Windows 7 - Elevated Program Shortcut without UAC Prompt - Create

**Brink**

How to Create a Elevated Program Shortcut without a UAC Prompt

Information

This will show you how to create a elevated "Run as administrator" shortcut of any installed program in Windows using Task Schedular so that it will not give you a UAC prompt for permission when you start it while still having UAC turned on.

In the tutorial, you will first create a new task, then a new shortcut to run the task. Afterwards, how to change the icon of the shortcut.

Note

Special thanks to OEM for pointing this out.

Warning

This shortcut and task can only be created in a administrator account.

RELATED LINKS:

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Here's How:

1. Open the Start Menu, then type taskschd.msc in the search line and press enter.
NOTE: This will open Task Scheduler. This file is located at:
C:\Windows\system32\taskschd.msc.

2. In the far right pane, click on Create task. (See screenshot below)

3. Under the General tab, type in the "Name" of the program you want to create this shortcut for. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will be the name of the task. As an example, I will use CCleaner for that program. Make note of this name, you will need it later in step 12 below.

4. Check the Run with highest privileges box. (See screenshot below)

5. Click on the Actions tab, then on the New button. (See screenshot below)

6. Under "Action", select Start a program and click on the Browse button. (See screenshot below)

7. Navigate to the .exe file of the program that you want to create this shortcut for, then select it and click on Open. (See screenshot below)

8. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

9. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

10. You will now see your new task created with the name (ex: CCleaner) you gave it in step 3. Close Task Schedular. (See screenshot below)

11. Right click on a empty area of the desktop, then click on New and Shortcut.

12. Type in schtasks /run /tn task-name for the location, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below tip)

Tip

Subsitute task-name with the name that you used in step 3 and see in step 10 (ex: CCleaner).

For a Name without Spaces - For example, type:
schtasks /run /tn CCleaner

For a Name with Spaces - You will need to have quotes around the name if it has spaces. For example, type:
schtasks /run /tn "Cleaner Program"

13. Type in a name you want for the shortcut (ex: CCleaner), then click on the Finish button. (See screenshot below)

14. Right click on the new shortcut (ex: CCleaner) on the desktop, then click on Properties.

15. Click on the Shortcut tab and on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below)

16. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

17. Click on the Browse button. (See screenshot below)

18. Navigate to the .exe file of the program that you have created this shortcut with, then select it and click on Open. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you have a icon of your own that you would prefer to use instead, then navigate to where you have that icon saved at instead.

19. Select the icon you want for the shortcut, then click on OK. (See screenshot below)

20. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

21. Move the shortcut to where you like for easy use.

22. When you run this new elevated shortcut, you will now no longer have to click on YES to approve the UAC prompt to allow the program run as administrator.

Tip

To Undo This:
Right click on the task in step 10, then click on Delete and Yes to approve.

Delete shortcut.

That's it,
Shawn

**OEM** · 06-04-2009

As always, very well done Shawn, tutorial is easy to read and understand.

This makes working with programs requiring a uac prompt that you trust a pleasure to run again, while keeping the security offered by the uac on and intact.

Note: Also works on Vista.

Thanks Shawn for this and All your contributions here on the greatest forum for Windows Windows 7.

**Brink** · 06-04-2009

You're welcome OEM.

Thank you,
Shawn

Axematic · 06-08-2009

It doesn't works for me! I tryed everything but it was worthless.
Im running windows 7 RC.

**Brink** · 06-08-2009

Hello Axematic,

What program are you trying this with, and did you select the correct .exe file?

Axematic · 06-08-2009

Hello Brink!
Im trying this for CCleaner. I browsed to .exe file and added a task to task scheduler. Even i am able to start it directly from scheduler(right click and run) but shortcut on my desktop doesn't starts a CCleaner. Maybe im doing something wrong?
I used this as shortcut target: schtasks /run /tn CCleaner

**Brink** · 06-08-2009

Are you doing this in an administrator account?

You might delete this to undo it, then start over. Double check through each step carefully. You may have just made a simple mistake somewhere.

Please let us know how it went.

**Brink** · 06-09-2009

Hello Axematic,

I'm just checking in to see if you were able to get to work for you.

Axematic · 06-09-2009

Success Brink!!!
It works perfectly now! But i didn't find my mistake. I tryed all steps again 100% the same as above, and it worked. Cmd pop-ups and scheduled program runs.
And yes, im doing this as administrator!
And finally thanks!

i hate UAC sometimes, but i dnt want to turn it off!
Sorry if my english was bad, it's foreign language for me.

**Brink** · 06-09-2009

Axematic, I'm happy to hear that you got it working. Thank you for posting back.