Windows 7 has a robust User Account Control (UAC) system that prevents unauthorized users from purposefully or inadvertently making possibly destabilizing changes to the Windows system. In most cases, UAC is a huge boon to Windows security, as it adds a powerful layer of security between you and any programs that are attempting to run malicious software on your computer. For this reason, UAC should never be disabled on your computer. However, there are some benign operations that you may run on a regular basis that trigger the UAC window. For example, if you have a program that regularly purges cache data or web browsing history, running this process will require you to authorize the program via the UAC prompt each time.

There is a way to create a shortcut for a program such that it bypasses the UAC prompt. This will only affect the one program that create a shortcut for, and allows you to keep a high level of security for your remaining applications and tasks. This solution uses a clever workaround that incorporates a Windows Scheduled Task with a normal application shortcut.

Here’s how:

Step 1

Click the Windows Start Orb and type “Task Scheduler” into the search bar. Choose Task Scheduler when it appears.

Step 2

Click the Action menu and choose Create Task…

Step 3

Name your shortcut by typing something memorable and descriptive in the “Name” field. For example, if you were creating a shortcut for a program that clears the history from your system, name it “clearhistory.”

Step 4

Under the “Security Options” header, make sure that the option that reads “Run with highest privileges” is checked. This will run the program as an Administrator.

Step 5

Click the Actions tab.

Step 6

Click the New button in the bottom-right. In the Action drop-down menu, choose “Start a program.”

Step 7

Browse for the application or shortcut that you want to run without using UAC controls.

Step 8

Click OK.

Step 9

Click the Conditions tab. Make sure “Start the task only if the computer is on AC power” is unchecked.

Step 10

Click OK to save the task.

Step 11

Return to your Windows 7 desktop and right-click any blank space. Choose New > Shortcut…

Step 12

In the text box that reads “Type the location of the item,” type in:

Schtasks /run /tn “clearhistory”

Or, substitute out “clearhistory” with whatever you named your shortcut in Step 3.

Step 13

Click Next.

Step 14

Give your shortcut a name and then click Finish.

Conclusion

Now, the shortcut you just created should launch the program of your choosing without requiring you to authorize it via the UAC panel. Note that this now enables the program to potentially make changes to your Windows 7 system or registry without your knowledge. Make sure that you fully trust the program that you are assigning elevated privileges to.

Note also that if you update the application, move it, or otherwise change the name or location of the executable, you’ll have to update the task in the Scheduled Tasks dialog.