Windows 7 - User Account Control (UAC) - Change Prompt Behavior for Standard Users

   Information

This will show you how to change the behavior of the User Account Control (UAC) elevation prompt for standard users in Vista and Windows 7.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

Description of Options:

• Prompt for credentials - When an operation or program requires elevation of privilege, the standard user is prompted by UAC to enter an administrator's user name and password before it is allowed.
• Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop - When an operation or program requires elevation of privilege, the standard user is prompted by UAC on the secure desktop to enter an administrator's user name and password before it is allowed.
• Automatically deny elevation requests - When an operation or program requires elevation of privilege, the standard user will only get a access denied message and will not be prompted by UAC.

1. Open the Local Security Policy editor.

2. In the left pane, expand Local Policies, and click on Security Options. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane of Security Options, double click on User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users. (see screenshot above)

4. Select the behavior you want for the UAC elevation prompt for standard users, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The default setting is Prompt for credentials. See the blue note box at the top of the tutorial for a description of each setting.

5. Close the Local Security Policy editor.

1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like the behavior of the UAC elevation prompt for standard users to be.

2. To Have UAC "Prompt for credentials" for Standard Users
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Users-UAC_Prompt-for-credentials.reg

B) Go to step 5.

3. To Have UAC "Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop" for Standard Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Users-UAC_Prompt-for-credentials-on-secure-desktop.reg

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Have UAC "Automatically deny elevation requests" for Standard Users

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Users-UAC_Automatically-deny-elevation-requests.reg

B) Go to step 5.

5. Click on Save the .reg file to your Desktop.

6. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

7. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

9. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.