Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix error 740 Error – Batch file to run programs as admin - error 740

Error 740 occurs when trying to run regedit.exe as admin in batch script without third-party programs or registry modifications.

Quick Answer: Use the "runas" command with the "/savecred" option and specify the "admin" username to elevate the program.

Error 740: The requested operation requires elevation is a common issue that occurs when trying to run programs as administrator using batch scripts. This error affects users who are attempting to elevate basic Windows programs, such as regedit.exe, without installing third-party programs or modifying the registry.

This issue can be frustrating because it prevents users from accessing certain features or performing specific tasks in their system settings. However, there is a workaround to resolve this issue without using third-party programs or modifying the registry.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • The root cause of Error 740 occurs when the batch script attempts to run regedit.exe as administrator but the UAC (User Account Control) setting prevents it. This happens because the 'runas' command in batch scripts requires elevated privileges, which is not possible through standard batch scripting mechanisms.
  • Another alternative reason for this error could be that the user account running the batch script does not have sufficient administrative privileges to run regedit.exe as administrator.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Using the 'runas' command with the '/savecred' option

  1. Step 1: To resolve this issue, use the 'runas' command with the '/savecred' option. This option allows you to save your login credentials for future use, which enables the batch script to run regedit.exe as administrator without prompting for a password.
  2. Step 2: Open Notepad or any text editor and create a new file. Copy the following code into the file: `@echo off` followed by the command that needs to be executed as administrator (in this case, 'regedit'). Add the '/savecred' option at the end of the command, like so: `regedit /savecred`. Save the file with a `.bat` extension.
  3. Step 3: Now, modify your original batch script to use the new command. Replace the line `runas /savecred /user:admin %run%` with the updated command. This will allow regedit.exe to run as administrator when selected in the script.

Using the 'powershell' command

  1. Step 1: Alternatively, you can use the 'powershell' command to elevate your batch script and run regedit.exe as administrator. This method does not require any additional software or configuration.
  2. Step 2: Open Notepad or any text editor and create a new file. Copy the following code into the file: `& { Start-Process -FilePath 'regedit.exe' -Verb RunAs }`. Save the file with a `.bat` extension.

🎯 Final Words

By using either of these methods, you can resolve the Error 740 issue and run regedit.exe as administrator without installing third-party programs or modifying the registry. The '/savecred' option with 'runas' command is a more straightforward solution, but using 'powershell' provides more flexibility and control over the execution process.

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