FAQ
FAQ
General
How do I use this?
Drag your program (or a shortcut to it) and drop it on UAC Pass.
Launch UAC Pass, a file selection dialog will open, choose the program.
Open a command prompt at uacpass.exe and type : uacpass %1
where %1 is a path to your program or its shortcut.
► A shortcut will be created on your desktop to launch your program with elevation.
v1.5 ► instead of creating/restauring the shortcut on the desktop directly, a small window will propose you different destinations, choose the one(s) you need and push OK button.
How do I use it with minimal risks?
You just have to put your trusted programs in a system protected folder, like Program Files, this way no common user would be able to modify or replace the executable.
How do I go back?
easily ► Drag and drop this new shortcut on UAC Pass to destroy it, you'll have the choice of restoring the original shortcut.
manually ► Delete the shortcut to the task, then open task scheduler and go to the UAC Pass folder, delete the task you don't need anymore.
So, what does it really do?
When you drag an application (or a shortcut to it) on UAC Pass, it will create a scheduled task which will launch this application on-demand with elevation, and a shortcut on your desktop in order to launch this scheduled task.
If you drag a shortcut to your application, parameters and description of this shortcut will be used to create the scheduled task and the shortcut which launch it.
When you destroy a shortcut to a scheduled task via UAC Pass, you'll be asked if you wish to create a classic shortcut to your application on your desktop. If there are, parameters and description will be restored as well (if you'd drop a shortcut to your application instead of itself).
Ease of use:
In order to make things as simple as possible, put uacpass.exe where you want and then stick it to your start menu or send a shortcut on desktop, this way you'll have constant and easy access to it.
v1.5 ► don't hesitate to use the main interface shortcut creator to do so, once you've selected needed options, click , choose the destination of the shortcut and validate.
Make a program already starting at Windows startup, UAC-free:
Often, programs which launch themselves at startup are using special arguments when doing so (ie: program.exe -startup -update), in order that UAC Pass can make a valid startup entry you need to find out what are these arguments. Theoreticaly the UAC prompt show you them, right after the path and program name, but in case it doesn't, here are the ways to get them.
If you're not into Windows things, you can download Autoruns from Microsoft site in order to have a complete and searchable list of all programs which are launched at startup. When found, click the program that interest you and look at the bottom line in the details, you'll see there if some argument(s) are used.
There are 3 cases:
1 - your program uses the task scheduler,
2 - your program uses a registry key,
3 - your program uses the folder Startup located in your Start Menu.
1 -
When you find the task which interest you, look at the 'Actions' tab (right click on the task: 'properties' then tab 'Actions'),
Create a shortcut using the informations you've found there,
Drag & drop this shortcut onto UAC Pass in 'Startup' Mode,
Delete the old task,
Delete the shortcut you have created.
2 -
Launch regedit.exe and search for:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
and others startup running registry locations (or else use the Microsoft tool given above).
Like into 1, get the details, make a shortcut with them and drag & drop it on UAC Pass.
Then, don't forget to backup this registry key and delete it.
3 -
This is the easiest,
You only have to drag & drop this shortcut on UAC Pass with 'Startup' preset, then to delete it (make a backup just in case).
Make a program launched by another UAC-free:
Two ways, either you can launch the first program with an elevation then the second program will take benefits of it and also start elevated, either you can't or don't want to.
In this second case, it is a bit more complicated, you'll have to find out how the second program is launched by the first, in order to get all details (arguments next to the program name), and see if you can substitute this second program with an UAC-free shortcut (which isn't necessarily granted).
In case you can, no problem, just create an UAC-free shortcut and tell your first program to launch the UAC-free shortcut instead of the main one.
In case you can't, you'll end up using an UAC-free shortcut directly, without using your first program. I know it's lame but I can't do anything about it.
example: GangWar launched via Steam.
Steam launch the GangWar launcher,
the GangWar launcher launch the GangWar main program with some arguments,
the elevation is asked when launching the main GangWar program.
Note that when UAC prompts you it shows the complete command line, not only the executable.
So, I wrote down all arguments used, created a shortcut to the main program using all arguments seen in the UAC prompt, and finally drop this shortcut onto UAC Pass, which makes me an UAC-free shortcut to GangWar game.
In usage, I was forced to launch the launcher first because it makes all verifications and updates necessary to play the game, but then, instead of clicking the 'play' button, I close the launcher and launch my UAC-free shortcut, and then try the game. (Which I've deleted finally.)
Windows Vista
Why can't I use the grey rectangle to drag&drop my programs and shortcuts?
I don't know yet, but I try to find out as often as I have access to Windows Vista, which isn't often unfortunately.
Yet, you can use uacpass.exe directly, or create a shortcut to it by cliking
