The Command Prompt in Windows 11 is a powerful tool that allows users to execute commands and perform advanced administrative tasks. While it's often sufficient to run it with standard permissions, certain operations require elevated privileges. This guide will walk you through several methods to open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator from the Search Menu

One of the quickest ways to launch Command Prompt with administrative rights is through the Search menu. This method is straightforward and accessible from any screen.

  1. Click on the Search icon located on the taskbar.
  2. Type cmd or command prompt into the search bar.
  3. In the search results, right-click on the Command Prompt app and select Run as administrator.

Alternatively, you can click on Run as administrator on the right pane of the search results.

  1. If prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant permissions.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator from the Start Menu

Accessing Command Prompt via the Start Menu is another simple method, especially if you pin it for quick access.

  1. Click on the Search icon on the taskbar.
  2. Type cmd or command prompt in the search bar.
  3. Right-click on the Command Prompt app and select Pin to Start.
  1. Open the Start Menu and locate the Command Prompt tile.
  2. Right-click on the Command Prompt tile and choose Run as administrator.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator from the Power User Menu

The Power User Menu provides quick access to essential system tools, including Command Prompt.

  1. Right-click on the Start Menu icon or press Windows + X on your keyboard.
  2. Select Windows Terminal (Admin) from the menu.

Confirm any prompts by clicking Yes in the UAC dialog.

  1. In the Windows Terminal window, click the down arrow (˅) next to the plus sign.
  2. Select Command Prompt to open it in a new tab.

You can also press Ctrl + Shift + 2 to open Command Prompt directly in Windows Terminal.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator from Task Manager

If you need to open Command Prompt while troubleshooting, using Task Manager can be especially convenient.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on File in the top-left corner and select Run new task.
  1. In the Create new task window, type cmd in the field.
  2. Check the box that says Create this task with administrative privileges.
  3. Click OK to launch Command Prompt as an administrator.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator from Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal serves as a hub for various command-line tools, making it easy to access Command Prompt with elevated privileges.

  1. Click on the Start Menu icon.
  2. Scroll to find Windows Terminal or search for it.
  3. Right-click on Windows Terminal and select Run as administrator.

If you don't see Windows Terminal in the Start Menu:

  1. Click on All apps in the Start Menu.
  2. Navigate to the W section and find Windows Terminal.
  3. Right-click on it, hover over More, and choose Run as administrator.

Confirm any prompts by clicking Yes in the UAC dialog.

  1. In Windows Terminal, click the down arrow (˅) next to the plus sign.
  2. Select Command Prompt to open it in a new tab.

You can also use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + 2 within Windows Terminal to open Command Prompt.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator from File Explorer

You can launch Command Prompt directly from File Explorer if you're already navigating through your files.

  1. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E or clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar.
  2. In the address bar, type system32 and press Enter to navigate to the System32 directory.
  1. Scroll down to find cmd.exe.
  2. Right-click on cmd.exe and select Run as administrator.

Confirm any prompts by clicking Yes in the UAC dialog.

By using any of these methods, you can easily access the Command Prompt with administrative privileges on Windows 11. This allows you to perform advanced tasks and system changes that require elevated permissions.