You have found our guide because you can’t run cmd as an administrator on Windows 11. We have compiled all effective solutions for you in this comprehensive guide. The Windows 11 Command Prompt is a text-based interface that lets you interact with the operating system using text-based commands.
You may use it to troubleshoot issues, execute commands, or perform other advanced tasks. However, you must run cmd as an administrator to perform specific tasks. Let us introduce you to some causes and fixes when this function is not working.
Why Can’t I Run the Command Prompt as Administrator on Windows 11?
When you can not run cmd as an administrator on Windows 11, it may be due to any of the following:
- You have a minor glitch in your operating system.
- The user account you used to perform the function is corrupted.
- Some applications are causing conflicts on your computer.
- The computer may have system file corruption in some essential files.
To fix the problem, you may try the fixes below.
What Can I Do if I Can’t Run the Command Prompt as Administrator on Windows 11?
1. Restart your Device
It may be a sign of a minor system glitch when you can’t run cmd as an administrator. It would be best if you started with a simple computer restart.
A restart can force processes that trigger the glitch to shut down, which will be strong enough to fix the problem.
2. Run Command Prompt as Administrator from A Desktop Shortcut
An alternative to running the command prompt as an administrator is running it from a desktop shortcut. To do so, follow the steps below to create a run as an admin shortcut for the command prompt.
1. Right-click your desktop and click New and Shortcut.
2. Type the path below in the text field and click Next.
C:WINDOWSsystem32cmd.exe
3. Name your shortcut ‘Command Prompt Run as Admin’ and click Finish.
4. Right-click the newly created shortcut and click Properties.
5. Click the Advanced button, then check ‘Run as Administrator’ on the resulting page, and click OK.
6. Click Apply and OK.
3. Create a New User Profile or Account
Creating a new profile will also be effective when you can’t run cmd as administrator on Windows 11. This is because your old user account or profile may be corrupted. To create a new profile, follow the steps below.
1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings App.
2. Click the Accounts option on the left pane, then on the right, click Other users.
3. Click the Add account button.
4. Click the I don’t have this person’s sign-in information option.
5. Click the Add user without a Microsoft account option.
6. Fill out the form with your desired username and password, then click next.
7. Click Change account type for the newly created account.
8. Select Administrator and click OK.
4. Restore your Computer
Restoring the computer using the System Restore utility is an effective way to fix the Command prompt problem. When you use the System Restore utility, your computer is returned to its previous state. If the error did not exist at the time you are returned to, then you should no longer experience trouble opening Command Prompt as an administrator.
1. Type restore on Windows Search and select the Recovery option.
2. Click the Open System Restore option on the Control Panel.
3. Select Choose a different restore point and click the Next button.
4. Select a restore point from the available options and click Next.
5. Lastly, click the Finish button. The process will begin, and your computer may restart as the restore runs.
5. Run DISM and SFC Scans
On Windows 11, you may use the DISM and SFC scans to fix corruption with the Windows image as well as system files. This is a valid fix because the corruption may make it impossible to run cmd as an administrator.
1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run dialog.
2. Type cmd and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt.
4. Scan for Image errors by typing the command below and hitting Enter.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
5. Fix all corruption by running the command below.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
6. Run the command below to initiate the SFC scan and restart the computer when the scan is complete.
sfc /scannow
6. Update Windows
Outdated Windows components will often trigger errors while you are using your computer. One such error is the inability to run cmd as administrator Windows 11. You should update the computer using the steps below.
1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click the Windows Update option in the left pane, then on the right, click Check for updates.
3. Download and install any available updates.
7. Boot In Safe Mode
Starting the computer in Safe Mode ensures only the essential components and services are running on your computer. We recommend booting in Safe Mode to isolate elements that trigger the Command Prompt issue.
Restoring Perfect Functionality to the Command Prompt
This is as much as we cover in this guide. You can run cmd as an administrator with the steps we have explored. We would love to hear from you if you have any further questions. Please reach out to us in the comment section below.