How to Run a Program as Different user in Windows 11/10.
In Windows 10/11, you can easily run any program with an administrator account or as a different user, depending on what you want to do, and in this post we'll show you how to do it.
Windows can handle programs individually for each user account. So when you want to launch an application with the privileges of another user account, you can do so without having to log out of your account to log in to the other one, using the "Run as a different user" option.
In this guide, we will show you various methods to run as a different user any application or program in Windows 10/11.
- Run as different user after pressing SHIFT & Right-Click.
- Enable "Run as different user on Start" on Windows 11 Settings.
- Show "Run as different user" on Start on Windows 10 using Registry.
- Run as a different user any program opened in the Taskbar.
- Show "Run as different user" command on Start in Group Policy.
- Run as different user from Command Prompt.
- Add "Run as different user" option in Context Menu using Registry.
How to Open a Program or Application as a Different User on Windows 10/11.*
* Important Note: It's important to note that you can only run the program as another user if that user has a password set. Running as a user with an empty password won't work.
Step 1. Before you can run any program using a different account, you must first make sure that the "Secondary Logon" service (also known as "seclogon") is running. To do that:
1. Press Windows + R keys to to open the Run command box.
2. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
3. In Services, locate the Secondary Logon and check if it Running. If, close the Services windows and use one of the below methods to run any program as a different user.
4. If the Secondary Logon service is not running, right-click on it and select Properties.
5. Proceed and change the Startup type to Automatic and then Start the Service. Then click Apply & OK and close all windows. When done, use one of the methods below to open any application as a different user.
Method 1. Use SHIFT Key to Run as Different User any program.
The simplest to open any program or application as a different user is by using the "Run as different user" option in right-click context menu after pressing the SHIFT key.
1. Locate the application or its shortcut that you want to open as a different user.
2. Press and hold down the SHIFT key, and then right-click on the application.
3. Click on "Run as different user" option.
4. In the Windows Security window that appears, enter the Username and Password of the user you want the application to run as, and then click OK. *
* Please keep in mind:
1. If you plan to run the program as an Active Directory user, you must provide the user name in either UserPrincipalName (eg, "user@domain.com), or samAccountName (e.g. "DomainName\Username") format.
2. If your computer is part of an Active Directory domain but you want to run the program on behalf of a local user account, specify the username in this format:
- .\localusername.
Method 2. Enable the "Run as Different User" for Programs in Start menu on Windows 11.
In Windows 11, there is a dedicated setting to show the "Run as different user" option after right-clicking on any program of the Start menu. *
* Note: For Windows 10, see the next method.
1. Click Start > Settings and then select Privacy & Security on the left.
2. Now, on the right, click on For Developers section and then expand the File Explorer options.
3. Set the "Show option to run as a different user in Start" switch to On and you're done.
4. From now on, after right-clicking on any Start menu application you'll see the "Run as different user" option after clicking More.
Method 3. Enable the "Run as Different User" in Start menu on Windows 10.
To show the "Run as Different User" option, in any application on Start menu.
1. Press Windows + R keys to open the run command box.
2. Type regedit and hit Enter.
3. In Registry navigate to this location:*
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
* Note: If the "Explorer" key is missing, right-click on the Windows key and select New > Key. Then rename the new key to "Explorer".
4. Select the "Explorer" key on the left and then on the right pane, right-click at an empty space and select New DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Rename the new value as: ShowRunAsDifferentUserInStart
6. Double-click to open the created value, type 1 in Value Data box and click OK.
7. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the change.
8. After restarting you'll be able to see the "Rub as different user" option after right-clicking on any application in the Start menu, under the More option.
Method 4. Run as Different User any Application from the Taskbar.
In Windows 10/11, you have the ability to open any open application in the taskbar, by using this procedure.
1. Open the application that you want to run as a different user and then right-click on its taskbar icon.
2. Now hold down the SHIFT key and right-click on the application's name (above the "Pin to taskbar" option).
3. Finally, click the Run as different user option from the right-context menu.
Method 5. Show "Run as Different User" command in Start using Group Policy Editor.
