The 'Requested Operation Requires Elevation' error is a common Windows 11 permission issue that prevents users from executing commands, accessing protected files, or modifying system settings. This article breaks down the root causes behind the error and offers effective solutions, enabling you to safely resolve the issue and perform administrative tasks without recurring access errors.
My main problems are that some of the solutions I try require me to use CMD prompt and doing "netsh interface teredo set state", when I do this it says, "the requested operation requires elevation (Run as administrator). I've tried a little bit of everything, changing permissions on my drives (specifically my D: drive where FH4 is saved) to counteract the titled "run as admin" problem; still nothing.
- Question from Anonymou
If you have ever been blocked by a pop-up window stating that the "requested operation requires elevation", you aren't alone. It is one of the most common hurdles for Windows users, ranging from those on legacy systems to Windows 11 and 11. This error can prevent you from running essential software, modifying system settings, or even accessing your own external hard drives.
In the world of Windows, "Elevation" refers to the process of gaining higher-level administrative privileges. When you see this error, it means the task you are trying to perform, whether it’s running a specific app, deleting a folder, or executing a command, requires "Administrator" level access that your current session doesn't have. Essentially, Windows is acting as a security guard, stopping a process because it lacks the proper credentials.
Several factors can trigger this security prompt. Identifying the specific cause can save your time during the troubleshooting process and prevent the error happen again in the future. The common causes including:
❌Standard User Account: You are logged into an account that doesn't have administrative rights.
❌UAC (User Account Control): The system's built-in security filter is set too high.
❌Ownership Issues: The file or folder was created by a different user or on a different computer.
❌Corrupt System Files: Essential Windows files responsible for permission handling are damaged.
❌Strict Antivirus Settings: Sometimes third-party security software blocks "elevated" commands to prevent malware.
Once you’ve identified the likely culprit, it's time to roll up your sleeves. This section provides several solutions to fix the "Requested operation requires elevation" error. Let's explore them one by one.
The permissions assigned to the file or location you’re trying to access is one of the most common reasons. Incorrect ownership or access rights can easily trigger the "requested operation requires elevation" Windows 11 error.
Step 1. Locate the file, folder or drive in the File Explorer and right click on it, then click "Properties".
Step 2. Under the "Security" tab, click "Advanced".
Step 3. Click "Change" in the "Owner" field and change it to your administrator account or the account you are currently using.
Step 4. Click "Advanced" and grant the "Full Control" permissions for your account.
Step 5. Click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes.
After correcting permissions, you may find you can perform the task without further elevation errors. If not, proceed to the next solution.
If the error occurs while running a command or a program, one of the simplest yet most effective fixes is to manually grants elevated privileges for the program or Command Prompt.
Step 1. Right click on the application or Command Prompt in the Start menu or desktop.
Step 2. Select "Run as administrator" and confirm the UAC prompt. This often resolves "requested operation requires elevation" errors immediately.
The "Requested Operation Requires Elevation" error can sometimes appear when the application you’re trying to run is not fully compatible with your version of Windows. Running the app in Compatibility Mode can often fix this problem.
Step 1. Right click on the program and select "Properties" from the context menu.
Step 2. Go to the "Compatibility" tab, check the box of "Run this program in compatibility mode for", and select an earlier Windows version.
Step 3. Click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes. Then, restart the app to check if the error is removed.
The default Administrator account operates without UAC restrictions and can bypass many permission-related issues, including the "Requested operation requires elevation" error. Here's how:
Step 1. Locate Command Prompt in the Start menu and right click on it, then choose "Run as administrator".
Step 2. Enter the following command "net user administrator /active:yes" and hit the "Enter" key.
Step 3. Log out the current account and sign in the Administrator account.
If your current profile is misconfigured or corrupted, creating a fresh administrator account can "resolve the request operation requires elevation" error. Follow these steps:
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Accounts" > "Other users".
Step 2. Click "Add someone else to this PC" and follow the prompts to create a new local account.
Step 3. Click the newly created account and select "Change account type".
Step 4. Select "Administrator" from the drop menu and click "OK" to save the changes.
User Account Control is a core Windows security feature, but if the UAC is overly restrictive, it can interfere with legitimate administrative tasks. Temporarily disabling UAC can fix this error. However, this will lower your system security, so remember to re-enable it once you’re done.
Step 1. Go to "Control Panel" > "User Accounts" > "Change User Account Control settings".
Step 2. Move the slider to "Never notify" and click "OK" to save the change.
Restart your computer for the changes to take affect and see if the error "Requested operation requires elevation" is still here.
The Group Policy Editor is a Windows feature that provides advanced settings control. It allows you to modify system settings that are not usually available through the standard user interface. On Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, Group Policy settings can restrict elevation behavior.
Step 1. Press "Win" + "R" and input "gpedit.msc" in the Run dialog, then click "OK" to open Group Policy Editor window.
Step 2. Navigate to the following path:
Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
Step 3. Scroll down and locate the "User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode".
Step 4. Double click on it and choose "Elevate without prompting" from the drop menu, then click "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes.
After applying changes, restart your system for them to take effect. Running the program or command to check if the "Requested operation requires elevation" error continues.
System file corruption can sometimes trigger false permission errors, including the "requested operation requires elevation". Repairing system files ensures Windows components are functioning correctly.
Step 1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Enter the following command:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
Wait for the scan to complete and restart your PC.
Some third-party antivirus programs aggressively block elevated actions, mistakenly flagging them as threats. Temporarily disable real-time protection in your antivirus software and try the blocked operation again to see if the error is resolved. Once this process is complete, be sure to turn your antivirus software back on to protect your system.
When the "requested operation requires elevation" occurs on an external hard drive or a specific partition, there is a risk that the file structure has become "locked" or RAW. If the above permission changes don't work, you shouldn't keep stress-testing the drive, as you might risk data loss.
In these instances, using a dedicated data recovery tool like MyRecover is the safest bet. It can bypass the OS-level permission restrictions to read the data on the drive directly and extract them to a new location. Its AI-embedded file recognition and recovery algorithm ensures that no deleted files are missed. Follow these steps to recover your data using MyRecover:
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your Windows PC from Microsoft Store, avoid installing it on the drive with lost files.
Step 2. Launch the application and select the drive to scan for recoverable files, then click "Scan".
Step 3. Choose the files you would like to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover".
Step 4. Select a different drive to save the recovered files to prevent from overwriting the original files.
Once the recovery process is completed, the message "Files have been recovered successfully" will pop up. Then, you can verify the recovered files in the destination folder by clicking on the "Browse" button.
The "requested operation requires elevation" error on Windows 11 is not a system flaw, it’s a safeguard. Although this may seem like a complex issue, you should be able to solve it easily with the methods listed above.
If permission issues are accompanied by accidental file loss, professional recovery tool MyRecover can help. Its Professional edition offers unlimited data recovery capacity, file content preview before restoration, and even support recovery from unbootable computer, making it a reliable option when files get lost due to system error.