Many Windows system operations and development tasks require elevated privileges. While most users know the right-click "Run as administrator" method, developers often need programmatic ways to achieve this - especially when automating scripts or working in CI/CD pipelines.

The most straightforward approach is using the built-in runas command:

runas /user:Administrator "cmd.exe"

You'll be prompted for the administrator password. For domain environments:

runas /user:DOMAIN\AdminAccount "cmd.exe"

Create a shortcut with these properties:

Target: %windir%\system32\cmd.exe
Advanced Properties: Run as administrator

You can then launch this shortcut from command line:

start "" "Path\to\your\shortcut.lnk"

From PowerShell, you can start an elevated session:

Start-Process cmd -Verb runAs

This will trigger the UAC prompt if not already elevated.

For automated scripts, create a scheduled task with highest privileges:

schtasks /create /tn "AdminTask" /tr "cmd.exe" /sc ONCE /st 00:00 /ru Administrator /rl HIGHEST

Then run it immediately:

schtasks /run /tn "AdminTask"

Always be cautious when working with elevated privileges:

• Never store admin passwords in plaintext
• Use the principle of least privilege
• Consider using Just Enough Administration (JEA) in enterprise environments

If you encounter "Access is denied" errors:

1. Verify your user account has permission to elevate
2. Check UAC settings (shouldn't be set to "Never notify")
3. In domain environments, ensure proper group policy settings

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When working with sensitive system operations in Windows, you'll often need administrator privileges. While the right-click "Run as administrator" method works, true power users prefer CLI solutions.

The most straightforward method is using the built-in runas command:

runas /user:Administrator "cmd.exe"

You'll be prompted for the administrator password. For domain environments, use:

runas /user:DOMAIN\AdminAccount "cmd.exe"

For modern systems, PowerShell offers more flexible options. This creates a new elevated session:

Start-Process powershell -Verb runAs

To run a specific command with elevation:

Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList "/c your_command" -Verb runAs

For frequent elevated access without password prompts, create a scheduled task:

schtasks /create /tn "AdminCmd" /tr "cmd.exe" /sc onlogon /ru Administrator /rl highest

Then trigger it when needed:

schtasks /run /tn "AdminCmd"

Always remember:

• Avoid storing plaintext passwords in scripts
• Minimize time spent in elevated sessions
• Consider using Just Enough Administration (JEA) for enterprise environments

If elevation fails:

1. Verify User Account Control (UAC) settings
2. Check administrator account status: net user administrator /active:yes
3. Ensure the command syntax is correct