The Management Console can be opened in many ways. However, these methods only allow you to open these .MSC files as a regular user and not with administrative privileges. Having administrative rights while using these consoles allows you to perform certain administrative tasks, which you cannot if you are logged in from a standard user account. Today we are going to discuss how you can open the Microsoft Management Consoles as an administrator. There are 3 methods to do so:
Using either the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell with administrative rights.Using File Explorer to run .MSC file as an administrator.Creating a desktop shortcut.
How to Run Microsoft Management Consoles as Administrator
From Elevated Command Line
Opening MSC files the conventional way will always open them in normal mode. However, if you open them from an elevated Command Prompt or an elevated PowerShell, the consoles will also open with elevated rights. Here is how to use the Windows Command Line Interface (CLI) to open an MMC with administrative privileges: The .MSC file will now open with elevated rights, allowing you to perform administrative tasks.
Using File Explorer
.MSC files associated with the MMCs are located at the following location: These can be accessed using Windows Explorer and then run with administrative rights. Here is how: The .MSC file will now open with elevated rights.
Creating Shortcut
You can also create a shortcut on your desktop for the .MSC file, and then configure that shortcut to always run with administrative rights. Follow the steps given below to use a shortcut to instantly run MMCs as an administrator: You can now double-click the shortcut on your desktop to run the MMC with administrative privileges.
How to Run Gpedit.msc as Administrator
To run a Group Policy Editor with administrative rights, perform these steps: The Group Policy Editor will now be open with elevated privileges.
How to Run Services.msc as Administrator
To run the Services Console with administrative rights, perform these steps: The Group Policy Editor will now be open with elevated privileges.
How to Run Diskmgmt.msc as Administrator
To launch the Disk Management Console with administrative rights, perform these steps: The Disk Management Console will now open with elevated privileges.
How to Run Compmgmt.msc as Administrator
To launch the Computer Management Console with administrative rights, perform these steps: The Computer Management Console will now open with elevated privileges.
How to Run Secpol.msc as Administrator
To launch the Local Security Policy Editor with administrative rights, perform these steps: The Local Security Policy Editor will now be open with elevated privileges.
How to Run MMC as Administrator
To launch the Microsoft Management Console with administrative rights, perform these steps: The Microsoft Management Console will now open with elevated privileges.
Closing Words
To open other Management Consoles with administrative rights, you can use the same method as discussed above, and put in the respective .MSC file name in the Command Prompt with administrative rights. Furthermore, you can also create shortcuts to all Management Consoles, as we have discussed above, to launch them with elevated privileges directly from the desktop. Also see:
8 Ways to open Computer Management Console (compmgmt.msc) in Windows4 Ways to Run Task Manager as Administrator in Windows 11/102 Ways To Open Control Panel as Administrator in Windows 10How to Always Run Command Prompt and PowerShell As AdministratorHow to Enable Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) in Windows 11 (Home + Pro)