How do I enable or disable User Account Control (UAC) under Windows

How do I enable or disable User Account Control (UAC) under Windows?

User Account Control (UAC) in Windows is a security mechanism designed to limit software actions and prevent unauthorized system modifications. However, it can be restrictive for administrators or advanced users who regularly make adjustments to their computer. If you’d like to disable UAC to avoid frequent interruptions, here are the various methods for doing so safely.

What is user account control?

User Account Control (UAC) is a security feature built into Windows operating systems. Its main role is to protect the computer against unauthorized modifications by a user or a malicious program.

Introduced with Windows Vista, UAC is still present in current versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, and manages user privileges. It prevents the execution of certain critical actions without prior validation, thus reducing the risk of malware infection, unintentional system modification or uncontrolled elevation of privileges.

Disable User Account Control (UAC) from Control Panel

Search in the UAC search bar.

Click on Modify user account control parameters.

In the window that opens, drag the slider down to Never warn me.

Disable User Account Control (UAC) from Control Panel
Disable User Account Control (UAC) from the Control Panel.

Click OK, then restart the computer to apply the changes.

UAC (User Account Control) security levels under Windows

Windows offers four levels of setting for User Account Control (UAC). Each of these levels determines the frequency and conditions under which Windows displays notifications before authorizing a system modification.

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LevelUser notificationsSecurityComfort of use
Never notify meNo notification🚫 Very low✅ Very comfortable
Alert me only for applicationsAlert me to suspicious programs⚠️ Medium✅ Good compromise
Always warn me (secure desktop mode)Alert for every system change🔒 High⚠️ Can be annoying
Always warn me + admin passwordAlert + password request🔐 Very high❌ Binding

Disable User Account Control (UAC) from Group Policy Editor (Windows Pro and Enterprise)

Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, then press Enter.

Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options

Find the policy named User Account Control: Run all administrators in Administrator Approval mode.

Double-click on it and select Off.

Click Apply, then OK.

Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Why does Windows ask for confirmation before running certain programs?

Windows requires confirmation via User Account Control (UAC ) to prevent unauthorized modifications to the system. This security measure protects the computer against malware, unintentional program installation and actions requiring administrative privileges. UAC limits risks by requiring validation before executing a program that could affect system settings. You can adjust or disable UAC via Windows settings.

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