Windows OS is vast and offers some amazing features that enhances system security and safeguards the data on it. However, at times, bugs and errors also occur in the OS that irritate users and hamper the work. ‘Error 740: the requested operation requires elevation’ error message is one such bug that sometimes occur when users try to run an application or open a file that requires administrator privileges. Let’s read further to understand this issue and learn some methods to resolve it.
What is Requested Operation Requires Error?
As mentioned previously, the ‘Requested Operation Requires Elevation’ error message is displayed on Windows 10/11 due to limited access privileges. Restricted or limited privileges are given by a primary user or administrator to secondary users in order to access certain areas of the system.
This error message pops up when secondary users try to access a file or launch an application that requires administrator privileges, or when they’re using a user account with limited access rights. This error message is, sometimes, preceded by ‘Error 740’, which indicates the lack of administrator privileges.
While this error might seem complicated, it is quite easy to resolve. However, it can affect your files and folders, making them inaccessible.
Methods to Resolve Requested Operation Requires Error
Now that we have a fair understanding about the requested operation requires elevation error message, let’s look at some simple methods to get rid of this error.
Method 1: Check Your Antivirus Software
This is the most basic check that you should perform. Sometimes, antivirus software tends to interfere with the system files causing errors like this. In such a case, you should check its firewall settings along with other settings to see if it has caused your Windows 10/11 computer to generate the error 740: the requested operation requires elevation.
Method 2: Launch Application as Administrator
Some users encounter the ‘requested operation requires elevation’ error message while trying to launch an application that requires administrator privileges. Such applications can easily be identified by a small shield present on the icons.
You can launch such applications or access restricted folders with administrator privileges with the help of the following steps:
- Navigate to the application that you wish to access.
- Right-click on it and click on Run as administrator in the context menu.
- A dialog box will be displayed asking you to proceed. Click on Yes.
This should help you fix the error 740 and get rid of it. You will be able to launch the application using this method. Users can also make this change permanently by following the steps here.
Method 3: Turn-off UAC or User Account Control
Sometimes, enabled User Account Control settings can lead to the ‘requested operation requires elevation’ error message. Users can turn off the UAC settings to fix this error. To do this –
- Press WIN + Q and search for Control Panel. Launch it.
- Click on Security and Maintenance.
- Click on Change Users Account Control settings in the left pane.
- Move the slider all the way down to Never notify.
- Click on OK to save the changes.
- Restart your computer and check if the issue is solved.
Method 4: Run the Application in Compatibility Mode
In some cases, the application that you are trying to run generates the ‘requested operation requires elevation’ error message due to incompatibility. You can resolve this by running the application in Compatibility mode. Simply follow the steps as mentioned below –
- Locate the problematic application and right-click on it.
- Click on Properties in the context menu.
- Click on the Compatibility tab and navigate to the Compatibility mode section under it.
- Check the Run this program in compatibility mode for: and select the legacy OS from the drop-down menu.
- Click on Apply and OK.
Using the compatibility mode to run an incompatible application can help in resolving the ‘error 740: the requested operation requires elevation’ error message.
Method 5: Create a New Administrator Account
In some rare cases, the requested operation requires elevation error message could be a reason for limited user rights given to your user account. You can try creating a new administrator account and logging into it to fix this issue. To create a new administrator account –
- Press WIN + I to open Windows Settings app.
- Click on Accounts.
- Click on Other users in the left pane.
- Click on Add someone else to this PC option.
- Click on I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
- Click on Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Enter the details and click on Next to follow further instructions.
Once you have created the new administrator account, you need to give it administrator privileges as it doesn’t have them yet. To do this –
- Press WIN + I to open Settings.
- Click on Accounts.
- Click on Accounts, Family or other people, or Other users (whichever is visible) in the left pane.
- Click on the user account you just created.
- Click on Change account type, select Administrator from the drop-down menu and click OK.
Method 6: Change Folder Permissions
In certain cases, the file that you are trying to access generates the ‘requested operation requires elevation error message.’ This is because it requires local administrator rights. You can get rid of the error message by changing the folder permissions. To do so –
- Log out of your current user profile and log in using administrator account.
- Locate the folder in which that file is located and right-click on it.
- Click on Properties in the context menu.
- Click on the Security tab and follow the steps mentioned here.
Method 7: Use the Group Policy Editor to Change the Security Options
You can use the group policy editor to change the user permissions for the folder/file that are causing it to generate the ‘requested operation requires elevation’ error message. Carefully follow the steps as mentioned –
- Press WIN + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open group policy editor.
- Under Computer Configuration, expand Windows Settings in the left pane.
- Expand Security Settings, then Local Policies and finally, click on Security Options.
- Locate the User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode on the right side and double-click on it.
- Under the Local Security Setting tab, open the drop-down menu and select Elevate without prompting option.
- Click on Apply and then OK to save the settings.
Changing the security options using this method should help you resolve the ‘error 740: the requested operation requires elevation’ error on your Windows 10/11 computer.
What to Do If You Are Still Not Able to Access the Files?
The above mentioned methods will help you resolve the ‘requested operation requires elevation’ error message. However, if you are still facing the same issue after employing all the above methods, it could be due to file corruption or some other reason. In such a case, use a robust data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery to recover your file/s.
Stellar Data Recovery is an advanced data recovery tool designed for simplifying data recovery process. This software can recover any type of file from almost any storage device. It can easily recover files and critical data lost in various data loss scenarios like accidental deletion, formatting, corruption, and more.
Conclusion
The requested operation requires elevation error message is an annoying issue, which has affected many users around the globe. When launching applications and games to accessing files and folders, this error message erupts due to insufficient rights to the user account.
With the methods listed above in the article, you can easily get rid of this annoying error message on your Windows 10/11 computer. And if you are unable to access certain files because of data corruption, then there is a professional data recovery tool available at your disposal. We hope you have found the methods mentioned here helpful. Let us know in the comments, which method did you use to fix this error.
FAQs
How can I get rid of the requested operation requires elevation error message while trying to run an application?
Simply run the application as administrator by right-clicking on the app icon and then selecting the Run as administrator option from the context menu.
What is Windows Error 740?
The Windows error message Error 740 occurs when a user tries to run an application or access a folder/file that requires elevated privileges.
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About The Author
Keshav Katyal
A passionate writer, driven by his interest in everything tech, Keshav Katyal has always been captivated by the latest gadgets since childhood. His interest in gadgets grew when he got his first gaming console, the Nintendo Game Boy Advanced. Hours and days of tinkering with gadgets encouraged the inner geek in him who now loves writing about the latest technologies.
