In this tutorial, I will explain the simple & effective steps to run IIS with elevated permissions. Whether you are a developer or someone managing a local web server, these methods will help you run IIS as administrator.

Prerequisites

Before getting into the article, we will have to make sure that the Internet Information Services, and IIS Management Console is enabled as they are mandatory for running IIS as Administrator. Additionally, you can also enable optional features IIS Management Scripts and Tools, and IIS Management Service. These features are essential for the active functioning of the IIS Servers.

Fix Windows cannot find inetmgr error

If you are encountering the error “Windows cannot find ‘intemgr’. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and try again“, then it is because IIS and IIS Management Console are not enabled. To fix this issue, you can enable these features via Windows Features dialog.

Different Methods to run Internet Information Services Manager as Administrator on Windows 11

Windows 11 offers several methods to use this feature with elevated permissions. The following are the methods.

1. Running IIS as Administrator using the Start Menu.
2. Use Run Command and run IIS as Administrator
3. Create New Task to open IIS Manager with Administrative Privileges
4. Always open IIS as Administrator by creating a dedicated shortcut.

This article covers all the above methods in detail. However, you can choose your convenient method.

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.

1. How to Run IIS as Administrator on Windows 11 using the Start menu?

This is a simple and straight-forward method. Assuming that the above mentioned services (IIS & IIS Management Console) are enabled, let’s get started.

• Open the Start menu and search for inetmgr. Internet Information Services Manager will show up.
• Right-click on the App and click “Run as Administrator“.

• User Account Control will prompt your confirmation to run this app as administrator on Windows 11. Click Yes if you would like to proceed forward .
• Now, the system will open inetmgr as administrator.

2. Use Run Command to open IIS with Administrative Privileges

In this section, we will use Run command box to open Internet Information Services with Elevated Privileges. The following are the steps.

• Go to the Run Command. You can use the Key combination WinKey + R.
• Type the following command inetmgr and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER.

• UAC will prompt your confirmation and then open inetmgr with administrative permissions.

3. Create New Task to Open IIS with Administrative Privileges

• Open Task Manager. If you are using Windows 11, you can either use the the key combo 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.

• Type the following command inetmgr and click on the checkbox “Create this task with administrative privileges“.

• The system will now open IIS as Administrator.

4. Always Open IIS as Administrator on Windows 11 using Desktop Shortcut

If you using Internet Information Services as Administrator frequently, then a desktop shortcut with Administrator privileges can be really useful. You can always open IIS as Administrator.

• Right-click on the Desktop and click New -> Shortcut.

• Now, the Create Shortcut dialog box will open now. In “Type the location of the item“, enter C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\InetMgr.exe. Click Next.

• The system will assign the name of the shortcut as InetMgr. You can either change the name or leave the field as it is. Click Finish.

• InetMgr shortcut will now be created.

• Right-click on the shortcut and click Properties.

• InetMgr Properties will open. Click Advanced.

• InetMgr Advanced Properties will pop up now.

• That’s it. InetMgr will open with Administrative Privileges.

Be Cautious while running Apps with Administrative Privileges

Running Internet Information Services (InetMgr) 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, etc

Advantages of running IIS as Administrator on Windows 11

Running Internet Information Services as an Administrator on Windows 11 can offer several advantages, particularly for advanced management and configuration tasks that require elevated privileges such as

1. Access to System Level Configurations and modify protected files, modifying Global IIS Settings, etc.
2. Manage Application Pools to configure advanced settings like CPU Throttling, Identity, etc.
3. Use Elevated Management Features like Binding to Reserved Ports, Advanced Module Configuration, etc
4. Manage Server Extensions such as ASP.NET, CGI, etc
5. Remote Management Services
6. Security and Permissions Management

Conclusion:

Running IIS as an administrator on Windows 11 is essential for accessing advanced features, managing web applications, and configuring server settings. Totally, I’ve mentioned more than 3 methods to run iis as administrator. I will recommend you the method 4 for permanently accessing the IIS with elevated rights! If you have any queries related to the above topic and then kindly comment us below. Find more interesting tutorials on WinSides.com

There are several ways available to enable this feature on Windows OS, you can either Enable Internet Information Services via Windows Features (GUI) on Windows 11 OS, or you can use the Command prompt to enable this feature in the CLI interface. With a little tweak in the command, we can enable IIS on Windows Servers using CLI. This article will provide detailed steps to enable Internet Information Services using Command Prompt. Let’s get started.

Internet Information Services (IIS) availability on different Windows Editions

This section provides information on the availability of this feature on different Windows Editions.

Easy way to Enable Internet Information Services using Command Prompt

• Go to the Start menu and Search for Command Prompt. Run Command Prompt as Administrator.

• User Account Control (UAC) will prompt for your permission to open CMD in Administrator mode. To confirm the action, click Yes.

• On the Command Prompt, execute the following command. dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:IIS-WebServerRole /all /norestart

• The above command will use DISM to Enable IIS using Command Prompt. Kindly be patient when the system enables this feature.

• Once the process is complete, we will get the message, “The operation completed successfully“.
• That is it. Internet Information Services is enabled via Command Prompt.

