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You can run an individual Windows app with administrator privileges while leaving User Account Control (UAC) enabled: right-click the app or its shortcut and choose Run as administrator. Approve the prompt only if you recognize the app and intended to give it elevated access. You do not need to disable UAC.
Run an app as administrator once
- Find the app in File Explorer, on the desktop, or in the Start menu. If you use a shortcut, you can right-click that.
- Right-click the app or shortcut and select Run as administrator. Microsoft describes this as the simplest way to start an application in administrative mode: How User Account Control works.
- Review the UAC prompt. Confirm only if the application and the action are ones you trust and intended.
The elevation applies to that launch; it does not turn off UAC or automatically make every app run as administrator.
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What happens at the UAC prompt
Windows apps started through Explorer normally run with standard user permissions, including apps opened by someone whose account belongs to the Administrators group. When an app needs administrative privileges, UAC lets Windows request authorization for that app. An administrator using Admin Approval Mode is prompted to approve the elevation; a standard user must provide valid credentials for an administrator account. Prompt behavior can vary with policy, so a work- or school-managed PC may behave differently. See Microsoft’s explanations of UAC behavior and UAC settings and configuration.
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If you are signed in with a standard account and have credentials for a separate administrator account, Microsoft documents a way to launch an app as that user:
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- Hold Shift, then right-click the app’s executable or its shortcut.
- Select Run as different user.
- Enter the administrator account name and password, then select OK.
Some apps may not support running as another user. Also, if the app is stored on a network share, the account used to launch it may not have permission to access that share. Details: Microsoft’s instructions for running an app as a different user.
Why keeping UAC enabled matters
UAC provides a per-app authorization step for actions that need administrative privileges. Microsoft warns that disabling Admin Approval Mode disables related UAC settings and reduces operating-system security. Keep UAC enabled and approve the specific request when appropriate; do not try to work around an administrator credential prompt if you do not have authorized credentials. See Microsoft’s UAC settings guidance.
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When an app should run elevated
Elevation is appropriate when an application genuinely needs to change system-wide settings or write to protected locations such as %ProgramFiles%. Microsoft says most desktop applications should run as asInvoker, rather than requesting administrator privileges by default. Unnecessary elevation expands the app’s attack surface and can encourage people to approve prompts without checking them. If only one operation needs extra privileges, Microsoft describes separating that operation into an elevated helper process. Read Running with Administrator Privileges.
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Choose the right launch method
| Method | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Run as administrator | A one-time task that needs elevation under your current account. | The usual UAC authorization flow appears. An administrator account can approve; a standard account needs valid administrator credentials. |
| Run as different user | Launching with a separate administrator account’s credentials. | The app runs as that account, which may affect per-user settings or access to a network share. Some apps do not support this method. |
Microsoft’s compatibility documentation also describes a RUNASADMIN compatibility mode for Windows 8. That is version-specific historical guidance, not a verified click-by-click procedure for Windows 10 or Windows 11. For current use, prefer the one-time prompt unless you have current, app-specific guidance for a persistent setting: Windows 8 Compatibility Cookbook.
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