How to Enable/Disable User Account Control In Windows 10

There are probably a lot of times while you are using a program in Windows, a screen that looks like the one shown below. This security feature is called UAC or User Account Control. Do you find it irritating? Feel like turning it off? Then you’ve come to the right place.

How to disable UAC

In this guide, we would discuss what User Account Control or UAC is and what are the different ways to disable it. Also, why it should not be disabled on Windows 10 systems.

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What is User Account Control?

User Account Control or UAC is a security feature that blocks unauthorized changes to the system. Moreover, it makes sure that no application will run without administrative permissions/make changes to your computer unless you allow it to do so.

That can be important because, without it, a virus wouldn’t have to use tricks to infect your device.

When an application has to make changes on your computer, the UAC will pop-up and ask if you’ll allow it to do so—thus giving it administrative permissions until you close it.

Tip: Clicking the buttons with the shield icon would trigger the UAC pop-up.

Why Not to Disable User Account Control?

Though many might find it irritating or useless feature, User Account Control is essential to remain enabled for a secure system. If any program (can be a malware) wants to take control of your device, without UAC, it can do that easily.

Usually, users disable it when they are installing multiple desktop applications and enable it again when they complete the installation. Deactivating it would stop the annoying UAC dialogues. Later, you can enable the UAC dialogues to get notification whenever some app asks to change

However, some desktop apps that make a lot of system changes may not work after you enable the UAC again. Also, when you disable the User Account Control, the virtualization techniques it uses for all applications are inactive. It causes certain user settings and files to be installed at a different place. They will not work when you enable UAC again.

Disable this only if you are a tech-savvy person or if you truly trust your security programs.

Disabling this feature from the administrator account will make all computer applications run with administrative privileges, which is not a good thing.

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How to Disable User Account Control in Windows 10

Now that you know the vulnerabilities of disabling the User Account Control on Windows 10 system, if you still want to take the risk of maiming it on your system, you can do it using several ways.

Disable User Account Control using Control Panel

  1. Open Control Panel

    The first thing that you’ll have to do is to open the control panel. Go to the left part of your taskbar where you’ll find the search bar, then type Control Panel and open it

  2. Go to User Account Settings

    Now you just need to go into the user account settings, to do that, click on User Accounts, and do the same with the next window for this screen to come up.
    How to disable UAC

  3. At this point, all you have to do is to click on Change User Account Control Settings. 

  4. Disable User Account Control

    Now you can disable or enable UAC. To completely disable it, just drag the bar all the way down.
    How to turn off UAC

That’s it. Sliding it up will enable it again. The further you go, the more often that you’ll have it popping up on your screen.


Disable User Account Control using Command Prompt

  • Run Command Prompt as Administrator from Windows searchOpen Command Prompt as Administrator
  • Type or copy & paste the following command in Command Prompt and press Enter: reg.exe ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /fDisable UAC using cmd
  • It would prompt you to restart the computer so that UAC is disabled.

To enable UAC again type or copy & paste the following command: reg.exe ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f.


Disable User Account Control using Group Policy

Disclaimer: This method would not work for Windows 10 Home users as Group Policy Editor is not available for them.

  • In the Windows search bar, type Group Policy, and click on Edit Group Policy icon.Open Gpedit
  • In Local Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration -> Windows SettingsComputer Configuration
  • Under Windows Settings, navigate to Security Settings->Local Policies->Security OptionsSecurity options
  • Scroll down and look for User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval ModeAdmin Approval Mode
  • Double-click on it and change from Enabled to Disabled and click OK to disable the User Account Control.Disable UAC using gpedit

Disable UAC using Registry Key

  • Press Windows icon + R to open Run Command Window.
  • Type regedit and hit the Enter key.Regedit
  • Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
  • Then, find and double click on the Key – EnableLUA and change its Value data to 0.Disable UAC using regedit
  • Click OK and restart your computer.
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FAQ: User Account Control Windows 10

1. What does User Account Control do?

User Account Control restricts the applications to run without Administrator permission.

2. What triggers UAC?

Whenever you open an application or try to make some amendments in settings that require administrative privileges, you are prompt with a UAC box. 

3. Should I disable UAC Windows 10?

It is recommended not to disable the UAC since it alerts you before giving admin privilege to any application so that you can be sure that no wrong app is granted the rights.

5 thoughts on “How to Enable/Disable User Account Control In Windows 10”

  1. The problem with this option is it breaks many parts of Windows – some built in applications don’t run and some run but with a false error message about not being able to be run by the built-in administrator.

    Reply
    • This should not have affected whether or not you can edit the registry. It would have simply stopped asking you to authorize it.
      You sure that you’re using the same User Account?

      Reply

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