The number of UAC prompts in Windows 7 has been reduced significantly in Windows 7 by Microsoft. To increase security applications are limited to standard user privileges in Windows Vista and Windows 7. The UAC prompt informs the user if an application requires elevated privileges to run.
This is especially helpful if new applications have been installed on the system, but more of a nuisance if the program has to be used on a regular basis and is developed by a trusted developer.
uac prompt
There are quite a few ways to limit the UAC prompts further in Windows. One of the easiest ways for instance is to change a program’s properties to always run with administrative privileges.
Another option, less commonly known, is to use the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit to whitelist applications so that they do not display an UAC prompt when they are run.
Windows users need to download the software program from the Microsoft website and install it afterwards.
It comes with both a 32-bit and 64-bit Compatibility Administrator. 32-bit programs need to be added to the 32-bit Compatibility Administrator while 64-bit apps in the 64-bit Compatibility Administrator.
application compatibility listing
Start with a right-click on the New Database(1), then Create New and Application Fix. This opens a new window where a program name, developer name and executable can be selected.
user account control
The next page lists the compatibility modes. Locate and select RunAsInvoker from the list and click the Test Run button afterwards to see how the program starts with that new compatibility mode. If it starts without UAC prompt click next, if an error message is displayed it won’t work at all. Most programs will however work without problems here.
run as invoker
Click Next two times after a successful test to add the application to the list. It should be displayed with its name underneath the database entry. Repeat the above steps for other applications that require an UAC prompt.
Save the database of programs by clicking on File > Save As in the menu, e.g. uac-whitelist.
uac whitelist
The Compatibility Administrator saves the database as an sdb file on the local computer system. The database needs to be installed once. This needs to be done from an elevated command prompt. Click the Windows start button, then All Programs > Accessories. Right-click the Command Prompt entry and select to Run as Administrator from the context menu.
Now issue the command
sdbinst pathToUAC-Whitelist.sdb
e.g.
sdbinst c:\users\martin\downloads\uac-whitelist.sdb
It is then possible to test the new setting immediately to see if the changes have been successful. Most programs should start now without UAC prompt while some might refuse to start. It is possible to revert the changes by deleting the non-working applications from the database and running the sdbinst command afterwards again.
Have a different way of automating UAC prompts in Windows? Let us know in the comments.
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just right click on the db icon inside the program and select install. no need to use DOS for that.
I’ve done all this but get a “You are not an administrator!” error message when I try to launch the whitelisted program (although I’m logged in as admin of course).
Unfortunately I have the same Problems as Swayvill.
As long as I am in Testmode it works but without the database application I get the admin error:
“Cannot install or load RTCore32 driver. Make sure you’re loading this application from not a read-only medium and/or network drive, and you’re logged on with Administrator rights.”
(Of cause the application is not on a read only medium)
if you’re adding utorrent to the list and are using beta versions (i.e. frequently auto-upgrade), make sure when adding the program to your whitelist to uncheck the file-version entries before adding it to your db (after selecting RunAsInvoker in Compatibility Modes, only click next once, then uncheck all file-version entries, then click next again).
otherwise, each time you upgrade your programs you’ll have to do all the steps described in the article again.
Mmm…… so the programs will run without annoying ‘UAC’, but they will only run with Standard User privileges… which sort of defeats the whole point of the excercise. i.e. switching ‘UAC’ off for selected trusted programs that require elevated privileges!