Fixing “The Requested Operation Requires Elevation” Error in Windows 10/11

Ever been in a situation “The requested operation requires elevation” error? For the non technical people it means: you need admin rights to perform this task. This error can arise on any task such as opening a folder, launching an app, or tweaking a setting—this error stops you in performing the task. But as always we are here to help and fix it, and you don’t need to be a tech wizard to get it done.

Why This Error Pops Up

Windows uses this as the first line of defence to protect your system from unauthorized changes. Basically, the computer is asking: Are you the boss of this computer? If your answer is yes, you just need to prove who’s in charge.

13 Smart Fixes for the “Elevation Required” Error

1. Run the App as an Administrator

You may come across the “The requested operation requires elevation” error message when accessing an app that needs certain permissions. To enable it, you need to change the app’s settings to let you act as administrator every time. Here are the steps to follow:

Right-click the app > Run as administrator.

Want it permanent? Go to Properties > Compatibility > Check “Run this program as an administrator.”

2. Take Ownership of Files or Folders

Sometimes Windows keeps things on a tight leash.

Go to the file do Right-click > Properties > Security > Advanced.

Enter your username, hit OK.
Check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.”

3. Temporarily Disable User Account Control (UAC)

It is possible that you’re getting the error message because of the User Account Control (UAC) settings. So, you can try disabling UAC to find out if it is the culprit.

Press Win + S, type User Account Control settings.

Slide the bar to Never notify > OK. Note: Don’t forget to re-enable UAC after troubleshooting to stay protected.

4. Pause Your Antivirus (Temporarily)

Sometimes, antivirus software becomes a barrier in the administrative tasks, causing errors like “The requested operation requires elevation.” To remove the possibility, we suggest that you disable your antivirus temporarily and try to do it again.

Here is what you can do to temporarily disable Windows Security, your built-in antivirus and security solution:

Sometimes antivirus tools block admin actions.

Stop real-time protection.
Perform the action again. Be sure to switch it back once it’s completed.

5. Use the Windows Troubleshooter

The Windows troubleshooter is a built-in Windows tool intended to diagnose and fix various system issues.

It can mainly correct common issues with administrative tasks, including “The requested operation requires elevation. Let Windows do the work:

Windows 11: Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Windows 10: Control Panel > Troubleshooting > View All > Select a tool > Run as Admin.

6. Update Outdated Drivers

Follow these steps :

Open Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager).
Right-click devices > Update driver > Search automatically.

6.1. Update Outdated Drivers with Advanced Driver Updater

Download and install best driver updater software to safely update drivers. Use this driver updater for Windows to run it without issues. Sign up and take benefits such as restoring PC drivers, start automatic scans of old drivers, and remove incompatible drivers too. As well as, it offers many other useful features.

Main Features

Scans outdated drivers in a tap
Updates the latest drivers.
Creates backup prior to updating drivers.
Allows adding incompatible drivers to the list.
Plans driver updates as per the set timeline.
Backup and restore drivers one by one.

Let’s figure out how to do it:

Steps to update your GPU driver:

Download Advanced Driver Updater: Download and install the latest version of Advanced Driver Updater by clicking the button below:

Run The Downloaded

Double click the saved adug_systweak-default.exe setup file & follow on-screen instructions to install Advanced Driver Updater

Scan The PC for Outdated Drivers

Once the installation is completed, Advanced Driver Updater will start running on the screen and click the Start Scan Now button and tool will start finding the outdated, corrupt, and missing drivers.

View scan results

Once done you’ll be prompted with the list of outdated drives with driver details, the old version number, and a button that says upgrade. If you wish to know the details about the outdated, click the i icon. You’ll find the details on the type, driver provider name, driver version, date, available version number, and available date.

Update outdated drivers

Now you are promoted with the list update the driver, you can update them individually by clicking the Update driver option given on the side or you can update all. We recommend updating all to resolve the lags. To be on the safe side, Advanced Driver Updater creates a backup of old drivers. You can go back to the original version if anything goes wrong.

7. Reset Permissions with Command Prompt

Blocked from a folder? Run this:

Open Command Prompt as Admin.
Type: icacls “C:\YourFolder” /reset /t /c /l

8. Reset or Repair Windows (If Nothing Works)

Still stuck?

Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC.
Choose Keep my files for a soft reset.

9. Change Folder Permissions (If You Get This Error While Accessing Files/Folders

Right-click the folder > Properties.

Go to Security tab > click Edit.
Select your user account > check Full Control.
Click Apply > Ok

10. Make Your Account an Administrator

Press Win + R, type: netplwiz
Select your account > click Properties
Go to the Group Membership tab.
Choose Administrator > Apply > OK.

11. Use the Built-In Administrator Account

If you don’t have the admin rights, enable the hidden Administrator account:

Here are the steps to do it:

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Run: net user administrator /active:yes
Log out and log in to the Administrator account.
Perform the task, then disable the account: net user administrator /active:no

12. Check Group Policy Settings (For Domain or Enterprise PCs)

Sometimes, group policies block admin rights:

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc
Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
Review UAC-related settings for any restrictions.

13. Check If BitLocker or Encryption Is Blocking Access

If the drive is encrypted:

Decrypt it using BitLocker or check permissions.
Go to Control Panel > BitLocker Drive Encryption

How to Prevent Elevation Errors in the Future

Make sure the system and apps are updated always.
Use an Administrator account for all the tasks that might need access.
Choose antivirus tools that work compatible with Windows.
Back up data every 3 days to avoid an oops moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to disable User Account Control?

Disabling UAC is only recommended temporarily while troubleshooting. Disable to makes your system more vulnerable to malware and unauthorized changes.

How can I make my apps always run as administrator?

You can set this up in the app’s properties: Right-click the app > Properties > Compatibility tab > Check Run this program as an administrator.

Could a virus or malware cause this error?

Yes. It’s possible, especially if your system has been compromised. Run a full antivirus scan and ensure your security tools are up to date.

What if none of these fixes work?

If all else fails, you can reset your Windows installation using the Keep my files option. This preserves your data while repairing system files.

Final Take

The “elevation” error isn’t as dramatic as it sounds. It’s just Windows asking for proof that you’re the boss. With a few clicks—running as admin, tweaking permissions, updating drivers—you’ll be back in control. Try these fixes, and don’t forget to bookmark this guide for next time!

Still having trouble? Drop a comment—we’re here to help!

Yashika Singh

Yashika Singh holds an MBA and has 4 years of experience creating technical content in the IT industry. Specializing in Windows, software, and cybersecurity, she simplifies complex tech topics into clear, practical solutions, helping users troubleshoot issues and stay updated in a fast-paced digital world.