Windows 11 Command Prompt is an application that allows you to run programs and change settings by typing commands into a window.
Compared to similar Windows GUI features, command-line applications that are launched from the command line usually provide more options and fine-grained functionality when performing a task.
For example, you can copy folders and files, run PowerShell scripts, or even query specific network and computer configuration information from the command line.
When you open a command prompt, any command you run will run with the security rights of the logged in user. Therefore, if you try to run a command line program that requires administrator privileges, you will not be able to do so and you will be shown an “Access Denied” message or other error as shown below.
However, it is possible to open a command prompt with administrator rights, which will allow you to execute any command you wish, which we can explain below.
How to run Windows 11 Administrator Command Prompt
In order to open the Windows 11 command prompt with administrator rights, you need to open the command prompt in a certain way.
First, click the start menu and type team in the search box. Then when the “Command Prompt” search result is displayed, right-click it and select Run as administrator, as shown below.
When you choose Run as administratorWindows 11 will display a User Account Control prompt asking if you want Windows Shell to make changes to your device.
In this prompt, click the button Yes button.
User Account Control prompt
After you click the Yes button, the Windows 11 Administrator Command Prompt will open.
You can tell that Command Prompt is running as administrator because the window title will say “Administrator: Command Prompt” and you will be in the C:\Windows\System32 directory as shown below.
As we noted earlier, the admin command prompt will run in the C:\Windows\System32 folder, not in your user profile (C:\Users\[account_name]).
Since this is a very sensitive folder with files that are necessary for Windows to function properly, it is recommended that you go to your user profile instead.
To do this, enter cd %userprofile% and press enter key on the keyboard.
In this elevated command prompt, you can now run programs or access files that require administrative privileges.
You can read our Introduction to the Windows Command Prompt guide for more information about the Command Prompt and how you can use it.