How to Enable and Use Sudo in Windows 11

Windows 11 has introduced the sudo command, a powerful feature familiar to Linux users. This command allows you to run programs and commands with elevated privileges, similar to the 'Run as Administrator' option. This guide will show you how to enable and use sudo in Windows 11.

Enabling sudo from the Command Prompt

To enable sudo using the Command Prompt with administrative privileges, follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu icon and select Terminal (admin) to open a terminal window with administrator rights.

Step 2: In the terminal window, type or paste sudo config --enable enable and press Enter.

sudo config --enable enable

This command will enable sudo on your system, allowing you to run commands with elevated privileges directly from the terminal.

Enabling sudo from Windows Settings

You can also enable sudo through the Windows Settings interface. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Ensure your system is running Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26052 or higher. If not, update your system to the latest build.

Step 2: Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.

Step 3: Navigate to System > For Developers in the Settings menu.

Step 4: Find the Enable sudo option and toggle it to On.

Step 5: Click Yes in the confirmation window that appears.

Configuring sudo for Windows

After enabling sudo, you can configure it to suit your needs. There are three configuration options available:

In a New Window (forceNewWindow): Runs commands in a new, elevated window. This is the default setting when enabling sudo from Windows Settings.

Input Closed (disableInput): Executes commands in the current window without accepting input, enhancing security.

Inline (normal): Runs commands in the current window and accepts input. This mode is similar to traditional sudo behavior but may pose security risks. This is the default when enabling sudo from the command prompt.

To change the configuration via the command line, use the following command:

sudo config --enable <configuration_option>

Replace <configuration_option> with forceNewWindow, disableInput, or normal based on your preference.

Using sudo for Windows

With sudo enabled and configured, you can run elevated commands seamlessly.

Step 1: Open your preferred console window, such as Command Prompt or Windows Terminal.

Step 2: Prepend sudo to any command that requires elevated privileges. For example:

sudo netstat -ab

Step 3: A verification prompt may appear. Press Enter to confirm and run the command with elevated privileges according to your configured settings.

Security considerations

Using sudo with the disableInput or inline configurations can present security vulnerabilities. Malicious processes might exploit elevated processes to harm your system. Always exercise caution and ensure you understand the implications of your chosen configuration.

By enabling and configuring sudo in Windows 11, you can efficiently run commands with elevated privileges directly from the terminal, streamlining administrative tasks.

For more advanced features, consider third-party tools like Gerardo Grignoli’s gsudo, which offers additional configuration options.