Run File Explorer as Administrator in Windows 11

Running File Explorer as an administrator in Windows 11 lets you change protected system files and folders that a normal window blocks. File Explorer (the default app for browsing files) starts with basic permissions, and those permissions guard critical locations such as 📁C:\Windows\System32copy.

You need elevated rights (a higher permission level that approves system-wide changes) when Windows shows “access denied” or “you need permission to perform this action.” This guide covers two ways to launch File Explorer with full administrative control. Both work the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro.

Before you start, make sure your account is an administrator, or that you know the password of one. Without that, Windows will not let you elevate anything. Be careful once you are in, because an elevated window can change or delete files that Windows needs to boot.

How to open File Explorer in Windows as an administrator

If you searched for “runas administrator” and want the right-click route: open File Explorer, find the program file, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator. This method does exactly that with File Explorer’s own program file in the Windows folder. The second method, further down, uses Task Manager.

A normal shortcut or the Start menu only opens File Explorer with standard rights, so you need one of these two routes.

1. open File Explorer📁 from the Taskbar🖥️ or press the Windows + E keys on your keyboard. A normal File Explorer📁 window should appear.
2. Navigate to the C:\Windows folder. This folder holds many files, so it can take a moment to load. You should see a long list of files and folders.
3. Scroll down and locate the explorer app. Pick the app itself, not a similarly named file or folder.
4. Right-click the app and select Run as administrator. Windows 11 shows a short menu first. If the option is missing there, click Show more options at the bottom of that menu. Holding Shift while you right-click also opens the full menu.
5. Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears. If you are signed in as a standard user, Windows asks for an administrator’s password instead. Enter it to continue.

You do not need to restart the PC. To undo the change, close the window. The next time you open File Explorer normally, it runs with standard rights again.

1. open the Task Manager📊 in Windows 11. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc also opens it directly.
2. Select More details if prompted. A standard user needs an administrator’s password here.
3. Click Run new task, as shown below. On some builds this is a button at the top of the window. On others, you reach it through File › Run new task. A small Create new task window should open.

4. In the pop-up window, check the box labeled Create this task with administrative privileges. If you skip this box, the new window opens with normal rights and nothing changes.
5. Type the command below into the box (it is explorer.exe) and press Enter.

explorer.exe

After you press Enter, a new File Explorer window should open with administrator privileges. If nothing appears, check that you ticked the box and approved any prompt. If the box is missing or greyed out, your account is probably not an administrator. Sign in with one and try again.

That’s it. You now have an elevated File Explorer window opened through Task Manager. When you finish, close it. No restart is needed, and your regular File Explorer keeps working as before.

Conclusion:

• Opening File Explorer with administrative privileges lets you manage protected files and folders that a standard window blocks.
• You can run File Explorer as an administrator by right-clicking its program file in the Windows folder or by starting a new task in Task Manager.
• Your account needs administrator permissions, or you need an administrator’s password, for either method to work.
• Use the elevated window only for the job at hand and close it afterward, since mistakes in system folders can break Windows.
• Try both methods and keep whichever one fits your workflow better.