How to Run Notepad as Administrator on Windows 11?

Notepad is one of the most famous text editors ever created! You can use the Notepad text editor for multiple purposes. For instance, you can create various types of files using Notepad. Simply save the file with a .php extension to create a PHP file. However, for creating or editing system based files, such as batch files, you may need elevated permissions. In this tutorial, I will share the methods to run notepad as administrator on Windows pc.

Benefits of Running Notepad as Administrator on Windows 11

It is a simple text editor used for various tasks such as Basic Texting Editing, Programming and Scripting, etc. For example, in our article, How to Enable Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 Home Edition, we used Notepad to create the Bat Script file for enabling gpedit.msc. There are several benefits of running Notepad as Admin, such as

Feature	Notepad running normally	Notepad as Admin
Accessing System Files	Cannot edit system files (e.g., files in C:\Windows or System32).	Can edit system files and configuration files with elevated permissions.
Permission Restrictions	Limited to editing files in user directories (e.g., Documents, Downloads).	Can bypass restrictions and edit files in restricted directories.
System Configuration Files	Cannot modify protected system files like hosts or registry files.	Can modify protected system configuration files.
Editing Protected Applications Files	Cannot modify files in system folders (e.g., Program Files).	Can modify files in system folders and program directories.
Security Risks	Lower security risk, as it does not affect critical system files.	Higher risk if not careful, as elevated privileges can allow unintended changes to critical system files.

IMPORTANT: Running applications as an administrator grants elevated privileges that can significantly affect your system. Please use caution when doing so, as it can lead to Unintended System Modifications, Security Vulnerabilities, Accidental Data Loss, Unauthorized Access, Irreversible Changes, etc.

Different Methods to Open Notepad as Administrator on Windows 11

1. Use the Start menu and run Notepad as Administrator.
2. Open Notepad as Admin using the Run Command.
3. Create New Task using the Task Manager to run Notepad with Administrative Privileges.
4. Always Run Notepad as Administrator by creating a dedicated Shortcut.

1. How to Run Notepad as Administrator using the Start menu?

This process is very simple. The following are the steps.

• Open Start menu. You can either click on the Windows icon in the Taskbar or you can use the shortcut WinKey + S.
• In the Start menu, search for Notepad. Once you find the app, right-click on it and then click on Run as Administrator.

• User Account Control will prompt for your confirmation and then open Notepad as Administrator.

2. Open Notepad as Administrator using the Run Command

In this section, we will use the Run command to open Notepad with Elevated Permissions. To do so, kindly follow the below steps.

• Go to the Run Command using the key combination WinKey + R.
• In the Run, type the following command notepad and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER. This key combination will instruct the system that we are looking to run this app with administrative privileges.

• The System (UAC) will prompt your confirmation and then open Notepad with Elevated Privileges.

3. Create New Task with Task Manager to open Notepad with Administrative Privileges

Like many Windows Features, Task Manager has a lot of hidden gem. One such feature is the ability of the Task Manager to create and run Tasks. Now, we will use this feature and create one for notepad and run it with elevated privileges.

• Go to the Task Manager using the the key combination CTRL + ALT + Delete, or you can just right-click on the taskbar and click Task Manager.
• Under Processes, click on Run new task. Create New Task dialog will open now.

• Enter the command notepad and click on the checkbox “Create this task with administrative privileges“. Click OK.

4. Always Run Notepad with Administrative Privileges by creating a Dedicated Shortcut

This feature can really be useful for users who uses Notepad with Elevated Permissions frequently. Here we will create a dedicated Notepad Shortcut and customize it to run with Administrative Permissions.

• On the Empty space of the Desktop, right-click and then click New > Shortcut.

• The create Shortcut dialog box will open now. In Type the location of the item, enter the command notepad and then click Next.

• The system will assign the Shortcut Name as notepad. You can change it as per your convenience. Click Finish.

• Notepad Shortcut will now be created on the Desktop.

• Right-click on the Notepad shortcut and click Properties.

• Notepad Shortcut Properties will open now. Click Advanced.

• In Advanced Properties, enable the checkbox to Run as Administrator. Click OK, and then Apply.

• The User Account Control will prompt your confirmation and open Notepad as administrator.

Why do we have to be Cautious while Running an App as Administrator?

Running Notepad as Administrator on Windows 11 grants it elevated privileges, which can potentially bypass system security restrictions. Please proceed with care and only run trusted applications in this mode. At Winsides.com, we advise our users to use Administrator privileges only when absolutely necessary to perform tasks requiring elevated rights. Misuse of administrative privileges may lead to System Vulnerabilities, Data Loss, System Instability, Security Concerns, Irreversible Changes, etc.

Take away:

Running Notepad as an administrator in Windows 11 is essential when editing system files or performing tasks that require elevated permissions. By using the methods mentioned above, you can easily access Notepad with administrative privileges and avoid unnecessary permission errors. Feel free to share your feedback on the below comment section. Find more interesting tutorials on WinSides.com