One of the most important Windows tools is definitely File Explorer, the latter in fact allows you to open, copy, move and delete files and folders, practically allowing complete management of files and folders on your PC.
However, if you need to manage system or other protected files or folders, you will not be able to do so by opening File Explorer normally, in fact in these cases, you will have to run file explorer as administrator.
Running File Explorer as an administrator on Windows 10 and Windows 11 is pretty simple and you can do it in two different ways: by accessing the folder “Windows”either by creating a desktop shortcut or by using the Task Manager tool.
Run File Explorer as an administrator
As previously stated, it is possible run Explore with elevated privileges in different ways, here are all the procedures described in detail.
Launch File Explorer with elevated privileges from the .exe file
You can run File Explorer as an administrator using the tool’s .exe file. In this case, you will first need to open File Explorer normally by pressing WIN+E or by clicking on the icon in the application bar
The procedure to be carried out is very simple; here are all the steps to be performed:
- Awards WIN+E to open File Explorer or click on the appropriate icon in the application bar;
- From the left side menu, click on the item “This PC”;
- Double click the “Local Disk (C:)”;
- Open the folder “Windows”;
- Locate the icon “explorer.exe,”then right-click it
- Click on “Yes”.
If you think you’ll be using elevated File Explorer often, I suggest you create a desktop shortcut, to do that, right click on the icon “Explorer.exe”select the item “Send to” (on Windows 11 if you haven’t disabled the new context menu, click on the item first “Show more options”) and then click on the entry “Desktop (create shortcut)”. In this way, every time you want to open File Explorer as an administrator, just right-click on the icon “Explorer” present on the desktop and from the context menu click on the item “Run as administrator”.
Open File Explorer as an administrator using Task Manager
In addition to the procedure seen above, you can Run File Explorer as an administrator using the Device Management tool. Here’s how:
- Press from keyboard WIN+X or right-click on the Start button;
- From the menu that opens, click on the item “Activity Management”;
- In the window “Activity Management”if necessary click on the entry “More details” present in the lower left;
- Click on the entry “File” present in the upper left;
- Click on the entry “Run new task”;
- In the window that opens, type “explorer.exe”;
- Put a check mark next to the entry “Create tasks with administrative privileges”;
- Click on the button “OK”.
Now you know how to run file explorer as administrative privileges. Before concluding I want to remind you that if you are trying to modify system files, the latter in most cases are hidden.
If you don’t know how to make them visible, I suggest you read the following article: “How to view hidden files”.
