Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?
Sign up for my daily Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter!
One of the things I like most about Microsoft Windows is the ability to create shortcuts on the Windows Desktop that simplify the execution of common tasks.
For example, I find myself creating a lot of System Restore Points on my PC so I created a handy desktop shortcut that creates a new Restore Point every time I click on it.
This particular shortcut makes it easy for me to quickly create a Restore Point at any time without having to wade through a series of menus.
As you can see, desktop shortcuts can really come in handy. However, they do have one rather irritating limitation.
If the task initiated by the shortcut involves anything that happens at the system level, the shortcut likely won’t work as intended unless you right-click on it and select “Run as administrator”.
What’s more, you have to remember to do the right-click step every time if you want to complete the task at hand.
While small, that extra step can be significant if you’re pressed for time, and who isn’t these days?
Luckily, it’s easy to make a simple tweak to your shortcuts that will force them to always “Run as administrator” by default. Here’s how:
1 – Right-click on the shortcut, then select Properties from the drop-down menu.
2 – Click the Advanced button.
3 – Check the box beside Run as administrator.
4 – Click OK, then click OK again.
That’s all there is to it. From now on your shortcut should work without having to manually assign administrator privileges to it.