This tutorial will show you how to use Run as different user in Windows 11.
Run as different user allows a user to run a .bat, .cmd, .exe, .msc, or .msi file as a different user. This allows running the .bat, .cmd, .exe, .msc, or .msi file with the same permissions and rights as the different user instead of the user account they are currently signed in to.
Run as different user will only affect the current instance of the running .bat, .cmd, .exe, .msc, or .msi file. You can open multiple instances of the file with each instance running as a different user.
Run as different user will not be available for Microsoft Store apps.
- Option One: "Run as different user" in File Explorer
- Option Two: "Run as different user" from Taskbar
- Option Three: "Run as different user" from Start menu
- Option Four: "Run as different user" using Command
1 Perform the following actions: (see screenshots below)
- Right click on a .bat, .cmd, .exe, .msc, or .msi file you want on the desktop (Win+D) or in File Explorer (Win+E).
- Press and hold the Shift key.
- Right click on Show more options.
- Release the Shift key.
- Click/tap on Run as different user.
2 Enter the credentials of the user you want to run as, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)
1 Perform the following actions: (see screenshot below)
- Right click on an app (ex: "Registry Editor") icon on the taskbar.
- Press and hold the Shift key.
- Right click on the app (ex: "Registry Editor") in the jump list.
- Release the Shift key.
- Click/tap on Run as different user.
2 Enter the credentials of the user you want to run as, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)
This option is only available if you enabled "Run as different user" context menu on Start menu.
1 Open the Start menu
![Windows Logo :win: :win:](/data/assets/smilies/logos.png)
2 Perform the following actions: (see screenshot below)
- Right click on an app (ex: "Google Chrome") in All apps.
- Click/tap on More.
- Click/tap on Run as different user.
3 Enter the credentials of the user you want to run as, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)
1 Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2 Type the command below you want to use into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)
runas /user:"<username>" "Full path of file"
runas /user:"<username>" /savecred "Full path of file"
Substitute <username> in the commands above with the actual user name of the account you want to run as. If this is for a domain user, then you would enter their user name using one of these parameters: UserName@DomainName or DomainName\UserName
Substitute Full path of file in the commands above with the actual full path of the .bat, .cmd, .exe, .msc, or .msi file you want to run as the user.
3 Type the password of the user you want to run as, and press Enter.
You will not see the text of the password as you enter it.
If you had previously used the command above with the /savecred switch for the same user, then you will not be prompted to enter the user's password since it was saved in Credential Manager last time.
That's it,
Shawn Brink