How to Run Visual Studio Permanently as Administrator

On one device I run constantly into problems with Visual Studio because my user does not have all the rights necessary to perform the tasks I have to do. The simple work around for this problem is to run Visual Studio as an administrator. While I can start Visual Studio explicit as administrator every time I open a project, but that extra step gets annoying quickly.

To permanently run Visual Studio as an administrator in Windows 10 you can follow these steps:

  1. Go to your Visual Studio installation folder (something like "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\")
  2. Right-click on devenv.exe and select "Troubleshoot compatibility": In the context menu of devenv.exe select 'Troubleshoot compatibility'
  3. Select "Troubleshoot program" Select the second option
  4. Check "The program requires additional permissions”: Permissions is the third checkbox from the top
  5. Click "Next"
  6. Click "Test the program..." Do not forget to test the change!
  7. Wait for Visual Studio to start - the User Account Control may ask you to approve this change
  8. Click "Next"
  9. Select "Yes, save these settings for this program" and wait until it finishes: Select the Yes option
  10. Click "Close": Close to finish the change

From now on Visual Studio opens as administrator all the time – at least until you update Visual Studio. Depending on what changes with the update, you need to repeat this sequence to keep running Visual Studio as administrator.

You now should see the ADMIN badge all the time