How to fix error 740 'Requested Operation Requires Elevation' on Windows 10/11

Some users have reported in support forum posts that error 740 occurs when they try to run a program or access a folder on a Windows PC. The 740 error message says, "The requested operation requires elevation". User cannot access software, folder or file with error 740.

This is how you can fix error 740 in Windows 10 and 11.

1. Run affected programs with admin rights

Error message 740 refers to the need for enhanced performance. It is a suggestion to try running the affected programs with admin rights. See this guide on always running applications with admin privileges to set up affected EXE files to run with admin privileges.

2. Set the program to run in Compatibility Mode

You should also set up old programs to run in Compatibility Mode. Doing so may resolve the compatibility issue that causes error 740. You can set the affected program to run in Compatibility Mode as follows:

1. Open the settings of the affected software in File Explorer.

2. Right-click the affected program's EXE (application file) and select Properties > Compatibility .

3. Select Run this program in compatibility mode for and select Windows 8 or earlier on the drop-down menu. It is best to choose the Windows platform on which the publisher originally released the software.

4. Click the Apply > OK buttons to set the Compatibility Mode setting.

3. Turn off the User Account Control feature

User Account Control is a security feature that alerts you when programs try to make changes. UAC can be a potential cause of the 740 error when it is set very high. So try disabling UAC before running affected applications.

4. Adjust folder permission settings

This potential workaround is recommended for users who cannot access specific folders due to error 740. In that case, the error could be a folder permissions issue that selecting the Replace all child object permission entries option can resolve .

Try selecting the Replace all child object permission setting for the affected directory as follows:

1. Press Win + E to bring up File Explorer.

2. Open any folder containing the folder where the 740 error occurred.

3. Right-click the affected folder and select the folder's Properties option.

4. Select Security on the tab bar of the window.

5. Click Advanced to access other security settings.

6. Select the Replace all child object permissions entries with inheritable permission entries from this object check box .

7. Click Apply on the Advanced Security Settings window.

8. Select Yes when asked to continue.

9. Exit the folder's properties window and restart the PC.

5. Modify the behavior of the UAC admin permission prompt

If your Windows PC has a Group Policy Editor, try changing the behavior of the UAC admin command with that tool. Choosing the Elevate without prompting setting for the User Account Control: Behavior policy may fix error 740 for some users.

You can choose that option in Windows Enterprise and Pro editions as follows:

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. Next, double-click Computer Configuration to expand that sidebar navigation option.

3. Double-click Windows Settings and select Security Settings .

4. Then, go to Local Policies and Security Options to access the User Account Control Policy settings.

5. Double-click the User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode policy .

6. Select the Elevate without prompting option on the drop-down menu.

7. Click Apply to set Elevate without prompting policy .

8. Select OK to close the policy settings window.

9. Restart Windows after closing Group Policy Editor.

6. Disable Admin Approval Mode

Admin Approval Mode prompts admin users for task permissions when enabled. It's a strict Group Policy Editor security policy that can potentially cause admin rights issues. Follow these steps to disable Admin Approval Mode.

1. Go to Security Options in Group Policy Editor following steps 1 to 4 of solution 5.

2. Double-click the User Account Control: Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account policy setting .

3. Click the Disabled button if this policy is enabled.

4. Select Apply to turn off Admin Approval Mode.

5. To close the policy window, select the OK option.

7. Disable third-party antivirus software packages

Have you installed a third-party antivirus or security application on your PC? If so, your third-party security software may be causing error 740 by blocking the EXE file you're trying to run. This can happen when anti-virus software flags the application file as malicious.

In this case, a potential solution is to temporarily disable third-party antivirus software before attempting to run the affected programs. Find and select the option to disable the antivirus shield by right-clicking on the antivirus software's system tray icon. If timing options are available, choose to disable real-time protection for about an hour or so.

If disabling the security software works, you don't necessarily have to turn off the security software whenever you want to run the application file. Your anti-virus software will probably include an exclusion list to which you can add exceptions to the trusted programs file. Add the affected EXE file to it to exclude it from antivirus protection.

8. Switch to the new admin user account

If the "Requested operation requires elevation" error persists after trying other solutions, your user account may have been corrupted. You may then need to create and use a new admin account to resolve this issue. You can migrate to that account by copying files from the old user account to the new account.

To apply this troubleshooting method to the "Requested operation requires elevation" error, follow the instructions in this article on how to troubleshoot Windows by creating a new user account. First, you need to set up and log in to the new admin account to see if the error occurs there. If not, move the user file to the new account.

Marvin Fry

Update 24 July 2023