The "requested operation requires elevation" error when opening documents after a Windows 11 update

Question

After updating my Windows 11 PC. Not only did I lose the printer but I cant open documents. If I open excel first, then file open through the program it opens. But try to open it from a folder it comes up with "requested operation requires elevation". I've uninstalled the update KB5074109, but issues still exist. The printer will work now via USB but not wirelessly - an error occurs. How do I fix the issue of opening files from the folders?

Answer 1

Does this problem happen with all file types (Word, Excel, PDF), or only with Excel files?

Could you please confirm if you’re signed in with an administrator account? Right-click the app ( Excel) and select Run as administrator, then try opening the file again.

Please try repairing Windows using the recovery option go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Recovery, then select Fix problems using Windows Update and follow the prompts.

Answer 2

The "requested operation requires elevation" error typically indicates that the operation you're trying to perform requires administrative privileges. Since you've already uninstalled the update KB5074109 and are still experiencing issues, here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Run as Administrator: Try running the applications (like Excel) as an administrator. Right-click on the application icon and select "Run as administrator" to see if that resolves the issue.
2. Check User Account Control (UAC) Settings: Sometimes, UAC settings can cause issues with file access. You can adjust the UAC settings by searching for "UAC" in the Start menu and moving the slider down to "Never notify" (though this is not recommended for security reasons).
3. Repair Office Installation: If the issue persists with Office applications, consider repairing the Office installation. Go to "Settings" > "Apps" > "Apps & features", find Microsoft Office, click on it, and select "Modify" to repair.
4. Check File Associations: Ensure that the file types you are trying to open are associated with the correct applications. Right-click on a file, select "Open with", and choose the appropriate program.
5. Registry Edit: If you are comfortable with it, you can check the registry for any settings that might be causing this issue. However, be cautious when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can lead to system issues.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider checking for any additional updates or patches that may address this problem, as updates can sometimes introduce new issues that are later resolved in subsequent updates.

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References:

• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 24H2
• You receive an error message when you try to open an Office document