Windows

How to Open Windows Terminal as Admin Automatically

Written by

Richard

Mar 12, 2023 Updated Jun 19, 2026 2 min read

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You automatically open Windows Terminal as administrator by configuring its settings to launch with elevated privileges.

Windows Terminal is a versatile command-line application for Windows 10 (version 1903 and later) and Windows 11, unifying Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL environments.

This saves you the frequent step of manually right-clicking and selecting “Run as administrator” for tasks requiring elevated permissions.

Once set up, every new Windows Terminal session will prompt you with a User Account Control (UAC) screen for approval, granting you the necessary administrative rights.

⚡ 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 using its settings menu to make specific profiles, like PowerShell, always start with administrator rights.

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 gives you more control to open it as admin, letting you set specific profiles to always run with administrator privileges.

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.

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

You can launch Windows Terminal with specific commands, known as arguments. For example, to force an elevated window using 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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