When you need to install a program as an administrator, you can right-click on the .exe file and select Run as administrator. However, that option isn't available for MSI packages. We will show you how to add an Install as administrator option for MSI packages.

01_selecting_run_as_administrator

To add the Install as administrator option to the context menu for MSI packages, right-click on the Start button and select Run from the command menu, if you're using Windows 8.1. If you're using Windows 7 or another earlier version, select Run from the Start menu.

NOTE: You can also press the Windows key + R to access the Run dialog box.

02_selecting_run_from_winx_menu

Enter "regedit" (without the quotes) in the Open edit box and click OK.

03_entering_regedit_on_run_dialog

If the User Account Control dialog box displays, click Yes to continue.

NOTE: You may not see this dialog box, depending on your User Account Control settings.

04_uac_dialog_for_regedit

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Msi.Package\shell

Right-click on the shell key and select New | Key from the popup menu.

05_creating_new_key

The new key is added as a sub-key under shell. Rename it to "runas" (without the quotes).

06_renaming_new_key

Right-click on the Default value in the right pane and select Modify from the popup menu.

NOTE: You can also double-click on Default to edit its value.

07_modifying_default_value_for_runas_key

On the Edit String dialog box, enter "Install as &administrator" (without the quotes) in the Value data edit box and click OK.

08_entering_value_data_for_runas

Now, you need to add a sub-key to the runas key. Right-click on the runas key and select New | Key from the popup menu. Rename the sub-key "command" (without the quotes).

09_creating_new_subkey

Select the command sub-key and double-click Default in the right pane to edit its value. On the Edit String dialog box, enter the following in the Value data edit box:

msiexec /i "%1"

Click OK.

10_entering_value_data_for_command

Close the Registry Editor by selecting Exit from the File menu.

11_closing_registry_editor

Now, when you right-click on an MSI installation package file, the Install as administrator option is available.

12_selecting_install_as_administrator

When you select the Install as administrator option, the User Account Control dialog box may display, as shown at the beginning of this article, depending on your UAC settings.