If you're running Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise version, you can enable the "Run as Different User" option in Start menu for applications that support this functionality.
1. Press Windows + R keys to open the run command box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter.
3. In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to this path:
- User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
4. At the right side, double-click to open the Show "Run as different user" command on Start. *
* Note: If you don't find this policy, follow the instructions on method-3 above, to enable it in Registry.
5. Set the policy to Enabled and click Apply > OK.
6. Close the Group Policy editor and then close and re-open File Explorer to view the "Run as Different User" option, after right-clicking at any app of the Start menu that supports it.
Method 6. Run an application as a different user from Command prompt.
If you want to open a program in command prompt environment as a different user you can use the "RunAs" command. This command also allows you to save the user's password to the Windows Credential Manager, so you don't have to enter it every time.
1. To open a program as different user, use this command:*
- runas /user:USERNAME "FullProgramPath\Program"
* Note: In the above command, replace the "USERNAME" with the username of the account you want to run the program. In "FullProgramPath", type the location of the program on the disk and then in "Program", type the name of the program (e.g. the name of the .exe file).
For example: If you want to open the Notepad application, using the account "wuser", type this command:
- runas /user:wuser "C:\Windows\notepad.exe"
Tip: If the username contains spaces, enclose it in quotation marks:
- runas /user:"john doe" "C:\Windows\notepad.exe"
2. In the next window, a prompt will appear asking you to enter the password for the user. Type the password and press Enter.
Other examples:
1. To run a program on a machine joined in a Domain as another domain user, give this command:
- runas user:Domain\Username "C:\Windows\notepad.exe"
2. To run a program on a machine joined in a Domain, using a user from another domain, give this command:
- runas /netonly /user:Domain\Username "C:\Windows\notepad.exe"
3. To run a program on machine not joined to a domain, using a domain user, give this command:
- runas /env /profile /user:Domain\Username "C:\Windows\notepad.exe"
4. To run a program on machine joined to a domain, using a local user, give this command:
- runas user:ComputerName\Username "C:\Windows\notepad.exe"Â
Method 7. Always Show the "Run as different user" in Context Menu using Registry
If you want to always show the "Run as Different User" option on the right-click context menu of any supported application (e.g. EXE, CMD, BAT, MSI, etc.), without having to press the SHIFT key, follow the steps below:
1. Press Windows + R keys to open the run command box.
2. Type regedit and hit Enter.
3. In Registry navigate to the "shell" key of the "CMD" files, at this location:
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell
3a. Right-click on the shell key and choose New > Key.
3b. Rename the New Key to: runasuser.
4a. Now select the runasuser key and in the right pane, double-click to open the Default REG_SZ value.
4b. In Value data box type @shell32.dll,-50944 and then click OK.
5a. Now, right-click anywhere at the empty space and choose New > String Value.
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5b. Rename the new value as: SuppressionPolicyEx.
5c. Double-click the SuppressionPolicyEx value, type in the value data box {F211AA05-D4DF-4370-A2A0-9F19C09756A7} and click OK to save the change.
6. Now right-click on the runasuser key on the left pane a create a new key with name command.
7a. Select the command key and then right-click on the blank space in the to create a New String Value with name: DelegateExecute
7b. Finally, open the DelegateExecute value, add {ea72d00e-4960-42fa-ba92-7792a7944c1d} in the Value data field and press OK to save the changes.
8. By following these steps, you've successfully added the Run as Different user option for CMD files in the right-click context menu of File Explorer.
9. Repeat the same steps for BAT, MSC, MSI, and EXE files by creating the above mentioned keys and values in the following locations one by one:
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mscfile\shell
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell
10. When done, restart your PC to apply the changes.
11. From now on, when you open the right-click context menu on any of these file types you should see the "Run as different user" option available.
That's it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
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