyday usage, and can be a local account or Microsoft account. Standard user accounts can use most apps and change system settings that do not affect other users. If any action that requires elevated rights is attempted while signed in as a standard user, Windows will display a UAC prompt for the password of an administrator for approval. If UAC is set to "Never notify", then a standard user will automatically be denied the elevated action.

Administrator - Administrator accounts have complete access to the PC and can make any desired changes. Administrators can be a local account or Microsoft account. If any action that requires elevated rights is attempted while signed in as an administrator, Windows will display a UAC prompt for the administrator to confirm (Yes or No) using full administrator rights.

When you use Run as administrator on a desktop app or application file, you are allowing it to run with full administrator access to everything on the computer. This means you are giving it special permissions to access restricted parts of the computer that would otherwise be off-limits. This could be a potential security risk if not a trusted app or application file, but sometimes "Run as administrator" is necessary for a trusted app or application file to run properly if it requires elevated rights for full access.


Here's How:

1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).

2 Open the Details page in Task Manager. (see screenshot below)

3 In the Name column, look for the process name (ex: "WindowsTerminal.exe") you want to know if it's running elevated or not.

4 Look in the Elevated column to see Yes or No if the process (ex: "WindowsTerminal.exe") is running elevated.

If you do not have the Elevated column available, you will need to add it.


Task_Manager_elevated_process.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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Cant find "WindowsTerminal.exe"
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    i-7 10700k 3.8
    Motherboard
    PRIME Z-490 A
    Memory
    32gb DDR4 3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    RX 580
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    PSU
    750
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    G502 HERO
Cant find "WindowsTerminal.exe"

Hello, :-)

The "WindowsTerminal.exe" process will only be running if you opened the Windows Terminal app.

It was just an example I used for the tutorial.


 

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,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Hello, :-)

The "WindowsTerminal.exe" process will only be running if you opened the Windows Terminal app.

It was just an example I used for the tutorial.




Hi My Dear Friend Brink

I was on ur 10 forums before :)

u say app so its not a pc app // Brink u know me i am slow in these things I followed the steps and there is no "WindowsTerminal.exe"

if its not important delete the whole post

Nice seeing u again man :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    i-7 10700k 3.8
    Motherboard
    PRIME Z-490 A
    Memory
    32gb DDR4 3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    RX 580
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    PSU
    750
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    G502 HERO
Hi My Dear Friend Brink

I was on ur 10 forums before :)

u say app so its not a pc app // Brink u know me i am slow in these things I followed the steps and there is no "WindowsTerminal.exe"

if its not important delete the whole post

Nice seeing u again man :)

It's good to see you here as well. :-)

No worries about "WindowsTerminal.exe". The running processes will vary per system, and this was just an example I used for the purpose of the tutorial.
 

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,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium

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