Windows

How to Open Windows Terminal as Admin Automatically

Written by

Richard

Mar 12, 2023 Updated Jul 14, 2026 3 min read

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Opening Windows Terminal automatically as administrator lets you run commands that need special permission without having to click extra steps each time. Windows Terminal is a modern command-line app that brings together Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in one place. It’s available for Windows 10 version 1903 and newer, and Windows 11.

Manually running Terminal as admin means right-clicking its icon and choosing “Run as administrator.” This new setup lets you skip that every time. When you start Terminal this way, you’ll still see the User Account Control (UAC) screen to confirm, but the program will then open with the administrator rights you need.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Windows Terminal, go to Settings, select a profile, and toggle “Run this profile as Administrator” to On. Save the changes. This will prompt a User Account Control (UAC) confirmation each time you launch that profile.

Method 1Use the Settings Menu

Opening Windows Terminal as admin is possible using the **Settings** menu to configure specific profiles, like PowerShell, to always start with administrator rights. This setting ensures your chosen command-line tools run with the permissions they need.

Open Windows Terminal.
Click the down arrow in the top bar and select Settings.
⚠️ ADMIN REQUIRED: In the sidebar, select the specific profile (e.g., PowerShell or Command Prompt) or Defaults to apply it to all.
Toggle the Run this profile as Administrator switch to On.
Click Save.

Open Windows Terminal app in Windows 11 — open the Terminal app in Windows

Windows Terminal Settings button updated

Run Windows Terminal as administrator in Windows 11 — Run the Terminal window as administrator in Windows

Method 2Edit the JSON Settings File

Editing the Windows Terminal JSON settings file (a configuration file written in JSON format) offers more control to open it as admin, letting you set specific profiles to always run with administrator privileges. This method provides a deeper level of customization for how your Terminal profiles launch.

Open Settings in Windows Terminal.
Click Open JSON file at the bottom left.
Locate the "profiles" or "defaults" section.
Add the line "elevate": true, to the desired profile block.

Terminal app profile section

💻Code

"defaults": 
{
    "elevate": true
},

Creating a Desktop Shortcut for Admin Access

Creating a desktop shortcut is a quick way to open Windows Terminal as admin every time, giving you a dedicated icon that launches Terminal with the necessary permissions. This shortcut allows you to launch Terminal directly with administrator rights without needing to go through the usual steps.

Right-click on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.
Type wt.exe in the location box.
Click Next and name the shortcut.
Right-click the new shortcut and select Properties.
Click the Advanced button.
Check the box Run as administrator and click OK.

Command-Line Execution and wt.exe

Windows Terminal can be launched using specific commands called arguments. For instance, to force an elevated window via the Run dialog (Win+R), type wt.exe -w 0 nt --elevated. This is useful for scripts or quick access.

Summary

You can open Windows Terminal as admin by toggling the setting in the graphical interface or by adding "elevate": true to your JSON configuration. For custom needs, use a desktop shortcut with elevated properties enabled. For more advanced configuration, refer to the official Microsoft documentation.

Can I mix admin and non-admin tabs in the same window?

No, Windows Terminal currently requires a new window for elevated sessions. Because elevation changes the security context of the process, you cannot mix standard and administrator tabs within a single window instance. Each elevated tab will spawn its own separate, high-privilege window process.

Why does Ctrl+Shift+Enter not work for Windows Terminal?

The Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut is a standard Windows feature for launching apps from the Start menu. It does not work inside the Terminal application itself to elevate a new tab. You must configure the profile settings or use the command line to trigger elevation.

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Tags: #Windows 11

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About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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