Elevated Command Prompt - Open in Windows 8

How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 8​

   Information

A command prompt is an entry point for typing computer commands in the Command Prompt window. By typing commands at the command prompt, you can perform tasks on your computer without using the Windows graphical interface.

This tutorial will show you how to open an elevated command prompt that will run as administrator with full administrator rights in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to open an elevated command prompt.

EXAMPLE: Elevated Command Prompt

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OPTION ONE

Open Elevated Command Prompt from Win+X Power Users Tasks Menu

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1. Open the Power User Tasks Menu, and click/tap on Command Prompt (Admin). (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: See also: Power User Tasks Menu - Show Command Prompt or PowerShell​

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OPTION TWO

To "Open Command Prompt Here as administrator"

NOTE: This option allows you to open a command prompt that opens to the location of the selected folder or drive.

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1. In File Explorer, select or open a folder or drive that you want to open the command prompt at that location for, click/tap on the File tab on the Ribbon, and click/tap on Open command prompt as administrator. (see screenshots below)​

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OPTION THREE

Open an Elevated Command Prompt from Task Manager

   Note

If you are signed in as a standard user, then this will open an unelevated command prompt.

If you are signed in as an administrator, then this will open an elevated command prompt.

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1. Open Task Manager with more details.​

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2. Click/tap on File (menu bar), then press and hold the CTRL key and click/tap on Run new task. (see screenshot below)​

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OPTION FOUR

Open an Elevated Command Prompt from Search Apps

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to search for cmd.exe.​

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2. Search for CMD from Start Screen​

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A) While on your Start screen, start typing cmd, and go to step 4 below.​

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3. Search for CMD from Search Apps​

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A) Open the Charms bar, and click/tap on Search, and go to step 4 below.​

NOTE: You could also press the Windows + Q to open Search.​

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4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what Windows 8 you have.​

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5. In Windows 8 or Windows RT, type cmd in the search flyout. (see screenshot below)​

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A) In the search results on the left side, right click or press and hold on Command Prompt, and click/tap on Run as administrator in the application bar at the bottom. (see screenshot below)​

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6. In Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, type cmd in the search flyout, right click or press and hold on Command Prompt in the search results, and click/tap on Run as administrator. (see screenshot below)​

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OPTION FIVE

Open an Elevated Command Prompt from File Explorer

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1. Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer), and navigate to the file below. (see screenshot below)​

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C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe​

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2. Right click or press and hold on cmd.exe, and click/tap on Run as administrator. (see screenshot below)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create an Elevated Command Prompt Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Open a Command Prompt in Windows 8
• How to Open a Command Prompt at Boot in Windows 8
• How to Run a Program as an Administrator in Windows 8
• How to Open an Elevated Windows PowerShell in Windows 8
• A List of All Commands for the Command Prompt in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

There is one more method. In Desktop view On the bottom right hand side of the screen Right click you'll have an option "Command Prompt (Admin)"

 

[whs]

1. Press Win+X (in any window) and you have an admin option in the list
2. Right click on cmd in All Apps and you also get the admin option.

 

[MisterApathy]

Now how do we set it so that it ALWAYS opens as elevated, I am the only user of my home PC, and I trust me I think

 

[Brink]

Hello MisterApathy,

Using OPTION ONE in the tutorial above would be the easiest way to do so, but you could also create an elevated command prompt shortcut using the tutorial below if you like.

Elevated Command Prompt Shortcut - Windows 7 Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[whs]

Here is the way I do it - manually:

a) pin cmd to the taskbar
b) follow the numbers on the pictures

 

[goodiesohhi]

Ummmm.

There is one more method. In Desktop view On the bottom right hand side of the screen Right click you'll have an option "Command Prompt (Admin)"

Ummmmm...... that was the first one.

 

[David Bailey]

I just created a shortcut to cmd.exe in System32 & did the Advanced option for Administrator.---


Elevated Command Prompt Shortcut - Windows 7 Help Forums








Then I put it on the Taskbar---



That's how I did it.

