Windows

How to Open Windows Terminal as Admin Automatically

Written by

Richard

Mar 12, 2023 Updated Sep 15, 2026 2 min read

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Windows Terminal as admin automatically launches Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Linux with full system rights every time you open the app. Windows Terminal brings all your command-line tools together in tabs and comes built into Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 1903 or newer.

This tweak skips the step of right-clicking the app icon and picking “Run as administrator” manually. Windows still pops up the standard User Account Control security screen when you launch the app to keep your PC safe.

⚡ 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

You can open Windows Terminal as admin automatically by changing your profile settings inside the app. This method lets you set specific command-line tools, such as PowerShell or Command Prompt, to always run with elevated permissions whenever you start them. It saves you from having to right-click and choose the admin option every single time you need to run advanced commands.

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

You can also open Windows Terminal as admin by editing the configuration file directly. This approach gives you advanced control over your setup by adding a simple line of code to your profile settings. It forces your preferred command-line environment to always launch with full administrative rights without needing to click through the graphical settings menus.

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

You can open Windows Terminal as admin instantly by setting up a dedicated desktop shortcut. This trick lets you bypass the usual menus and launch the app directly with elevated permissions with just a double-click. It is the best choice if you want a permanent icon on your screen that always opens the console with full system access.

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 launches using specific parameters called arguments. For instance, forcing an elevated window via the Run dialog (Win+R) requires typing wt.exe -w 0 nt --elevated. This approach benefits automated scripts or rapid access.

Summary

Windows Terminal opens as admin either by toggling the setting in the graphical interface or by adding "elevate": true to the JSON configuration. Custom workflows benefit from desktop shortcuts with elevated properties enabled. For advanced configuration, consult the official Microsoft documentation.

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Tags: #Windows 11

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About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.

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