runas

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In

The command-syntax is:^[3]

runas [{/profile | /noprofile}] [/env] [/netonly] [/smartcard] [/showtrustlevels] [/trustlevel:<TrustLevel>] [/savecred] /user:<UserAccountName> program

Parameters

This section is paraphrased from the runas /? command.

• /noprofile: Speeds up the loading of the application by skipping the loading of the user's profile. Note that this might not speed up every application.
• /profile: Do not skip loading the user's profile. This is the default setting.
• /env: Use the actual environment, not the user's.
• /netonly: Specifies that the given credentials are to be used for Remote access only.
• /savecred: Credentials saved by the previous user. This setting is not available on Windows 7 Home or Windows 7 Starter Edition. This setting is left out from Windows XP Home Edition as well.
• /smartcard: Specifies that the credentials will be supplied from a smartcard.
• /user: Format is either USER@DOMAIN or DOMAIN\USER.
• /showtrustlevels: Shows help (list of usable trust level parameters) for the /trustlevel switch.
• /trustlevel: One of the trust levels listed by the /showtrustlevels switch.
• program: Command line for the executable file. See examples below.

Note: Only type in the user's password, when the system asks for it.

Note: The /profile switch is not compatible with the /netonly switch.

Note: The /savecred and the /smartcard switches may not be used together.

Examples

runas /noprofile /user:machine\administrator cmd
runas /profile /env /user:domain\admin "mmc %windir%\system32\dsa.msc"
runas /user:[email protected] "notepad C:\filename.txt"
runas /user:administrator /savecred "shutdown /i"

Inferno

The command is also included in the Inferno operating system.^[4]

Syntax

runas writes the user to /dev/user and invokes cmd with the given

runas user cmd [arg...]

Note: The command is only invoked if setting of the username succeeds.

See also

• Comparison of privilege authorization features
  • sudo
  • doas
• Principle of least privilege
• User Account Control, which disables the Administrator SID for the desktop, allowing it to re-enabled by exception.

References

Further reading

• Frisch, Æleen (2001). Windows 2000 Commands Pocket Reference.
  ISBN 978-0-596-00148-3
  .
• Stanek, William R. (2008). Windows Command-Line Administrator's Pocket Consultant, 2nd Edition.
  ISBN 978-0735622623
  .

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Guide to Windows Commands

• Sysinternals ShellRunas
• Alternative Runas tools
• runas(1) – Inferno General commands Manual