Quick guide to run a file as administrator on Windows and Mac

Strang tech
2 min readApr 18, 2023

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Photo by Mikhail Fesenko on Unsplash

As computer users, there are times when we need to perform actions that require elevated privileges. Running a file as an administrator is one such task that requires higher access levels to execute. In this article, we will guide you on how to run a file as an administrator on Windows and Mac.

Running a File as Administrator on Windows

Windows operating system comes with an inbuilt feature that allows users to run files with elevated privileges. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Locate the file you want to run as an administrator.
  2. Right-click on the file and select "Run as administrator" from the context menu.
  3. If prompted, enter your administrator credentials.
  4. Click on "Yes" to allow the file to make changes to your system.

Note: If you do not see the "Run as administrator" option, it means that you do not have administrator privileges on your user account. In that case, you will need to log in with an administrator account or contact your system administrator.

Running a File as Administrator on Mac

Mac operating system also comes with an inbuilt feature that allows users to run files with elevated privileges. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Locate the file you want to run as an administrator.
  2. Hold down the "Control" key on your keyboard and click on the file.
  3. From the context menu, select "Open" while still holding down the "Control" key.
  4. If prompted, enter your administrator credentials.
  5. Click on "Open" to allow the file to make changes to your system.

Note: If you encounter an error message stating that the file cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer, you can bypass this restriction by going to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General, and selecting "Allow apps downloaded from: App Store and identified developers."

Conclusion

Running a file as an administrator on Windows and Mac is a straightforward process that requires only a few steps. Always ensure that you have administrator privileges or contact your system administrator if you encounter any difficulties. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to run any file as an administrator without any issues.

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Strang tech

Hi! I’m Rohit Patole, a content creator sharing tech-related content on @strang_tech. Follow me for coding tutorials, software reviews, tech news and much more!