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20.2. Opening an Administrative Command Prompt

Disponible en español: Abrir el Símbolo del Sistema cmd (Command Prompt)

Certain tasks need to be done in an administrative command prompt (sometimes called an elevated command prompt). This article explains how to open the command prompt with administrative privilege in various versions of Windows.

In all versions of Windows, there are multiple ways to open a command prompt. If you already have a favorite method, feel free to use that instead of our suggestions here; just verify that the word Administrator appears in the title bar of the new command-prompt window.

Windows 10:

Right-click on the Start button, and select Command Prompt (Admin). If you get a permission prompt, click Yes.

If your right-click menu doesn't include Command Prompt (Admin), then LEFT-click the Start button and type "cmd" (without quotes). The results should include "Command Prompt". Right-click that result and select Run as Administrator.

Windows 8.1:

Right-click on the Start button, and select Command Prompt (Admin). If you get a permission prompt, click Yes.

Windows 8:

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Click File » Run New Task. In the dialog, type cmd and check (tick) the box "Create this task with administrative privileges", then click OK.

Windows 7 (or Classic Shell in later Windows):

Click the Start button. In the Search programs and files box that appears just above it, type cmd. In the results, above the search window, right-click cmd and select Run as administrator. If a User Account Control prompt pops up, click Yes.

Windows XP:

Click the Start button, then select All Programs » Accessories. In the resulting program list, right-click Command Prompt and select Run As .... The Run As window will be set up differently depending on your account privileges, but it should be clear what you need to do to run as an administrator. Remember, verify that the word Administrator appears in the title bar of the new command-prompt window.

Last edited: 2018-07-16

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