How do I Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator?

Hi Tim Guyton , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help. There're several ways to open PowerShell as Administrator. Please pick the one that most convenient for you: Press the Windows key to open Start Menu > search for PowerShell > on the right section choose Run as administrator . Press the combination Windows + X > select PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin) . Press the combination Windows + R > type powershell > press the combination Ctrl + Shift + Enter . PowerShell shortcut: Create new shortcut. Type the location of the item: powershell Type a name for this shortcut: anything you want, example: PowerShell (Admin) . Right-click on newly created shortcut > Properties. Click Advanced... button. Check Run as administrator . OK > OK. Run the shortcut anytime you want to open PowerShell as administrator. I hope that above information is helpful to you. If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click " Comment ". Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Opening Windows PowerShell as an administrator.

Answer recommended by moderator

Lucus-V 14,430 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Tim Guyton,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

There're several ways to open PowerShell as Administrator. Please pick the one that most convenient for you:

Press the Windows key to open Start Menu > search for PowerShell > on the right section choose Run as administrator.
Press the combination Windows + X > select PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin).
Press the combination Windows + R > type powershell > press the combination Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
PowerShell shortcut:
- Create new shortcut.
- Type the location of the item: powershell
- Type a name for this shortcut: anything you want, example: PowerShell (Admin).
- Right-click on newly created shortcut > Properties.
- Click Advanced... button.
- Check Run as administrator.
- OK > OK.
- Run the shortcut anytime you want to open PowerShell as administrator.

I hope that above information is helpful to you.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Lucus-V 14,430 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-17T17:08:02.28+00:00

Hi Tim Guyton,
I hope everything is going well on your end. Just wanted to check in and see how things are going for you lately, anything you'd like to share or discuss?

KimMeng-4644 0

owershell "(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey".

Record the 25-character product key displayed.

From the Windows Registry

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.

Type regedit and press Enter.

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform.

Double-click on BackupProductKeyDefault to view your product key.

Physical or Digital Purchase

If Windows came pre-installed, check the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker on your device or packaging.

For a physical copy, locate the product key on a label or card inside the box.

For a digital purchase, find the product key in the confirmation email or Microsoft account Order History.

owershell "(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey".

  Record the 25-character product key displayed.
  
  **From the Windows Registry**
  
     Press **Win + R** to open the **Run** dialog box.
     
        Type **regedit** and press **Enter**.
        
           Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform.
           
              Double-click on **BackupProductKeyDefault** to view your product key.
              
              **Physical or Digital Purchase**
              
                 If Windows came pre-installed, check the **Certificate of Authenticity (COA)** sticker on your device or packaging.
                 
                    For a physical copy, locate the product key on a label or card inside the box.
                    
                       For a digital purchase, find the product key in the **confirmation email** or **Microsoft account Order History**.

Mohamad Younes 0 Reputation points

2026-10-20T16:05:18.4433333+00:00

New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Force | Out-Null

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "HubsSidebarEnabled" -Value 1 -Type DWord

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "EdgeCopilotButtonEnabled" -Value 1 -Type DWord

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "HubsSidebarAutoTriggerEnabled" -Value 1 -Type DWord

Write-Host "Old sidebar restored - restart Edge"
Mohamad Younes 0 Reputation points

2026-10-20T16:08:52.9233333+00:00

New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Force | Out-Null

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "HubsSidebarEnabled" -Value 1 -Type DWord

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "EdgeCopilotButtonEnabled" -Value 1 -Type DWord

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "HubsSidebarAutoTriggerEnabled" -Value 1 -Type DWord

Write-Host "Old sidebar restored - restart Edge"
Orsted Makhal 0 Reputation points

2026-11-13T14:22:29.6166667+00:00

What about on a Chromebook?

Opening Windows PowerShell as an administrator.

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