Errors are created to point us in a certain direction especially when something went wrong. In some cases, an error could be a warning message and it could also be a must fixed to continue the operation. The Windows hard disk error “the requested operation requires elevation” occurs when you open a file on your Windows hard disk without the basic permission that is needed to complete the task.
For you to be able to open the said file you need to elevate the permission from a mere local administrator. Therefore, the easiest way to fix the requested operation requires elevation on Windows is to elevate the permission of a local administrator to take ownership and gain access.
There are more insightful approaches to combat the requested operation requires elevation on Microsoft Windows. This article will take a look at how this problem can be addressed on Windows 7, Windows 11, Windows 8, and Windows 10 as well as using different methods such as PowerShell, command prompt, run as administrator, and WSL.
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What does “The Requested Operation Requires Elevation” Mean?
It’s one of the Microsoft Windows error codes that restrict users’ access when operating with lower access permission compared to the required permission.
When you are operating a Windows OS that requires the administrative right with a guest right you will be restricted and request that you have the administrative permission to continue your operation. In the case of opening a file on your Windows hard disk, you may run into this error if the local administration permission doesn’t meet up the minimum permission to open or operate on the file.
In most cases, you may be prompted to use the run as administrator before you can continue.
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Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows
- Press “Windows Logo” on your keyboard.
- Search for “Command Prompt” once it pops.
- Select “Run as Administrator.”
- Choose “Yes” from the pop-up.
Your Windows command prompt will come up with the full administrative right.
How to Fix the Requested Operation Requires Elevation on Windows
The request operation requires elevations often occur on Windows Vista, 7, and Windows Server 2002 due to their additional security layer that helps to protect the system. This security layer is called UAC or User Access Control.
With this security layer, the Windows OS can still restrict your access to help protect your system with your administrative right.
So, when you encounter such as the error that requires the admin right even as an admin it means that the system UAC or User Access Control security layer wants you to confirm the authenticity of your right before the access will be granted.
Change File Ownership Permission
The recommended approach to grant access and fix the request operation requires elevation on your Windows OS when you open a file is to change the file ownership permission.
So, here we will discuss how you can change your file ownership permission without using run as administrator.
- Right-click on the folder that returns the requested operation that requires elevation and chooses the properties option.
- Click on the “Security” tab on the navigation.
- Choose “Advanced” to the bottom right.
- Select the “Owner” tab.
- Tap the “Edit” button.
- Choose the “Account Name” from the list of ownership to take over the ownership.
- Check the option “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.”
- Click on “OK.”
Now, proceed to open the file and see whether the requested operation require elevation error has been fixed. If not, then, you may want to check out the next option on how to fix this.
Disable or Turn Off UAC or User Access Control
The Windows UAC function is to add another security layer to your system but if the feature is stopping you as an administrator to execute some task you may need to turn it off or disable it. Therefore, the step below details the steps to take to turn off user access control on Microsoft Windows OS.
- Press the “Windows Logo” on your keyboard.
- Search and open “Control Panel.”
- Choose “Users Account.”
- Click on “Users Account” once again.
- Select “Change Users Account Control Settings.”
- Drag the “Notify me only when applications try to make changes to my computer (default)” to the bottom.
- Click “OK” to save changes.
There you go. Now, open the file and see whether the permission has been fixed or not. If the above steps didn’t work as expected, you can try running as administrator to fix this.
Run as Administrator
We can grant the folder or file administrative right before opening to see if it will work for us. Therefore, I will run through the steps to run a file or folder with administrative right on Microsoft Windows OS below.
- Right-click on the “folder” from your external file storage or hard disk/drive and click on “properties.”
- Choose “Compatibility” on the properties.
- Check “Run this program as an administrator.”
- Click on the “Apply” button to the bottom right.
- Click “OK” to save changes.
If the file needs administrative right to run; setting the file to run as administrator will eliminate the requested operation requires elevation instantly and execute the file as administrator.
Fix the Requested Operation Requires Elevation using Command Prompt
This method helps you to select elevate without prompting in GPEDIT using your computer command prompt. Follow the steps below to select elevate without prompting in GPEDIT if you are a novice.
- Press “Win” + “R” to open your Windows run dialog.
- Type “gpedit.ms” and click “OK” without the quotes.
- Navigate to “Local Group Policy Editor” and expand “Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options.“
- Locate and double-click “User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode” on the right pane.
- Choose “Elevate without prompting” from the pop-up.
- Click “Apply” >> “OK” to save changes.
Restart your computer after the above steps and open the aid folder/file in your external disk to see whether the elevate prompting error has been fixed.