Elevated Program Shortcut without UAC Prompt - Create

How to Create an Elevated Program Shortcut without a UAC Prompt in Windows​

   Information

This will show you how to create an elevated "Run as administrator" shortcut of any installed program using Task Scheduler so that it will not give you a UAC prompt for permission when you start it while still having UAC turned on in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

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, and the previous Vista version by DMEX.

   Warning

• This shortcut and task can only be created and work while logged in as an administrator account.
• This shortcut will not work in a standard user account.

Here's How:
1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter.
NOTE: This will open Task Scheduler. This file is located at:
C:\Windows\system32\taskschd.msc.

2. While having Task Scheduler Library selected in the left pane, click/tap on Create task in the far right pane. (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 and 14 below.

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

5. Click/tap on the Configure for drop down box to open it, and select Windows® 7, Windows Server™ 2008 R2 or the Windows you are currently in. (see screenshot above and below)
NOTE: This is like compatibility mode. If the program does not support running in Windows 7 normally, then you can select the OS that is does support running in instead to have it run in compatibility mode as if it was running in that OS instead of Windows 7.

6. Click/tap on the Actions tab, then on the New button. (see screenshot below)

7. In the Program/script: box in the Actions tab, copy and paste the path below. (see screenshot below step 9)
NOTE: Thank you to chillz for the updated steps 7 and 8.
%windir%\System32\cmd.exe
8. In the Add arguments (optional): box in the Actions tab, type in the argument below. (see screenshot below step 9)

NOTE: Substitute Task Name in the argument below with the name you entered in step 3 (ex: CCleaner) within quotes, and substitute Full Path of Program in the argument below with the actual full path of the program's .exe file within quote.
/c start "Task Name" "Full Path of Program"


For example:

/c start "CCleaner" "C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner64.exe"

9. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

10. Click/tap on the Conditions tab, and uncheck the Stop if the computer switches to battery power box first, then uncheck the Start the task only if the computer is on AC power box. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: This step is mostly for laptops, so that you will be able to run the program when the laptop is running on battery power.




11. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshots above)

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

13. Right click or press and hold on an empty area of your desktop, then click/tap on New and Shortcut.

14. Type in the target below for the location field, then click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Subsitute task-name in the target with the name (ex: CCleaner) within quotes that you used in step 3.
schtasks /run /tn "task-name"

For example: For my task name CCleaner I used from step 3, I would type:
schtasks /run /tn "CCleaner"

15. Type in a name you want for the shortcut (ex: CCleaner), then click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)

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

17. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, and on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)

18. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

19. Click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshot below)

20. Navigate to the .exe file of the program that you have created this shortcut with, select it, and click/tap 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.

21. Select the icon you want for the shortcut, then click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

22. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

23. You can now use this elevated shortcut to run at startup in your "Startup" folder, run at startup as a task, Pin to Start Menu, Pin to Taskbar, assign a keyboard shortcut, or move to where you like for easy use.

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

   Tip

To Undo and Remove this Task:

• While having Task Scheduler Library selected in the left pane, right click on the task in the right pane that you created in step 12, then click on Delete and Yes to approve.
• Delete the shortcut.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Set Priority Level for Applications and Processes in Windows 7
• How to Run a Program as an Administrator in Windows 7
• How to See if Process is running as administrator (elevated) in Vista and Windows 7
• How to See if Process is running as administrator (elevated) in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create an Elevated Command Prompt Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create an Elevated Windows 7 Task Manager Shortcut
• How to Change UAC Notification Settings in Windows 7
• How to Create a Task to Run a Program at Startup and Log On in Windows 7
• Enable or Disable the User Account Control (UAC) Blacking Out of Screen in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Elevate All Administrator Accounts UAC Privilege Level
• How to Add "Run as administrator" to VBS File Context Menu
• How to Add "Run as administrator" to MSI File Context Menu
• How to Require Users to Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to Approve UAC Elevation
• How to Create an Elevated Program Shortcut a Standard User is able to Run in Windows 7
• How to Change Behavior of User Account Control (UAC) Prompt for Standard Users
• How to Display a Message Reminder in Windows with Task Scheduler

 

[Brink]

Hello Kimsland, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, DMEX and I work together alot on some things. He has been noted for pointing this out.

That's pretty scary that it would be that easy for malware to bypass UAC with a script like that though.

I hope that you will be able to get Windows 7 soon as well.

 

[kimsland]

I hope that you will be able to get Windows 7 soon as well.

