How To Fix “The Requested Operation Requires Elevation” Error

Windows 7 logo

While executing some commands in Windows 7 (or Windows Vista) command prompt, you may see some error message like

The requested operation requires elevation

This may also appear sometimes when you are installing some older applications in your Windows 7.

In my case the above error popped in while I was trying to run a “netstat –b” command from the Windows 7 command prompt. You may also end with the same error if you try to other commands like “ipconfig /flush” or “ipconfig /release” etc.

requested operation requires elevation error

This error arises so because, some programs like this need to be run with elevated privileges even though you did turn off UAC (User Account Control). However, there is a simple solution available for this, all you need to do is that run the command prompt with administrative (elevated) privileges.

Solution:

To solve this error, go to Start > Type cmd in the search box, you will the result cmd.exe under programs. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.

run_cmd_administrator_1

Now run the same command and you will no longer get any error messages and the command gets executed in the right manner.

Command prompt with elevated administrator rights

If you are wondering so as to how to find whether you are running the command prompt with Administrator privileges or not, use the following hint:

If you are running command prompt as an admin, you will see the word “Administrator” in the CMD window title. Checkout the following screenshot, which depicts the difference between the two CMD windows.

Difference between the command prompt windows

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17 thoughts on “How To Fix “The Requested Operation Requires Elevation” Error”

  1. now what? do I just close out and reopen what I want? or do I keep working like this?  ??? What am I to expect from here?
    Thanks.

  2. after i ran it as admin i did \ipconfig /release\ and it says \an error occuredwhile releasing interface Loopback Pseudo-Interface 1: The system cannot find the file specified.\ \The operation failed as no adapter is in the state permissible for this operation.

  3. When trying to open a spreadsheet, i get the folowing error: The requested operation requires elevation. I am the administrator, uninstalled and installed office, but still get the same error,
    Please assist?

  4. Sorry pals… but it doesn’t work… I am not only the administrator but also the ONLY user. For haven’s it is my own computer…:(

  5. this solves the problem for novice users who rarely use the command prompt. Anyone who has ever spent more than 5 minutes troubleshooting networks, gathering information, etc DOES NOT POINT AND CLICK TO ACCESS THE COMMAND LINE!!! If you do, you need to step away from the computer and give it to charity so hopefully a kid can get it and learn something.

    When is the last time any real IT person did not use Win+R, cmd to get to the shell??? Besides this is not a FIX, it is a work around for lamers. Considering I’ve avoided vista/7 like the plague I guess I have to figure this one out on my own b/c I will never point/click to get to a command shell.

    Lamers

  6. Yes…this is not a solution…this makes it so EVERYTIME I need to use the console I have to select RunAsAdmin…this is a very slow way to get a console screen up….is there some sort of switch or addendum that I can add to cmd.exe when I run it from Ctrl-R?

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