By default, when you open File Explorer in Windows, it opens with normal privileges. If you sign into Windows as an administrator, then File Explorer will open with administrative privileges. But in a typical environment, no one ever logs in as an administrator. If you’re not signed in as an administrator but want to open the File Explorer with administrator’s privileges, the steps below will show you how to do that. To run programs or services as an administrator, your account must be a member of the administrator’s group. By default, the first account created when you installed Windows is automatically added to the administrator group.
How to open File Explorer in Windows as an administrator
As mentioned above, users can open File Explorer with administrative privileges. Since File Explorer opens with standard privileges, use the steps below will open it as administrator. To do that, first open File Explorer from the Taskbar or press the Windows + E keys on your keyboard. Then browse to the C:\Windows folder, locate the explorer app, then right-click and select Run as administrator. A new File Explorer window will be open with administrator privileges. Another way to run File Explorer as an administrator is open the Task Manager in Windows and run File Explorer as a task from there. First, open the Task Manager in Windows 11. Then select More details if presented. Next, click File ==> Run a new task as highlighted below. On the pop-up window that opens, check the box that reads “Create this task with administrative privileges” then types the commands below inside the box and press the ENTER key. When you press the ENTER key, a new File Explorer window will open with administrator privileges. That should do it! Conclusion: This post showed you how to run File Explorer in Windows 11 as an administrator. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