Thanks for the reply

Yes I do too. But with Chris Green displaying his Roadmap draft, I might just wait for Windows 8
But that discussion would be off topic

 

[Brink]

True, but I suspect Windows 8 may be a few years off for it.

 

[nelsonm]

Wow! how in the h-ll did you figure that procedure out!

You'd think that Microsoft would just provide a switch in the programs' properties or in program compatibility panel to just bypass UAC.

In any case, i don't think that would work in my case since when the program installs, it sets itself up to automatically run after account login. I would have to substitute the executable for the shortcut in the registry somewhere i think.

I guess i could delete the entry in the registry and then place the shortcut into the account startup folder.

Now that i think about it, wouldn't it easier just to elevate the programs' priority in the registry?

 

[Brink]

Hello Nelson, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might be able to elevate the program in the registry, but it will still not run at startup without getting a UAC approval pop-up unless it's a task like in this tutorial instead.

 

[BrainFreeze]

@Brink

Is there a way to get the shortcut I made to allow me to double-click a music file and have it open Winamp that way without asking for the UAC? The shortcut opens Winamp fine if I double-click on the new shortcut, but if I try to associate the mp3 files with it, it opens the command prompt box for a second, and then nothing opens.

 

[Brink]

Hello BrainFreeze,

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[BrainFreeze]

Hello BrainFreeze,

Not that I'm aware of.

Figures my luck would be that way. Thanks for getting back to me.

 

[MadMaxData]

@Brink

Is there a way to get the shortcut I made to allow me to double-click a music file and have it open Winamp that way without asking for the UAC? The shortcut opens Winamp fine if I double-click on the new shortcut, but if I try to associate the mp3 files with it, it opens the command prompt box for a second, and then nothing opens.

That's odd. Do you have WinAmp set as your default media player?

Also, if you want to right click a music file, and have WinAmp open it, you can add a shortcut to the right click context menu for that function.

 

[BrainFreeze]

That's odd. Do you have WinAmp set as your default media player?

Also, if you want to right click a music file, and have WinAmp open it, you can add a shortcut to the right click context menu for that function.

Yep. I have Winamp set as my default for all of my audio files. Do you know of a way to get it to let me double-click on the mp3 where it opens it using that UAC shortcut? :huh:

 

[MadMaxData]

Yep. I have Winamp set as my default for all of my audio files. Do you know of a way to get it to let me double-click on the mp3 where it opens it using that UAC shortcut? :huh:

Not right off hand. I've always used WMP as my default player. I'm sure there's a way to do it though. You'll just have to navigate around and find the proper setting. If you already have WinAmp set as your default player, I'm surprised you get a UAC prompt. Have you already gone into the WinAmp settings? Make sure your MP3 file settings have WinAmp as the default program to open them.

 

[BrainFreeze]

Not right off hand. I've always used WMP as my default player. I'm sure there's a way to do it though. You'll just have to navigate around and find the proper setting. If you already have WinAmp set as your default player, I'm surprised you get a UAC prompt. Have you already gone into the WinAmp settings? Make sure your MP3 file settings have WinAmp as the default program to open them.

LOL I've checked that info numerous times, but it's set as default.

 

[Hau]

Thanks.. it works.
but i have a question.
i have a program with a UAC prompt too, but a little bit different.
the UAC propmt come out with yellow colour. and at the shortcut, there was a shield like the shield at parental control's shield.
i tried using this way, but cant works.
an error message come out.
"Could not start War3.exe! Make sure the loader is in your Warcraft install directory"
Can u help me??

 

[Brink]

Hello Hau,

Does the game run normally? If yes, then double check to make sure that you are using the same correct EXE file or shortcut that you normally use to run the game with.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Hau]

yes... i can play it with the EXE file. but there is an UAC prompt with a little bit different, like i said before.
when i use the shortcut, i cannt be run.
any help?

 

[Brink]

Hau,

You may not be able to with that program/game.

 

[Hau]

so there is no way for game?

 

[Brink]

For that specific game it seems not to be.

 

[MadMaxData]

Hey guys, I run MSI Afterburner to control my GFX card fan speed. It needs to run right at startup, but I can't get it to elevate so I don't get the UAC prompt every time I fire up my rig. Has anyone successfully elevated MSI Afterburner? If so, how did you do it...specifically?

A shortcut isn't much help because I need it to elevate automatically, right at startup. It's a real pain in the ass having to click on the UAC every single time I fire up my rig.

 

[Brink]

Hello Max,

You might see if you may be able to do this with MSI Afterburner instead to have it run at startup without the UAC prompt.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/67503-task-create-run-program-startup-log.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn