How to Turn Off User Account Control on Windows 10

To turn off User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 10, type UAC in the Start menu search and open Change User Account Control settings. Drag the slider down to Never notify, select OK, and select Yes. You need an administrator account to make this change.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Learn on October 10, 2026.

UAC is the prompt that asks for permission before an app makes changes to your PC. It’s an important protection against malware, so the safest choice is to lower it only for as long as you need to, then turn it back on.

Turn off UAC with the slider

1. Select Start, type UAC, and select Change User Account Control settings. You can also get there from Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Change User Account Control settings.
2. Drag the slider to the bottom, Never notify.
3. Select OK, then Yes when Windows asks for permission.
4. Restart the PC if Windows asks you to.

What each UAC level does

• Always notify: You’re asked before apps or you change Windows settings. Most secure.
• Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer (default): You’re asked before apps make changes, but not when you change Windows settings yourself. The screen dims during the prompt.
• Notify me only when apps try to make changes (do not dim my desktop): The same, but the screen doesn’t dim. This is slightly less secure, because other apps could interact with the prompt.
• Never notify: No prompts. For administrators, apps that ask for admin rights get them automatically. For standard users, those requests are automatically denied.

If you only want fewer interruptions, the third level is a better choice than turning UAC off completely.

Turn off UAC with Group Policy (Pro and Enterprise)

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. See how to open the Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 if it doesn’t open.
2. Go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options.
3. Double-click User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode.
4. Choose Elevate without prompting and select OK.

This has the same effect as Never notify for administrators. Windows 10 Home doesn’t include the Group Policy Editor, so use the slider instead.

Turn off UAC prompts with Command Prompt

This is useful on Windows 10 Home, or when you need to make the change on several PCs. It only affects the prompts for administrators, like the Never notify setting.

1. Select Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Run this command:
   reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
3. To turn the prompts back on, run the same command with /d 5 instead of /d 0. That’s the default setting.

Why you shouldn’t fully disable UAC

Some guides tell you to set the EnableLUA registry value to 0, or to disable the Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode policy. This turns UAC off completely, not just the prompts. It has real downsides:

• Every app you run gets full administrator rights, including malware.
• Apps from the Microsoft Store, along with some built-in apps, may stop opening.
• Windows shows a notification asking you to turn UAC back on.

If you’ve already done this, set EnableLUA back to 1 and restart the PC.

Turn UAC back on

Open Change User Account Control settings again, move the slider back to the second level from the top (the default), select OK, and restart if asked.

If you can’t change UAC

• The slider is greyed out or Windows asks for a password: You’re signed in with a standard account. Sign in as an administrator, or see how to check admin rights on Windows 10.
• The setting changes back by itself: A work or school PC may set UAC through policy. Ask your IT department.
• One app keeps asking for permission: Instead of turning UAC off, right-click the app and select Run as administrator. See how to run a program as administrator in Windows 10.

Frequently asked questions

What does “dim my desktop” mean?

When the screen dims, Windows shows the UAC prompt on a separate, protected desktop called the secure desktop. Other apps can’t click the prompt for you there, which is why the dimming setting is more secure.

Is it safe to turn off UAC?

Not for everyday use. UAC is one of the things that stops malware from making changes without you noticing. Turn it off only if you have a specific reason, and turn it back on afterward.

Will turning off UAC make my PC faster?

No. UAC only appears when something needs administrator rights, so it doesn’t affect normal performance.

Does turning off UAC give me administrator rights?

No. It only removes the prompts. A standard account still can’t make administrator changes. To get admin rights, see how to create an administrator account in Windows.

Are the steps the same in Windows 11?

Yes. The slider, the Group Policy setting, and the command all work the same way in Windows 11.

How do I check whether UAC is on?

Open Change User Account Control settings. If the slider is anywhere above Never notify, UAC prompts are on.

Can I turn off UAC for just one app?

Windows doesn’t have a simple setting for this. The usual workaround is a Task Scheduler task set to Run with highest privileges, which then starts the app without a prompt. Only do this for apps you trust.