 

[jbuckets4]

Right-click the Start icon in the bottom left-hand corner and select "Command Prompt (Admin)."

 

[Brink]

Right-click the Start icon in the bottom left-hand corner and select "Command Prompt (Admin)."

Yep, that's Option One.

 

[jbuckets4]

Ah! Didn't recognize (nor would I ever even remember) the Win+X key combo or its official name: Power Users Tasks Menu.

Also, Capt. Jack Sparrow seemingly specified the incorrect location to be "the bottom right hand side of the screen," so I wanted to explicitly clear up any remaining confusion for other readers.

 

[Brink]

No problem John.

 

[Phaedra]

OK... You have a different version of W8 as I do not get the option of Administrator by clicking on File in WindowsExplorer. How do I get that choice to show up? It is not there. I can't change my account to Administrator. It's grayed out. I can't seem to do anything with W8. I don't even feel like it's my computer. Why is this? Why these changes that have missing choices or grayed out choices?

This is more confusing now if I have to make a guest account as I have no idea how to turn that into an Admin account.

 

[Phaedra]

Where is the "power task menu" found? I have ClassicShell installed so I can use W8 with less confusion of the tiles.

 

[Brink]

Phaedra,

Have you tried all the options to open an elevated command prompt?

Please post some screenshots showing what you see instead to see if it may help to ID the issue.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html

 

[jbuckets4]

Oops! I have Windows 8.1 Professional.

To confirm that you have at least an Administrator account, goto Control Panel -> User Accounts -> Manage Another Account and look for the word "Administrator" below any of the listed account names.

Ideally, your everyday Windows account ought to be a Standard Account to minimize the chance of malware erasing/ changing your files & registry settings and adding new ones/ installing programs since the Standard Account - by and large - does not have permission to do so.

You most likely - if you have only one account other than Guest - have your everyday account set as an Administrator account. Instead, create a separate Administrator account for making OS changes - typically called Admin - and select a different password along with a helpful tip to recall it. Then change your everyday account to be a Standard Account.

1.) I googled "power task" "windows 8" and found nothing applicable - nor am I aware of any such item - per "power task (menu)" - per Windows 8. Please provide a screenshot of it using the procedure described below. Thx!

"Power Task" sounds almost like configuring a scheduled change in the Performance/ Battery-Save operating mode of the CPU, etc.

2.) Login to your Admin account (or your everyday account if you haven't changed it to the Std type yet), launch (File)/ Windows Explorer, and right-click a folder to provide its list menu. Upload a screenshot using the procedure below.

In the past for WinXP, etc, I had to use the "Power Toys" utility or execute a corresponding .VBS script/ .EXE file that I found on-line at a reputable site in order to effect the "Open Command Prompt" option in said list menu.

3.) Please post a JPEG file of your desktop via login to your Admin account and right-click on Start button in bottom left-hand corner to launch a list menu of administrative options. If the option "Command Prompt" w/ or w/o "(Admin)" does not appear, then press the "Prt Scr" button to save a screenshot to the Clipboard, launch MS Paint, right-click its white square (work area), select "Paste," click File - Save As -> JPEG picture -> "Admin-DT.jpg" <in preferred folder>, close MS Paint, & upload said file to your reply here. Then repeat the process after logging back into your Std account using filename "Std-DT.jpg."

Next, one of us - if not more - will examine the pix and (hopefully) provide a solution!

Best of luck! <Keeping my fingers crossed - lol>

 

[Phaedra]

Thanks. I got help. It was really so simple. It's type COMMAND in the search widow - that brought up a menu with the Admin choice. Can you imagine - all the time I spent on this and it took 2 seconds.

 

[Brink]

Great news Phaedra. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[jbuckets4]

There's always more than one way to skin a cat!!! (Actually, the word "cat" in this usage refers to catfish, not felines....)

 

[whs]

My 5 cents on the subject for 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.

Elevated Command Prompt Shortcut - Windows 7 Help Forums

[video=youtube;sjH2RGAbMvc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjH2RGAbMvc&feature=youtu.be[/video]