Win11 Can't start Device Manager as Administrator in Win+x menu, can in Win10; intentional? - Microsoft Q&A (2024)

Background: Main / local account is 'Standard', and a separate Administrator account is enabled with password, for admin tasks. UAC is set to 'Max'.

Win+x opens the Power User Menu, of which Device Manager can be accessed.

  • In Win10, if you hold Ctrl+Shift when you click Device manager, it starts as Administrator.
  • In Win11, Ctrl-Shift doesn't work, and you can't run as Administrator.

Workaround: To run Device Manager as Administrator, either:

  • Start an elevated command prompt (Win+R, cmd, Ctrl-Shift-Enter), then run devmgmt.msc
  • Start directly (Win+R, devmgmt.msc, Ctrl-Shift-Enter)

It is a massive issue for us because all our client machine logins are now mandated to be 'Standard' (non-Administrator) users, and we still need to be able to do Admin tasks easily.

This is a major productivity killer. Is it intentional, and if so why, and can it be overridden? Is it a design philosophy change in Win11?

Thanks.

[posted on elevenforum.com and answers.microsoft.com, no solutions there]

Win11 Can't start Device Manager as Administrator in Win+x menu, can in Win10; intentional? - Microsoft Q&A (2024)

FAQs

How to open Device Manager as admin in win 11? ›

Workaround: To run Device Manager as Administrator, either:
  1. Start an elevated command prompt (Win+R, cmd, Ctrl-Shift-Enter), then run devmgmt. msc.
  2. Start directly (Win+R, devmgmt. msc, Ctrl-Shift-Enter)

Why am I not the administrator on my computer in Windows 11? ›

Enable Built-in Administrator Account: Windows has a built-in administrator account that's disabled by default. You can enable it to perform administrative tasks. Open Command Prompt as administrator, then type net user administrator /active:yes and press Enter.

How to grant administrator permission in Windows 11? ›

Windows 11 Procedure
  1. Select the Windows Start button, and then, select Settings.
  2. Select Accounts.
  3. Under Family & other users, select the user's name.
  4. Then, select Change account type.
  5. Under Account type, select Administrator.
  6. Select OK.
  7. Sign in with the new administrator account.
Sep 22, 2023

Why can't I open my Device Manager? ›

Sometimes corrupted system files could be responsible for Device Manager not working/opening/responding. To solve your issue, you can try to perform an SFC scan. System File Checker (SFC) is the inbuilt utility that can help scan your device for detecting corrupted or missing system files and repair them.

How to run Device Manager in admin mode? ›

How do I run Device Manager through CMD as an Administrator? Open the cmd prompt by pressing the Windows key + R and typing in cmd, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter. Input your administrator account credentials when prompted, then type devmgmt. msc and press Enter.

How to fix a device managed by admin? ›

To reset the device from the Admin console:
  1. Sign in to your Google Admin console. Sign in using your administrator account (does not end in @gmail.com).
  2. Go to Menu Devices. Overview.
  3. Click Mobile devices.
  4. Point to the device and click More. Wipe Device.

How do I remove administrator restrictions in Windows 11? ›

Here following steps to remove run as administrator permission from an apps:
  1. Right click on that programme shortcut which in on desktop.
  2. click on "Show more options".
  3. Choose properties option and go to compatibility tab.
  4. Uncheck the box "Run this programme as an administrator".
  5. Click Apply and then OK.
Dec 23, 2023

How to give yourself administrator privileges in Windows 11 without admin? ›

Q&A
  1. Open the “Run” box by pressing Windows Key + R.
  2. Type in in the box “net user administrator /active:yes” and click “o*k”.
  3. Close the “Run” box and restart your computer.
  4. After restarting, you should see an Administrator account in the login screen.

How to remove administrator restrictions in Windows 10? ›

How To Remove Microsoft Administrator Account From Windows 10
  1. Start > Settings > Accounts.
  2. Choose “Family & other users”
  3. Select the Microsoft admin account.
  4. Hit “Remove”

How do I force open as administrator? ›

Press and hold down the Shift key, and then right-click the executable file or the shortcut for the application, and then select Run as different user. In the Windows Security window, type the administrator account's user name and password, and then select OK.

How do I give myself full administrator privileges? ›

Enter "CMD" in the search box on the taskbar and right-click Command Prompt, and click Run as administrator. Enter net user administrator /active:yes on the Administrator: Command Prompt window and press Enter. Please note that there is a space between "administrator" and "/active:yes".

How do I unlock administrator permissions? ›

Open “Run” with [Windows] + [R]. Type “cmd” and press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Enter]. Type “net user administrator /active:yes”. The administrator account is now activated.

How do I force open Device Manager? ›

Start device manager
  1. Open the “Run” dialog box by pressing and holding the Windows key, then press the R key (“Run”).
  2. Type devmgmt.msc.
  3. Click OK .

How do I manually open Device Manager? ›

Opening Windows Device Manager - Windows 10
  1. From either the Windows desktop home page or tiles home page, right-click the. Start button. . If using only a keyboard, Press the. Windows. and. X keys. together. Use the. Up arrow. to highlight 'Device Manager' then press. Enter. .
  2. Click. Device Manager. .

How do I open device administrator? ›

Go to Settings. Do one of the following: Tap Security & location > Device admin apps. Tap Security > Device admin apps.

How do I access device administrator? ›

First, navigate to Settings > Security and privacy > Device admin apps. Then, check which apps has activate the Android device administrator permission.

Where is Device Manager exe in Windows 11? ›

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select Device Manager from the menu.

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