Enable or Disable UAC From the Windows Vista Command Line
If you've used Windows Vista for more than 3.7 minutes, you know what UAC (User Account Control) is.. it's the obnoxious, nagging popup window that will be your life for the next 3-5 years unless you switch back to XP in frustration, or to a better OS like… OS X, Suse, Ubuntu, or even XP.
Note: Disabling UAC will lead to a less secure system, so be warned.
Windows needs your permission to annoy the crap out of you:
There's a quick way you can enable or disable this annoying window from the command line:
Disable UAC
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Enable UAC
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
After you enable or disable UAC, you will have to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.
You can also enable or disable this from the Control Panel if you choose.
Thanks for the tip. However, it would probably be easier if you posted some screenshots using regedit instead.
Frank,
I agree, and I've posted another easier to use tutorial. You should see it in the related how-tos list.
Fantastic tip! Command line control of my Vista box via SSH is a reality now.
Thanks a bunch.
If you are a computer administrator, and you still want to keep UAC for standard users, there's an easy way to turn it off for administrators only. Just open Local Security Policy from Administrative Tools in the Control Panel. Then go to Local Policies > Security Options. Scroll all the way down and find where it says something like: USER ACCOUNT CONTROL: Behavior of elevation prompt for administrtors in Admin. Approval Mode;
Just double-click it and then click the drop down list and change it to "elevate without prompting."
UAC should no longer annoy administrators. ^_^
when i try this it's prompt "access refuse"
do you know why
I am having a problems with "Windows needs your permission to continue" box. For some reason it won't allow me to click OK. The OK button isn't highlighted. It will only allow me to press Cancel. I think it has something to do with being an administrator. I don't think my computer has an adminstrator account. I only have standard accounts. Everytime I try to change the User accounts or try to create a new user account as the administrator the "Windows needs your permission to continue" box comes up but I cannot press OK so I cannot create an administrator account. Does anyone know what I am talking about or can someone help me with this?
Whenever SP1 comes out for Vista, MS will have to fix this UAC mess. its utterly useless for corporate LANSs and annoying to home users.
Sure, I get my unwanted share of the "Windows needs your permission to continue" pop-up, but my undoing will be the "an unidentified program wants to access your computer". I've tried all three options for turning off UAC that I've found around here. The command line approach simply results in "error: access denied". I don't show "Local Security Policy" from Administrative Tools in the Control Panel. And when I open up Control Panel, and type in "user account" into the search box, I don't get the "turn user account control (UAC) on or off" option in my list.
I have Vista Home Premium, and I'm an administrator. I suppose the rest of you geeks are using some fancy "pro" version of Vista, huh? Lucky bastards! (ha!)
I decompress files using WinRAR about 30 times a day, and I have to wait through all the screen-dancing and then click "allow" every single time — perhaps one of the stupidest things I've seen yet from the helpful, caring folks at MS. I agree with a lot of the opinions that I've seen posted here in geek-ville, with most folks sayin' that UAC is generally a good thing, even if it is a bit cumbersome and bothersome at times. Perhaps a well-intentioned screwup.
What I'M looking for is a way that I can turn UAC on and off at will, even though it seems I'll have to reboot — at least with the cmd line method — if it ever works for me. I'll run all my "bad, bad" programs for about 15 glorious minutes, and then I'll turn it back on. Sounds simple, but I haven't been able to do it. Two shortcuts, one for ON and one for OFF would be delightful. Any ideas? Can anyone help the poor "home user"? (Geez, if I can't do this stuff with home premium, I can't imagine what home basic is like!)
Thanks to all!
Doug
My issue is slightly different and I was hoping one of you had an idea on how to go about fixing it. I'm running Vista and am trying to get access to my files from my old PC, I've connected the drive to one of the free ata ports and it seems to be functioning just fine except that Vista keeps telling me that I don't have access to about 90% of the files held on it. I attempt to take ownership of the files and directories but this doesn't seem to have any effect. I'd really like to copy my files over and format the old drive so I can get a clean start, but I'm stuck. : /
I tried to disable UAC from thw Windows Vista, but it did not work. When I typed the command line, it said "Access Denied". I guess it is because I am not tagged as the Administrator of the computer. But I do not know why I am not the Admin.. I just bought my PC three days ago, and when I turned it on for the first time, it only asked me my User Account Name and a Password, it never gave me the opportunity to choose from being an Administrator o the other type of account. So, I do not know how to change my account to be an Administrator type. Can you help me?
PS: Sorry I did not left this question in the forum. I do not desire to have an account in this page.
Hey,
this uac thingy has been doing my head in!
ive had vista (ultimate) installed for about 27 days now, and i have to say im quite suprised. i like it!
while it has (alot) of downfalls i can see where MS have improved it alot!
anyway i used the editing the Local Security thing, and its all working fine after a little tweak, i just started looking up how to tweak it up today so im hoping i can get it all running faster and that
Dan
Well I have noticed some of you can not disable the UAC in Vista…….it is in the "Control Panel" then under
your "User Accounts" then select your profile(assuming your have are administrator) Now st the bottom of the BODY of the window you should see "Turn User Account Control on or off" once there, uncheck "User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer" once unchecked click "Ok" once done you should be prompted
to restart. To turn back on do same process!
Hi,
Same problem as a lot of people who have Windows Vista Home Premium. There is no access to local security policy. Has anyone got a hack to force local security policies? I cannot see my workgroup - I have a Linux server running Samba, which all of my Windows XP Home PCs see perfectly, but this damn Vista refuses to see it. I have tried everything I've found on the internet. I have tried the registry hack of changing lsa to '1′, but still no help.
Hep??
Thanks to ssjtrunks!
Your procedure worked perfectly for me using Vista Home premium. The other three procedures found here (see my initial post) did not work, and, of course, Windows "Help" was no help. Anyway, now I can turn off UAC and eliminate all the pop-ups and delays and blinking screens while I run a large batch of WinRAR decompressions, among other things, and then turn it back on. Of course, we have to re-boot after each change to the UAC, but hey…
Thank you - Thank you - Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!!!
Doug
There is no local security policy in windows vist home premium for me, it is not listed under the mmc when i go to add the snap-in. Also, there is no administrative tools either WTF??? I can see vista is going to be fun to work with. What is the deal anyone know of this problem?
Hello fellow PC users, to make it simple just follow these steps for vista home and premium UAC…
Control panel–>user accounts and family safety–>user accounts–>Turn User Account Control on or off
That should take you right there…
I have a totally different question… I'm a rookie when it comes to the command line… I would like to learn as much commands and syntax as I can.. does anyone know any cool things I can do with it.. Any useful commands? Email me @ juic3@tmail.com
Leon, regarding Vista and Samba, it is a bug in Vista. Instead of access the samba server by name, use the IP address. \\{IP Address}\share_name.
Has anyone had this problem with UAC, when I disable it, my windows defender automatically turns it back on. What the heck is that about? I reboot the computer after disabling UAC, then when windows comes back up it says it had to turn it back on so the functions of windows defender could stay afloat, or some jazz to that effect.
i think when i did it it came up u just have to click allow…
Okay i had it turned off for ages, but how can i also disable the annouying security alert which keeps tlling me i have it disabled?
i always have the red shield and it pops up the ballon going OMG you like dont have UAC on! you might actually be able to use your computer as a administrator!!!
Okay, questions about this.
With command line, you mean regedit right?
Because I tried with the command prompt and it did absolutely nothing. So, yeah
A Quick Widget To Turn on And OFF UAC is in development of core u still have to do a soft reboot