This tutorial will show you different ways on how to open an elevated command prompt that will run as administrator in Windows 11.
The Command shell is an entry point for typing commands in the Command Prompt console window. By typing commands at the command prompt, you can perform tasks on your computer without using the Windows GUI.
In Windows 11, Windows Terminal (Admin) is the default console to open installed shells elevated like the Command Prompt (Admin) in by default now.
If you wanted, you can still directly open an elevated Command Prompt (Admin) in Windows 11.
You must be signed in as an administrator to open an elevated command prompt.
Contents
- Option One: Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows Terminal (Admin)
- Option Two: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Search
- Option Three: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Run
- Option Four: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Task Manager
- Option Five: Open Elevated Command Prompt from File Explorer
- Option Six: Open Elevated Command Prompt from Windows Tools
EXAMPLE: Elevated command prompt
1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin).
2 Select Command Prompt (Ctrl+Shift+2) from the drop menu. (see screenshot below)
1 Open Windows Search (Win+S). (see screenshot below)
2 Type cmd into the Search box.
3 Click/tap on Run as administrator for Command Prompt.
4 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC. (see screenshot below)
1 Open Run (Win+R). (see screenshot below)
2 Type cmd in the Open box.
3 Press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys.
4 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC. (see screenshot below)
1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) in more details view.
2 Perform one of the following actions below: (see screenshots below)
- Click/tap on File on the toolbar, press and hold the Ctrl key, click/tap on Run new task, and release the Ctrl key.
- Click/tap on File on the toolbar, click/tap on Run new task, type cmd in the Open box, check Create this task with administrative privileges, and click/tap on OK or press Enter.
3 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Task Manager if you like.
1 Open File Explorer (Win+E). (see screenshot below)
2 Navigate to and open the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
3 Right click on the cmd.exe file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.
4 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC. (see screenshot below)
5 You can now close File Explorer if you like.
1 Open Windows Tools.
2 Right click on Command Prompt, and click/tap on Run as administrator.
3 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Windows Tools if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited: