How to Run Windows (File) Explorer as a Different User

# How to Run Windows (File) Explorer as a Different User

To run Windows (File) Explorer as a different user:

1. Open File Explorer and paste the C:\Windows path in the address bar.

2. Scroll down until you find the explorer.exe executable or search for explorer.exe in the search field in the upper right corner.

3. Press Shift and right-click on the explorer.exe file.

4. Click on Run as different user.

5. A new Run as different user Window opens where you can type the user's credentials.

# Running File Explorer as an Administrator on Windows

If you need to run (File) Explorer as an administrator:

1. Open File Explorer and paste the C:\Windows path in the address bar.

2. Scroll down until you find the explorer.exe executable or search for explorer.exe in the search field in the upper right corner.

3. Press Shift and right-click on the explorer.exe file.

4. Select Run as administrator.

5. On the next screen select Yes to allow Windows Explorer to run as an administrator.

6. A new window opens where File Explorer has administrative privileges.

# How to Run Windows (File) Explorer as a Different User using the Registry Editor

You can also use the Registry Editor to run Windows (File) Explorer as a different user:

1. Type registry in the search field and select Registry Editor.

2. Type HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{CDCBCFCA-3CDC-436f-A4E2-0E02075250C2} in the search field.

3. Right-click on the key in the left sidebar and select Permissions.

4. Grant your user full control of the key.

This has to be done in the advanced permissions/owner page of the folder that contains the runas subkey.

5. Rename the key from runas to _runas

6. You can then launch Windows (File) Explorer with a different set of credentials using the runas command in Command Prompt (CMD).

Copied!
runas /user:domain\username "c:\windows\explorer.exe /separate"

Then you have to enter the user's password when prompted.

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

• The Windows equivalent of the Unix 'tee' command
• Windows Equivalent of the 'ls', 'which' and 'ln' commands
• The Windows equivalent of the Unix 'pwd' command
• Windows equivalent of the Unix 'tail' command
• How to install Homebrew on Windows
• How to install and use 'jq' on Windows