How to open command prompt as administrator on Windows

By default, the Windows Command Prompt launches without elevated permissions, even when the user is in the Administrator group. This limitation often triggers “System error 5” or “Access is denied” messages when executing tasks that require administrative privileges. Running commands like creating new users or modifying system settings can fail if the console is not elevated.

C:\Users\user>net user newuser /add
System error 5 has occurred.
Access is denied.

Elevated privileges allow the Command Prompt to perform sensitive operations, such as configuring system parameters or installing software. Restricting these privileges by default helps maintain security, preventing unintended or malicious changes. Without this elevated mode, commands requiring full rights will be blocked.

Enabling administrative mode bypasses these restrictions, allowing you to run critical commands without encountering access-denied errors. This option must be explicitly invoked to reduce the risk of unauthorized system modifications.

1. Make sure your user has Administrator privilege.
2. Search for command prompt on the search bar.
3. Right click on Command Prompt.
4. Select Run as administrator from the context menu.
5. Click Yes on the User Account Control window to allow Command Prompt to run with administrator privilege.
6. Execute the required commands in the elevated Command Prompt window.