Java: run as administrator

The easiest way would be to use a wrapper to launch your JVM, then elevate the wrapper. I use a simple NSIS installer script with the UAC plugin to do this:

; Java Launcher ;-------------- ; You want to change the below lines Name "my program" Caption "my program Launcher" Icon "iconfile.ico" OutFile "java launcher.exe" ; param below can be user, admin RequestExecutionLevel admin !include UAC.nsh SilentInstall silent AutoCloseWindow true ShowInstDetails show Section "" ; command to execute StrCpy $0 'javaw -jar myjarfile' SetOutPath $EXEDIR Exec $0 SectionEnd 

ZippyV's answer is fine if you intend to launch the javaw.exe with system admin privileges, which if pure java code is what is getting blocked by the UAC (such as trying to write a file to a privileged directory), then that is what you will need to do.

If, however, you are trying to launch something external, but just with elevation, you could bundle an exe which elevates a command. Here is one.

You can use a windows program to elevate your privilege. The program will show the UAC prompt and then you will have admin privilege.

http://jpassing.com/2007/12/08/launch-elevated-processes-from-the-command-line/

You can then run for command like this:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("Elevate.exe yourcommand"); 

I will explain how do you get elevated java application

import java.io.IOException; public class RunAsAdminExample { public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException { Process myappProcess = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("powershell.exe Start-Process <program.exe> -verb RunAs"); } } 

program.exe is example just call notepad.exe

import java.io.IOException; public class RunAsAdminExample { public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException { Process myappProcess = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("powershell.exe Start-Process notepad.exe -verb RunAs"); } } 

Than you have got elevated program. I recommand you - You need convert to binary wrapper like Launch4j or Parcle Than you can click - If you create custom installer (made by Java Swing or Awt.)

I hope you have good solution :) - If you use Linux or Mac OS X than you need use Parcle binary wrapper or other wrapper if you know...

// EDIT good idea by Kaptkaos Than you write simple:

import java.io.IOException; public class RunAsAdminExample { public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException { Process myappProcess = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("powershell.exe Start-Process -FilePath java.exe -Argument '-jar runasadmin.jar' -verb RunAs"); } } 

Do not forget to use '' and "" if -jar <filename>.jar from -Argument of Start-Process. Note do not forget - If you use working directory and jar file must be in working directory example

• .\myjar.jar
• java .\RunAsAdminExample.class

Than you can see elevated java with argument :)

Best regards!

If you can run whatever you need to run from a windows CMD batch file.. You can create a batch file (on the fly even) from within your java app that does what you want and launch it. I have it working so my java program launches this and it pops up the normal windows UAC prompt to the user and then runs the commands if they choose YES.

 String[] commands = {"cmd.exe", "/C" "mybatchfile.bat"}; ProcessBuilder pb = new ProcessBuilder(commands); .. pb.start(); 

Here is a thread that deals with requesting UAC access within a windows batch file: How to request Administrator access inside a batch file

NOTE: ProcessBuilder can be a little tricky to deal with, using a StreamGobbler to handle the output works for me: Handle Input using StreamGobbler

I use the command line on windows for this purpose. From the Start menu, type cmd in the textbox and when the program cmd.exe appears, right click on it and select Run as Administrator. Now when ytou execute java -jar itwill run with Admin rights.

Question is too old, but this answer can fix for anyone else. JNA Shell32 class has a solution for this.

import com.sun.jna.platform.win32.Shell32; import com.sun.jna.platform.win32.WinDef; public static String runFileAsAdministrator(String file, String params, boolean silent){ WinDef.HWND h = null; Shell32.INSTANCE.ShellExecute(h, "runas", file, params + ( silent ? " /S /C" : " /C"), null, 1); String result = ""; return result; } 

Example :

 String path = "C:\\Program Files\\jdk\\bin\\java.exe"; String params = "-jar example.jar"; Shell32Utils.runFileAsAdministrator(path, params, false);