Fix: You Do Not Have Sufficient Privileges On Windows 10/11 Error [Solved]

On Windows , it is common to come across errors that tell you that you do not have sufficient privileges to edit, delete, install this or that on Windows 10 and 11.

The permission or privileges in other words are well integrated into Windows 10 and 11. This is important for the security of the system.

These permissions stop unknown users from accessing your files and folders. However, sometimes this can become an issue when you are unable to do something that you should be otherwise able to do.

In this article, I have discussed how you can verify that you have sufficient privileges to install system services, edit and access other files or folders.

Why You Do Not Have Sufficient Privileges?

Privileges here basically means permissions. Windows is a well-optimized and secured OS. Windows 10 takes this to further height.

The permission system allows the OS to distinguish between who should or should not access certain files. Naturally, you do not want important files on your PC accessed by total strangers or someone you don’t want it to.

This way when an unknown user tries to use your PC and access certain important files protected by the privilege system, then the errors like “Access denied as you do not have sufficient privileges” appear.

How To Verify That You Have Sufficient Privileges To Install System Services?

There are plenty of ways you can verify that you have sufficient privileges or not. First is the basic one, that is by trying to install something.

If you get an error then you don’t have sufficient privileges. Next, you can try logging in as an administrator and use the administrative privileges.

How To Fix You Do Not Have Sufficient Privileges Error?

There are some ways that can be used in order to get sufficient privileges to fix this issue. Below I have given plenty of solutions that you can try one by one and see if any fixes this issue for you.

Solution 1: Run Windows Explorer As An Administrator

Sometimes the Windows Explorer may lack the privileges to access a directory or file rather than the user. In such a case, running the Windows Explorer as an administrator can fix the error.

To do it, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the task manager.
2. In the processes tab, locate the Windows Explorer process, right-click on it and select the End task option.

3. Now, click on the File option and select the Run new task option. The Create a task dialog will open on your screen.
4. Type explorer.exe in the search box and check the Create this task with administrative privileges box.

5. Click on OK.

Solution 2: Change User Settings By Changing Privileges

One way to fix this issue is by using the command prompt to access the administrative privileges with your account. To do it, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run utility.
2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift+ Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
3. Type the following command and press Enter to initiate it:
   net user administrator /active:yes
4. This will enable the default administrator account on your PC. Now, sign out and sign in as the administrator.

Solution 3: Change The Account To Administrator Account

Rather than logging into the PC using a separate administrator account, you can make your own account into an administrator account. To do it, follow the steps given below:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select the Settings option. This will open the Settings app.
2. Click on the Accounts section and select the Family and other people option.
3. Click on the Change account type option in the user profile you are using.
4. Change the Account type to Administrator. Click on OK to save the changes.

Solution 4: Disable User Account Control

When you are trying to do certain tasks, it’s always the UAC that comes and prevents you from doing it. If you disable the UAC, this can stop happening. To disable UAC, follow the steps given below:

1. Type User Access Control in the Windows search bar and select the top result.
2. After the Change User Account Control settings open, slide down the slider all the way to never notify.
3. Click on OK to save the changes.

Solution 5: Take Ownership Of The File

Another thing you can try when you do not have sufficient privileges to access a file or folder is to take control of that folder. This can be done, by owning the folder. To take ownership of the folder, follow the steps given below:

1. Open the Properties of the folder again.
2. Select the Security tab and select the Advanced option. The Advanced Security Settings dialog will open on your screen.

3. In the Owner section, click on the Change option.

4. Now, in the Enter the object name to select section, enter the username of your account.
5. Click on the Check Names option to validate the entered object.

6. Click on OK to save the object as the owner.

7. Check the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects box. This will change the owner of all the files and folders inside the folder you are taking ownership of.
8. Click on the Add option.

9. In the Enter the objects names to select section, write the username of your account. Click on the Check Names option to check if the entered object name is valid. After that click on OK.
10. Check the Full Control box and click on the Save changes option.
11. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Solution 6: Give Full Administrative Permission To The Folder

The next thing that you can do is give full control of the administrative permissions to the folder. This should allow you to save the file in that folder. To do it, follow the steps given below:

1. Right-click on the folder that you cannot save the file in and select the Properties option from the right-click context menu.
2. Select the Security tab and click on the Edit option.
3. Select the Administrator option from the Group or user names section.
4. In the Permissions for Administrator section, check the Full control box in the Allow section.
5. Now, do the same thing for your User Account from the Group or user name section.
6. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Solution 7: Run The Program With Administrative Rights

If you are trying to save a file from an application, running that application as an administrator can fix this error. To run the application with administrative privileges, follow the steps given below:

1. Right-click on the application.
2. Select the Run as administrator option from the right-click context menu.
3. Confirm the UAC prompt.

After the application runs, check if you can save the file. If yes, then running the application with administrative rights fixed it.

You can set the application to always run as an administrator rather than using the right-click context menu always to do it. To always run the application as an administrator, follow the steps given below:

1. Right-click on the application.
2. Select the Properties option from the right-click context menu.
3. Click on the Compatibility tab.
4. In the Settings section, check the Run this program as an administrator box.
5. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Now the application will always run as an administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Here I have answered some of the related questions to this topic. Hopefully, this will clear your confusion on this issue.

1. Why Do I Get ‘You do not have insufficient privileges to install the program’ error?

This error appears when your user account does not have the required permissions for installing programs on that PC.

2. How Do I Get Sufficient Privileges On Windows 10?

Your account needs to have administrator access to get sufficient privileges on Windows 10.

3. How Do I Run As Administrator?

Right-click on the application and select Run as administrator to run that program as administrator.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it. Now you know what to do when you do not have sufficient privileges. Follow the steps given above in the solutions and you should be able to fix this error. If you have any other questions regarding this article, ask them in the comment section below.