What is this pop-up trying to tell me?

Question

What is this pop-up trying to tell me?

Roger Blair 210

I run Windows 11 Pro on a Dell Inspiron laptop. Whenever I boot up, the following messaqge appears on my screen:

POP-OP 1

What does it mean, and what do I do about it?

Answer accepted by question author

1 additional answer

Your answer

Answer 1

The pop-up is from Windows Terminal when it tries to start Windows PowerShell with administrator (elevated) rights but is not allowed to. The message

The requested operation requires elevation

means the command or profile is configured to run with elevated permissions, but Windows Terminal itself was started as a normal (non‑admin) app.

What it’s telling:

A PowerShell profile or startup command is trying to run something that needs admin rights at logon/startup.
Because Windows Terminal is not elevated, PowerShell fails to launch and shows this error.

What to do:

If elevation is not needed at startup
- Open Windows Terminal.
- Open Settings → check the default profile and any PowerShell profile commands.
- Remove or change any startup command that explicitly requires admin rights (for example, scripts that modify system settings or use Start-Process ... -Verb RunAs).
If elevation is required
- Close the current Terminal window.
- Right‑click the Windows Terminal icon → choose “Run as administrator”.
- The elevated Terminal can then launch the PowerShell profile without this error.
To stop seeing the banner
- After fixing the profile or choosing to always run Terminal as admin when needed, the error will no longer appear. The “Don’t show again” button only hides the informational banner; it does not fix the elevation requirement.

References:

Roger Blair 210 Reputation points

2026-03-05T22:24:01.1633333+00:00

Where is the Terminal icon? I see the Command Prompt icon and several icons for PowerShell, but nothing for Terminal?

Answer 2

Hendrix-V 11,680 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Roger Blair,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

The error “The requested operation requires elevation (0x800702e4)” indicates that PowerShell is configured to require administrator privileges, but it’s being launched from a non‑elevated session (for example, Windows Terminal opened normally). In this situation, Windows blocks the launch to maintain security boundaries.

Please try one of the following options to resolve this:

Option 1: Remove forced elevation from PowerShell

Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
Right‑click powershell.exe > Properties
Open the Compatibility tab
Uncheck Run this program as an administrator
Select Apply, then reopen Windows Terminal (Right-click Start > Terminal)

Option 2: Configure the PowerShell profile to always run as admin

Right‑click Start > Terminal (Admin)
Go to Settings (press Ctrl + ,)
Under Profiles, choose Windows PowerShell
Enable Run this profile as Administrator
Save and exit

If you’re working on a managed or corporate device and the issue persists, your IT administrator can help review device policies that may affect elevation behavior.

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Hendrix-V 11,680 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-07T07:24:42.5366667+00:00

Hi,

I just wanted to follow up and check if the information I provided was helpful. If you have any further questions or updates regarding this issue, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section. I'd be happy to assist you.
Roger Blair 210 Reputation points

2026-03-07T11:57:59.31+00:00

I tried to follow #2, but I could not find the Terminal link. There was a Command Prompt link, and there were several Powershell links, but there was no Terminal link. How do I proceed?
Roger Blair 210 Reputation points

2026-03-07T19:39:05.5+00:00

I tried Ctrl + , but got no response. What did I do wrong?
Hendrix-V 11,680 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-08T04:02:15.7266667+00:00
Hi Roger Blair,

Thanks for your update.

On Windows 11, Windows Terminal is a separate app. If it isn’t installed (or isn’t set as the default), Windows will show Command Prompt and PowerShell instead, which is why you don’t see a “Terminal” option.

Additionally, the shortcut Ctrl + , only works after Windows Terminal is already open, as it opens Terminal’s settings. If Terminal isn’t running (or installed), the shortcut won’t respond.

Here are some possible checking steps that you can try:

1, Check if Windows Terminal is installed

Press the Windows key, type Terminal

If it appears, right‑click it and select Run as administrator

2, Install Windows Terminal if it does not appear

Open the Microsoft Store

Search for Windows Terminal

Install the app

3, Quick way to open Terminal (after installation)

Press Windows + R, type wt, then press Enter

The difference you’re seeing depends on whether Windows Terminal is installed and active. Once it’s available, the earlier steps and shortcuts will work as expected.

If you have any further questions or updates regarding this issue, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section. I'd be happy to assist you.

If you found my response helpful, kindly consider accepting it so others with similar concerns can benefit from the information as well.
Roger Blair 210 Reputation points

2026-03-08T22:02:45.9766667+00:00

How do I set Terminal to start as an administrator at startup automatically?
Hendrix-V 11,680 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-11T01:26:47.8266667+00:00
Hi Roger Blair,

You can configure Windows Terminal to always start with administrator rights and (optionally) launch automatically when you sign in.

Please consider the options below:

Option 1: Always run Terminal as administrator
This ensures every Terminal window opens elevated.

Open Terminal

Select the down‑arrow (v) in the title bar > Settings

Under Profiles, select Defaults

Turn on Run this profile as Administrator

Select Save, then close and reopen Terminal

From now on, Terminal will always open with administrator privileges.

If you want Terminal to open automatically when Windows starts:

In Terminal > Settings > Startup

Turn on Launch on machine startup

Make sure Run this profile as Administrator is also enabled

Select Save

Terminal will now launch automatically at sign‑in and run elevated.

Option 2: Create an always‑admin shortcut
Useful if you prefer manual control.

Right‑click the Desktop > New > Shortcut

Enter: %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe

Finish the wizard

Right‑click the shortcut > Properties > Advanced

Check Run as administrator > OK

Use this shortcut whenever you need an elevated Terminal.

I hope the insights shared in the forum help address your concerns effectively. If there is anything else I can assist you with, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section.
Roger Blair 210 Reputation points

2026-03-11T22:35:21.41+00:00

Thank you. I learned that there's more to terminal tham I imagined.
Hendrix-V 11,680 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-12T01:28:54.0266667+00:00

Hi Roger Blair,

You’re very welcome.

Windows Terminal really is deeper than it first appears, and it’s great that you’ve discovered how flexible it can be once you start exploring profiles, elevation, and startup behavior.

I hope the insights shared in the forum help address your concerns effectively.

If there is anything else I can assist you with, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section.

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What is this pop-up trying to tell me?

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