Unable to "allow this app to make changes to your device"

Question

I have successfully downloaded a new program and am unable to complete the installation process.

When I progress with the installation process a prompt comes up that says "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?

To continue, enter an admin username and password.

The admin username is my supervisor's email address and I'm not able to adjust it.

I must then enter a PIN. I've tried her PIN, I've tried my PIN. I've tried resetting my PIN and restarting my computer. Always the same error that it's incorrect.

If I follow the "I forgot my PIN" prompt it only tells me how to reset my own PIN. My supervisor was able to download the same program and was able to use her PIN successfully.

Please help

Answer 1

Hi Heather Green,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand how frustrating this is, especially when the app downloads successfully but then gets blocked right at the final step.

I can see that Q&A Assist has already shared an initial answer, so I’ll summarize and clarify it here for you.

What’s happening here is related to Windows security (the “Allow this app to make changes to your device” prompt). That prompt is tied to the administrator account set up on this computer, which in your case shows your supervisor’s account.

For this type of approval, Windows requires the administrator account’s password, not a PIN. A PIN only works on the specific device where it was set up, so even if the PIN works on your supervisor’s computer, it won’t be accepted on yours.

To move forward, here are the recommended options:

• Ask your supervisor to sign in directly on your device using her account and complete the installation while logged in. This is usually the quickest and most reliable solution.
• If this is a work‑managed device, your IT administrator may need to update the device’s admin settings, for example, allowing password‑based approval or adding another local administrator account for installations.

I know this is inconvenient, but it’s a built‑in security restriction in Windows to protect the device. Once the app is installed by an administrator, you should be able to use it normally.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions. I’m happy to help.

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Answer 2

The prompt “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” is Windows User Account Control (UAC). The fact that it is asking for the supervisor’s account and not allowing changes to the username indicates that the PC is configured so that only that administrator account can approve elevation.

Because the PIN for that account is not accepted on this device, and the username cannot be changed at that prompt, this is an account and device-management issue rather than something that can be fixed from the standard installer flow. The effective options are:

1. Have the supervisor sign in locally on the device with the same account shown in the UAC dialog and complete the installation directly.
2. Have the supervisor (or IT admin) change the device’s account/control settings so that either:
   • the correct admin credentials for that account can be entered (for example, password instead of PIN), or
   • a different local administrator account is added and used for elevation.
3. If UAC behavior recently changed (for example, after updates) and now always prompts like this, check and adjust UAC settings as needed; incorrect UAC configuration can cause repeated prompts and access issues.

If the device is managed by an organization (work account, Intune, or domain-joined), only the organization’s IT admin can change these policies. In that case, contact the IT administrator and provide the exact UAC prompt and the account name it shows so they can correct the admin account or device management settings.

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References:

• Administrative privileges required or error code 0-1005 or 0-2005 when installing Office
• storage settings: Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device? - Microsoft Q&A