Share via

How to fix "the requested operation requires elevation"

Alan Connolly 5 Reputation points
2026-02-12T14:50:32.98+00:00

I am a global administrator and am receiving the following "the requested operation requires elevation" when trying to install programs on a new machine. I have tried all troubleshooting but cant resolve. Any suggestions appreciated.

<Moved from Office/Access>

Windows for business | Windows 365 Business
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Domic Vo 22,685 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-12T15:50:08.5466667+00:00

    Hello Alan Connolly,

    The error message “the requested operation requires elevation” indicates that the installer is attempting to run with administrative privileges, but the process is being launched without elevation. Even though you are a global administrator in Microsoft 365, that role does not automatically grant local administrative rights on the Windows machine itself.

    You need to confirm that your account is part of the local Administrators group on the device. Open compmgmt.msc, expand Local Users and Groups > Groups, and check the membership of Administrators. If your account is missing, add it. If the machine is Azure AD joined, go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school > Connected to Azure AD, then select Manage Azure AD roles and ensure your account is listed under Device administrators.

    Once confirmed, you should run the installer explicitly with elevation. Right‑click the installer executable and choose Run as administrator. If you are deploying via Intune or Endpoint Manager, make sure the app deployment is configured with Install behavior = System rather than User, otherwise elevation will fail.

    If you have already checked these and the problem persists, it may be due to User Account Control (UAC) policies. Verify the registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System and ensure EnableLUA is set to 1. If it is disabled, elevation prompts will not appear, and installers requiring elevation will fail.

    I hope you've found something useful here. If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it's appreciated to accept the answer. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message. Have a nice day!

    Domic Vo.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

  2. AI answer

    2026-02-12T14:50:45.4166667+00:00

    The error message "the requested operation requires elevation" typically indicates that the action you are trying to perform requires administrative privileges. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

    1. Run as Administrator: Right-click on the installer or the program you are trying to run and select "Run as administrator". This will provide the necessary elevation for the operation.
    2. Check User Account Control (UAC) Settings: Ensure that UAC is configured properly. If UAC is set to its highest level, it may prevent certain operations from executing without explicit elevation.
    3. Group Policy Settings: If you are in a corporate environment, check if there are any Group Policy settings that might be restricting your ability to perform installations or require elevation for certain actions.
    4. Local Security Policy: You can check the Local Security Policy to ensure that the account you are using has the necessary permissions to install software. Navigate to Local Security Policy > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment and check the settings for "Allow log on locally" and "Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode".
    5. Check for Managed Applications: If the application is designated as a managed application in a corporate environment, it may require specific permissions to install or modify. Ensure that the application is properly assigned through Group Policy.
    6. Reboot the Machine: Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve permission issues that may be causing the elevation error.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to check the event logs for any additional error messages that could provide more context on the problem.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.