The same CMD command, dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:IIS-WebServerRole /all, can be used to install IIS on all modern Windows Server editions, including Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022, as it leverages the DISM tool, which is consistent across these versions.

Let’s decode the command:

• dism: This stands for Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool. It is a command-line tool used for managing Windows features, packages, and Windows image files (WIMs).
• /online: This flag indicates that the operation is being performed on the currently running (online) Windows installation. It is used to modify the features of the live system.
• /enable-feature: This flag tells DISM that you want to enable a specific feature in the operating system.
• /featurename:IIS-WebServerRole: IIS-WebServerRole is the feature that installs the core IIS Web Server components. It includes necessary IIS functions like HTTP Server, configuration management, and core modules.
• /all: This flag ensures that all required dependent features (Dependicies) for the IIS Web Server are also enabled.
• /norestart: This flag prevents Windows from restarting automatically after enabling the feature. If you want the system to restart automatically once the feature is enabled, you can omit this flag.

Enable Internet Information Services using PowerShell

In this section, we will check out how to enable IIS using PowerShell. The following are the steps.

• Open the Start menu using the shortcut Win Key + S, search for PowerShell, and run PowerShell as an Administrator.

• Enter the following command in the PowerShell and click Enter. Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName IIS-WebServerRole -All

• Now, the PowerShell will install the Internet Information Services Feature and its related dependencies. Kindly be patient.
• Once the process is completed, the system will prompt you whether you want to Restart or not. Enter Y for Restart and N for Restart later.

• Upon entering your desired value, the system will conclude the process by displaying the summary. If the Restart needed column is True, then the system strongly suggests that it requires a restart so that the changes made will reflect.

• That is it. IIS is now enabled on Windows 11 via PowerShell.

Video Walkthrough for Enabling IIS using CMD and PowerShell

Take away

This approach of enabling IIS on Windows 11 and Windows Server Editions using Command Prompt, and PowerShell is beneficial for web developers for automation, remote management, and streamlined setups. If you have any queries, kindly let us know in the comment section. For more interesting articles, stay tuned to Winsides.com. Happy Coding! Peace out!

Key Steps:

• To Enable this feature on Windows 11, we will use Windows Features.
• To access Windows Features, open Run and execute the following command. appwiz.cpl
• On the Programs and Features window, click on Turn Windows Features on or off from the left pane.
• Windows Features dialog will open now. Locate Internet Information Services and expand the tree.
• Then, expand World Wide Web Services.
• Finally, expand Security.
• Now, you can find Request Filtering Click on the checkbox to enable it. Click OK.
• That is it. The system will enable Request Filtering in IIS.

Directions to reach Request Filtering in IIS on Windows 11

Let’s get started.

• Go to the Run command using the keyboard shortcut Win Key + R.
• Enter the following command appwiz.cpl and click OK. This command will open the Programs and Features window.

• The Programs and Features window will open now. You can find Turn Windows Features on or off option from the left pane.

• Clicking on Turn Windows features on or off will open the Windows Features dialog. Here, you can find all the available optional features.
• Locate Internet Information Services from the list of services available and expand the tree.

• Now, you will find FTP, Web Management Tools, and World Wide Web Services. We have to expand the World Wide Web Services.

• You will find various features such as Application Development Features, Common HTTP Features, Health and Diagnostics, etc. Expand the Security node.

• You can find Request Filtering. Click on the checkbox next to it to enable it and click OK.

• Windows will now start searching for the required files.

• Then the system will apply the necessary changes.

• Click on Close to Close the window. A Restart is highly recommended.

• That is it. Request Filtering for IIS is now enabled on Windows 11 OS.

Request Filtering in IIS – Feature availability on various Windows Editions

This section provides information on the availability of this feature on different Windows Editions.

Key Functions of Request Filtering in IIS:

The main purpose of this feature is to restrict harmful access requests. It includes

• Restrict File Extensions
• Set Request Size Limits
• Block Specific HTTP Verbs
• Filter URL Sequences
• Deny Hidden Segments
• Control MIME Types
• Prevent Double Escaping
• Deny Unlisted Extensions
• Configure Verbose Error Responses

Information on the Go

Request filtering ensures that only legitimate requests are processed by the server, protecting it against common attack vectors such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. It also enhances server performance by reducing the processing of unnecessary or harmful requests.

Take away

Request Filtering in IIS acts as a frontline defense against malicious attacks such as directory traversal, buffer overflow, and unauthorized file access. However, it is highly recommended to use comprehensive security strategies that include application-level safeguards, Firewalls, and Regular Monitoring. I hope you are satisfied with our article and if you have any queries, kindly let us know in the comment section. For more IIS-related articles, stay tuned to Winsides.com. Happy Coding! Peace out!

Key Steps:

• To Enable IP Security for IIS in Windows 11, kindly follow the below key steps.
• Run appwiz.cpl in the Run command and click OK.
• Click on Turn Windows Features on or off in the Programs and Features window.
• In Windows Features, search and locate Internet Information Services. Click on the plus sign to expand it.
• Now, you can find World Wide Web Services. Expand it.
• Finally, Expand Security.
• You can find IP Security. Enable it and click OK.
• IP Security for IIS is now enabled.

