3 Ways To Run MSC Files As Administrator

Microsoft Saved Console files, also known as .MSC files are snap-in control files that open in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) with a Graphical User Interface (GUI). These consoles can be used to control different operating system components, such as network policies, group policies, firewall, Windows Security, and much more.

The Management Console can be opened in many ways. However, these methods only allow you to open these .MSC files as a regular user and not with administrative privileges. Having administrative rights while using these consoles allows you to perform certain administrative tasks, which you cannot if you are logged in from a standard user account.

Today we are going to discuss how you can open the Microsoft Management Consoles as an administrator. There are 3 methods to do so:

• Using either the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell with administrative rights.
• Using File Explorer to run .MSC file as an administrator.
• Creating a desktop shortcut.

How to Run Microsoft Management Consoles as Administrator

From Elevated Command Line

Opening MSC files the conventional way will always open them in normal mode. However, if you open them from an elevated Command Prompt or an elevated PowerShell, the consoles will also open with elevated rights.

Here is how to use the Windows Command Line Interface (CLI) to open an MMC with administrative privileges:

1. Launch either the Command Prompt or PowerShell with administrative rights.
2. Now type in the name of the Management Console that you wish to run with elevated rights.
   Note: Get a list of Microsoft Management .MSC files here.
   

The .MSC file will now open with elevated rights, allowing you to perform administrative tasks.

Using File Explorer

.MSC files associated with the MMCs are located at the following location:

C:\Windows\System32

These can be accessed using Windows Explorer and then run with administrative rights. Here is how:

1. Open Windows Explorer using the Windows Key + E shortcut keys and then navigate to the following location:
   C:\Windows\System32
2. Here, look for the .MSC file associated with the Management Console that you want to launch with administrative privileges (Type= Microsoft Common Console Document). When found, right-click it and then click Run as adminstrator from the context menu.
   

The .MSC file will now open with elevated rights.

Creating Shortcut

You can also create a shortcut on your desktop for the .MSC file, and then configure that shortcut to always run with administrative rights.

Follow the steps given below to use a shortcut to instantly run MMCs as an administrator:

1. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop, expand New, and then click Shortcut.
   
2. In the Create Shortcut wizard, provide the complete location with name of the .MSC file you wish to open with elevated privileges. This will be a .MSC file located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. When entered, click Next.
   
3. On the next screen, enter a name for the shortcut and click Finish.
   
4. Now right-click on the shortcut and click Properties from the context menu.
   
5. Now click Advanced from the Shortcut tab.
   
6. From the popup window, check the box next to “Run as administrator” and click Ok.
   
7. Now click Apply and Ok on the Properties window.

You can now double-click the shortcut on your desktop to run the MMC with administrative privileges.

How to Run Gpedit.msc as Administrator

To run a Group Policy Editor with administrative rights, perform these steps:

1. Launch the Command Prompt with administrative rights by typing in cmd in the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R), and then press the CTRL + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
2. Type in gpedit.msc in the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

The Group Policy Editor will now be open with elevated privileges.

How to Run Services.msc as Administrator

To run the Services Console with administrative rights, perform these steps:

1. Launch the Command Prompt with administrative rights by typing in cmd in the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R), and then press the CTRL + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
2. Type in services.msc in the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

The Group Policy Editor will now be open with elevated privileges.

How to Run Diskmgmt.msc as Administrator

To launch the Disk Management Console with administrative rights, perform these steps:

1. Launch the Command Prompt with administrative rights by typing in cmd in the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R), and then press the CTRL + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
2. Type in diskmgmt.msc in the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

The Disk Management Console will now open with elevated privileges.

How to Run Compmgmt.msc as Administrator

To launch the Computer Management Console with administrative rights, perform these steps:

1. Launch the Command Prompt with administrative rights by typing in cmd in the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R), and then press the CTRL + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
2. Type in compmgmt.msc in the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

The Computer Management Console will now open with elevated privileges.

How to Run Secpol.msc as Administrator

To launch the Local Security Policy Editor with administrative rights, perform these steps:

1. Launch the Command Prompt with administrative rights by typing in cmd in the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R), and then press the CTRL + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
2. Type in secpol.msc in the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

The Local Security Policy Editor will now be open with elevated privileges.

How to Run MMC as Administrator

To launch the Microsoft Management Console with administrative rights, perform these steps:

1. Launch the Command Prompt with administrative rights by typing in cmd in the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R), and then press the CTRL + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
2. Type in mmc in the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

The Microsoft Management Console will now open with elevated privileges.

Closing Words

To open other Management Consoles with administrative rights, you can use the same method as discussed above, and put in the respective .MSC file name in the Command Prompt with administrative rights.

Furthermore, you can also create shortcuts to all Management Consoles, as we have discussed above, to launch them with elevated privileges directly from the desktop.