How to Open PowerShell as Administrator in Windows 11 by Default?

This guide will make you aware of two different methods to open PowerShell as an Administrator by default in Windows 11. The Windows PowerShell console is more than just your everyday command-line shell. It beholds a plethora of nifty functionalities and command applets that are beneficial for both the system administrators and experienced users alike.

With features such as the ability to install/uninstall apps, get access to Windows Registry, automate tasks, or even perform remote operations, there’s a lot of things that a PowerShell could execute. However, most of these tweaks call for the need to have administrative-level privileges.

But when you open a PowerShell window, its default state will be in a non-elevated (non-admin) mode. So one way out is to head over to the Start menu and then manually launch the PowerShell window as an administrator every time when needed. This may be sufficient for one or two usages, but it might feel like a cumbersome process on a regular basis.

If you also echo this thought, then you’ll be glad to know that there is an efficient way to deal with this issue. You could instruct your PC to always open PowerShell as an Administrator by default in Windows 11. And in this guide, we will show you how to do just that. So without any further ado, let’s get started.

Methods to Run PowerShell as an Admin by Default in Windows 11

There exist two different methods to carry out the aforementioned task. Both these approaches do require a little bit of extra effort, but it is only for the first-time setup. You just need to double-click on the PowerShell shortcut from simultaneous usage onwards, and it will automatically open with administrative privileges. So on that note, let’s check out both these approaches.

Method 1: Using a Batch File

In this method, we will be creating a batch file via Notepad with a specific line of command. The command, when executed, will straightaway launch PowerShell as an admin. Follow along for the instructions:

To begin with, right-click in an empty location on your desktop.
Then select New > Text Document from the menu that appears.
Now copy-paste the following command in this file:
```
Powershell.exe -Command "& {Start-Process Powershell.exe -Verb RunAs}"
```
Then go to File and select the Save As option.
Change the ‘Save as type’ to All Files, name it PowerShell.bat, and hit Save.
Now just double-click on this newly created batch file, and it shall launch the PowerShell with elevated privileges.

So this was the first method through which you could open PowerShell as an Administrator by default in Windows 11. One thing to note here is that you could assign any name to the batch file, but make sure to keep the extension .bat only.

Method 2: Via Desktop Shortcut

We will create a desktop shortcut that will directly point to PowerShell’s EXE file in this method. After that, we will give it permission to always open this shortcut with administrative privileges. Combine both of these steps, and your tasks stand complete.

So right-click on an empty location on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.
Now copy-paste the below location under the ‘Type the location of the item’ field and click Next:
```
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
```
Name this file PowerShell.exe and hit Finish.
Now that the file is created right-click on it and select Properties.
Then go to the Shortcut tab and click on the Advanced button.
Finally, check-mark the Run as Administrator option and hit OK.
That’s it. From now on, whenever you launch PowerShell via this shortcut, it will open with admin-level access.

One thing to note is that while you could give the shortcut any name of your choice, but the extension should be kept .exe only.

Conclusion

So with this, we round off the guide on how you could open PowerShell as an Administrator by default in Windows 11. We have shared two different methods for the same. Do let us know in the comments section if you have any queries concerning the aforementioned instructions.

If you've any thoughts on How to Open PowerShell as Admin Default in Windows 11?, then feel free to drop in below comment box. Also, please subscribe to our DigitBin YouTube channel for videos tutorials. Cheers!