Directions to reach IP Security for IIS on Windows 11

• The initial step is to go to the Run command. You can either use the Start menu or the keyboard combination Win Key + R.
• Once you are on the Run command, execute the following command appwiz.cpl and click OK. This command will open the Programs and Features window.

• When the Programs and Features window opens, click on the Turn Windows Features on or off option from the left pane.

• This action will open the Windows Features dialog. Here, you can find all the available optional features. Most of these features are essential for developers and IT Professionals.
• Go to Internet Information Services from the list of services available and expand it.

• Now, you will find FTP Server, Web Management Tools, and World Wide Web Services. Expand the World Wide Web Services.

• You will find various optional features such as Application Development Features, Common HTTP Features, Security, etc. Expand the Security tree.

• Under Security, locate IP Security. Click on the checkbox next to it to enable it and then click OK.

• Windows will start to search for the required files.

• Then, the system will start applying the necessary changes.

• Finally, Windows will complete the requested changes. Click Close to close the window.

• That is it. IP Security for IIS is now enabled in your Windows 11. I strongly recommend you restart your system right away.

How it works? A Practical Scenario

A company hosts its internal HR portal on IIS, accessible only to employees. To ensure security, they configure IP Address and Domain Restrictions in IIS using the IP Security. Let’s say, the administrator allows access only to the IP range 192.168.1.0 – 192.168.1.255. All other IP addresses are denied access by default. When an employee at the office tries to log in to the HR Portal, IP security will check his IP address, and make sure it falls within the specified range. If he is trying to access it from an IP address out of the range, then IIS will block the request and respond with a 403 Forbidden status.

Additionally, the Dynamic IP Restrictions feature detects this behavior and temporarily blocks the suspicious device.

IP Security in IIS – Feature availability on various Windows Editions

This section provides information on the availability of this feature on different Windows Editions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take away

If you are running an IIS-based web server, then enabling IP Security can be a powerful measure. Whether you are using it personally, or on an enterprise level, this feature from Microsoft provides an additional security layer that prevents unauthorized access and strengthens your server. For more interesting IIS-based articles, stay tuned to Winsides.com. Happy Coding! Peace out!

Leave your Feedback

If you have any queries, kindly let us know in the comment section. We love to hear from you.

Key Steps

• We will use Windows Features to enable this feature in Windows 11.
• Open Programs and Features using the Run command appwiz.cpl.
• Click on Turn Windows Features on or off from the left pane.
• Expand Internet Information Services node and then expand World Wide Web Services.
• Finally, Expand Application Development Features.
• Now, you can find .NET Extensibility 3.5, click on the checkbox next to it and click OK.
• The system will enable .NET Extensibility 3.5. That is it.

A Brief Introduction to .NET Framework 3.5

It is an extension of the .NET Framework 2.0 and 3.0 and provides a comprehensive and consistent programming model for building applications that run on Windows. It is primarily used for developing applications such as web applications using ASP.NET, Windows Desktop Applications with Windows Presentation Foundation, Service-oriented applications using Windows Communication Foundation, applications that require data manipulation with LINQ, and more.

.NET Extensibility 3.5 enhances the capabilities of web apps running on the .NET Framework especially when integrated with the IIS as mentioned in the introduction paragraph. The benefits include

• Custom HTTP Modules and Handles
• Enhanced Application Control
• Improved Performance
• Integration with ASP.NET Features
• Multiple Data Sources Support
• Service-oriented applications support

Enable .NET Extensibility 3.5 in Windows 11 – Quick Steps

Here are the steps to enable it in Windows 11.

• Go to the Run command using the keyboard shortcut Win Key + R.
• On the Run command, enter the following command appwiz.cpl and click OK. This command will open the Programs and Features window.

• Once the Programs and Features window opens, you can find Turn Windows Features on or off option from the left pane.

• Windows Features dialog will pop up now. Here, you can find all the available optional features.
• Locate Internet Information Services and expand the tree.

• Now, you will find FTP, Web Management Tools, and World Wide Web Services. Expand the World Wide Web Services.

• In this sub-section, you will find various features such as Application Development Features, Common HTTP Features, Health and Diagnostics, etc. Expand the Application Development Features node.

• You can find .NET Extensibility 3.5 there. Click on the checkbox next to it and click OK.

• Windows will now start searching for the required files.

• Then the system will apply the changes.

• Click Restart if you are prompted to restart or click Close accordingly. However, it is suggested that the changes be restarted right away so that they will be reflected.

Take away

By enabling .NET Extensibility 3.5 in Windows 11, you ensure that your ASP.NET applications can utilize these custom components, enhancing their functionality and integration with IIS. If you’re developing applications that rely on these features, it’s essential to have this component enabled. If you have any queries, do let us know in the comment section. For more interesting articles, stay tuned to winsides.com. Happy Coding! Peace out!

Like our article?

Kindly give us a review. We would love to hear your feedback.