How to Disable User Account Control (UAC)
You should leave User Account Control (UAC) enabled because it helps protect you from spyware and viruses. If you frequently make configuration changes to your computer and your sick of the UAC confirmation prompts (I feel your pain), you can disable UAC by following these steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click User Accounts And Family Safety.
3. Click User Accounts.
4. Click Turn User Account Control On Or Off.
Though the link appears on a single user’s Control Panel page, it will affect all users.
5. Clear the Use User Account Control (UAC) To Help Protect Your Computer checkbox, and then click OK.
6. When prompted, restart your computer.
For more information, read the Windows Vista Resource Kit (co-authored by your very own Tony Northrup). Got a question for Tony? Send an e-mail to qa@vistaclues.com.
Posted: December 7th, 2006 under Security, Troubleshoot.
Comments: 9
Comments
Pingback from Vista Clues » User Account Control
Time: December 7, 2006, 1:37 am
[…] Of course, sometimes you’ll want to make a change. That’s when UAC will prompt you for confirmation. If you’re doing something like installing software or changing your computer’s clock, go ahead and click Continue or type the password for an administrative user account. If you’re just browsing the Web or reading e-mail, click Cancel, because some bad software might have caused the prompt to appear. If you’re just sick of UAC and you have antispyware and antivirus software installed, you can follow these instructions to disable UAC. […]
Pingback from Windows Vista tips, shortcuts, hints, and how-tos
Time: December 7, 2006, 12:30 pm
[…] Yesterday I described how to completely disable User Account Control (UAC). That’s really not a good idea, though, because you lose all the security benefits. If you have an app that doesn’t run correctly in UAC, you can run it with administrative privileges. These types of apps usually won’t work with UAC: […]
Pingback from Vista Clues » Always run an application as an administrator - Windows Vista help
Time: December 7, 2006, 7:24 pm
[…] Disable UAC. […]
Pingback from Vista Clues » Make User Account Control (UAC) Less Annoying - Windows Vista help
Time: December 12, 2006, 1:48 pm
[…] The flashing screen is distracting, and slows things down a bit. To turn off the flashing without completely disabling UAC, follow these steps (after the jump): […]
Pingback from Disable Protected Mode - Windows Vista help
Time: February 6, 2007, 6:16 pm
[…] Protected Mode is only available on Windows Vista; it doesn’t work with Windows XP. It also won’t work if you disable UAC, because it relies upon UAC. For more information, read the Windows Vista Resource Kit (co-authored by your very own Tony Northrup). […]
Comment from Meow
Time: April 13, 2007, 10:16 am
thanks dude…. that fucking thing is annoying!
Comment from Johanna
Time: September 24, 2007, 7:39 pm
hey,
I bought a new laptop with Vista and now I cannot run several applications because of UAC. But the problem is when I want to disable it, or use it as an administrator etc. , I cannot do that either. There is no space to type the administrator password in,even if the window says it,and the “ok” button is gray. I just can click on cancel which causes again, that I can’t run my application. It is as if my computer wouldn’t allow me at all any more to make changes and run several programs. Any life-saving tips?THANKS!
Comment from Jose Varvaro
Time: October 29, 2007, 2:01 am
I have the same problem Johanna. If you know the solution please let me know.
Comment from Gilbert
Time: January 16, 2008, 1:37 pm
UAC is useful, because sometimes ( me and my trigger happy finger) I accidently click on something I do not want to, and I could always press cancel if that happens. But when I wanted to install a certain demo, it took literally 30 minutes for the UAC window to popup. I disabled UAC, and it took only 10 minutes or less to install the whole game demo.
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