Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: "Permission Denied" trying to run Python on Windows 10

Windows update broke Python permissions.

Quick Answer: Check if the Python executable is still in the system's PATH after the update, and try running python.exe directly from the Python installation directory.

The "Permission Denied" error when trying to run Python on Windows 10 is often caused by a misconfiguration of the User Account Control (UAC) settings or an issue with the Python executable file. The timing of the issue being related to recent Windows updates can be misleading, as it's possible that one of the updates inadvertently changed the permissions or configuration of the Python installation.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • [Cause]

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Runas Command

  1. Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type `runas /user:“YourUsername” python --version` (replace "YourUsername" with your actual Windows username). This command will run the Python executable with elevated privileges.

Method 2: Update Python

  1. Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type `python -m pip install --upgrade python` to update Python to the latest version.

🎯 Final Words

To resolve the "Permission Denied" error, try running the Python executable with elevated privileges using the `runas` command or update Python to the latest version. If neither method works, you may need to consider reinstalling Python or seeking further assistance from Microsoft Support.

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