Use Windows Key+R to quickly launch apps as administrator

Press Windows key + R, type the program's name, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter instead of Enter, and Windows launches it as administrator after you approve the User Account Control prompt.

This guide covers the exact steps, Run commands worth knowing, faster routes for pinned apps and Windows Terminal, how to confirm a program is elevated, and when running as administrator is a bad idea.

Launching Applications As Administrator

Microsoft added this to the Run dialog in Windows 10 Insider build 16362 in 2017: hold Ctrl + Shift and press Enter or select OK, and the task runs elevated.

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type the program or command, for example cmd.
3. Hold Ctrl + Shift and press Enter. Or hold Ctrl + Shift and select OK.
4. Select Yes on the User Account Control prompt. A standard user enters an administrator's password instead.
5. Work in the program; it now runs with the administrator access token.

Pressing Enter alone opens the same program with standard rights. The UAC prompt is the sign the shortcut worked.

The Magic of Windows Key + R

Windows key + R opens the Run dialog box, a single text box that starts any program, console or folder by name. These commands come from Microsoft's own Windows documentation.

Type this in Run	It opens	Worth running as administrator?
cmd	Command Prompt	Yes, for system commands such as DISM or SFC
powershell	Windows PowerShell	Yes, for system cmdlets and feature changes
regedit	Registry Editor	It asks for administrator credentials anyway
compmgmt.msc	Computer Management	Yes, for disks, services and local users
eventvwr.msc	Event Viewer	Not usually; open it normally to read logs
secpol.msc	Local Security Policy	Yes, policy changes need it
control	Control Panel	No, items elevate on their own when needed
SystemPropertiesAdvanced	Advanced System Properties	Changes prompt when needed
winver.exe	About Windows (version and build)	No

Understanding Administrator Rights

When an administrator signs in, Windows creates two access tokens. Programs start with the standard token unless you elevate them, and UAC asks for approval before the administrator token is used.

Term	What it means
Standard user access token	Same identity, but administrative privileges and SIDs removed; used for everyday apps
Administrator access token	Full rights; used only after approval for tasks that change the system
Admin Approval Mode	How administrator accounts run by default: standard token first, elevation on approval
Consent prompt	The Yes/No prompt an administrator sees
Credential prompt	The prompt for an administrator's password that a standard user sees
Child processes	Inherit the parent's token, so tools started from an elevated Command Prompt are elevated too

Microsoft recommends using a standard user account day to day and entering administrator credentials only when a task needs them.

Which elevation shortcut should you use?

Your situation	Use this	Why
You know the program or command name	Windows key + R, then Ctrl + Shift + Enter	Works for any program on the PATH or with a full path
The app is pinned to the taskbar	Ctrl + Shift + click its taskbar icon	One click, no typing
The pinned app is in a known position	Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + number (1-9, 0)	Opens a new elevated instance from the keyboard
You always need an elevated terminal	Windows Terminal profile set to run as Administrator	Every launch of that profile is elevated
You only need to change one setting	Open the tool normally	Shield-marked buttons ask for elevation by themselves

Open a pinned app as administrator from the taskbar

For tools you use every day, pin them once and skip typing. These taskbar shortcuts are listed in Microsoft's Windows keyboard shortcut reference.

1. Pin the app to the taskbar if it is not there already.
2. Hold Ctrl + Shift and select the app's taskbar icon to open it as administrator.
3. Or count the app's position from the left of the pinned icons and press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + that number.
4. Select Yes on the UAC prompt.

Make Windows Terminal always open as administrator

Power users who live in the command line can set a Windows Terminal profile to start elevated every time.

1. Open Windows Terminal and open its Settings.
2. Select the profile you want, such as Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell.
3. Turn on the profile's run-as-Administrator option, or add "elevate": true to the profile in settings.json.
4. Save, then open the profile; it starts in a new elevated window after the UAC prompt.

Elevated and non-elevated tabs cannot share one Terminal window, so an elevated profile always opens its own window when launched from a normal one.

How to check an app is running as administrator

1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Select the Details tab.
3. If there is no Elevated column, right-click a column header, choose Select columns and tick Elevated.
4. Find the program's .exe in the list. Yes in the Elevated column means it runs as administrator; No means standard rights.

Benefits of Using the Run Dialog

Benefit	What it saves you
Speed and convenience	One shortcut, a short name and a key press replace searching Start and right-clicking
Works with no mouse	Every step is on the keyboard
Reaches tools with no Start entry	Consoles such as secpol.msc or compmgmt.msc open by name
Reduced clutter	No extra desktop shortcuts needed for occasional admin tools
Same trick for standard launches	Press Enter alone when you do not need elevation

Potential Pitfalls of Running Apps As Administrator

Risk	Why it matters	What to do
Security risks	UAC exists to stop malicious code from running with administrator privileges	Elevate only programs you trust and only for the task that needs it
System integrity	Elevated programs can change system files, services and the registry	Close the elevated window as soon as the task is done
Elevated children	Anything you start from an elevated window inherits its rights	Do not browse or open downloads from an elevated console
It does not bypass the UAC prompt	Ctrl + Shift + Enter requests elevation; it does not skip approval	Treat an unexpected UAC prompt as a warning, not an annoyance
UAC alterations	Microsoft does not recommend the Never notify (Disable UAC) level	Keep the default level or raise it to Always notify
Some apps do not support elevation	Microsoft notes OneDrive running elevated is not supported and loses File Explorer menu items	Run cloud sync and everyday apps normally

Additional Tips for Effective Use

Customize User Account Control settings only to make prompts stricter. These steps show where the setting lives.

1. Press Windows key + R, type control and press Enter.
2. Select System and Security, then Change User Account Control settings.
3. Keep the default, Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer, or move the slider up to Always notify.
4. Select OK to save.

Use Task Manager for quick checks of what is elevated, and use a standard account for daily work so that every elevation is a deliberate choice.

Frequently asked questions

What is Windows key + R?

Windows key + R is the keyboard shortcut that opens the Run dialog box in Windows. You type a program, command, folder or website into it and press Enter to open it, or press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open a program as administrator.

What does Windows key + R open?

It opens the Run dialog box, a small window with a single text field. Microsoft lists Windows key + R in its Windows keyboard shortcut reference as the shortcut that opens the Run dialog.

How do I press Windows key + R?

Hold down the Windows logo key, the key printed with the Windows symbol, then tap R and release both keys. The Run dialog box opens, ready for you to type a command.

What key is Win in Win + R?

Win is the Windows logo key, the key printed with the Windows symbol on Windows keyboards. Shortcut lists write it as Win, Windows key or show the Windows logo, so Win + R means that key plus R.

How do I run a command as administrator from the Run box?

Type the command in the Run box, then hold Ctrl + Shift and press Enter, or hold Ctrl + Shift and select OK. Approve the User Account Control prompt and the program opens with administrator rights.

Does Ctrl + Shift + Enter bypass User Account Control?

No. Ctrl + Shift + Enter asks Windows to elevate the program, and UAC still shows its prompt. An administrator selects Yes, while a standard user must type an administrator's password before the program starts.

How can I tell whether a program is running as administrator?

Open Task Manager, select the Details tab and add the Elevated column by right-clicking a column header and choosing Select columns. Yes in that column means the process runs as administrator.