Some users have reported on support forums that error 740 appears when they try to run a program or open a folder on a Windows PC. The error message reads, "The requested operation requires elevation." Users can't access the software, folder, or file that triggers error 740.
Here's how you can fix error 740 in Windows 10 and 11.
1. Run the affected programs with admin rights
The error 740 message points to a need for elevated privileges, which suggests trying to run the affected programs as an administrator. See this guide on apps that always run with admin rights to set the affected EXE files to run with administrator privileges.
2. Set the program to run in Compatibility Mode
You should also set older programs to run in Compatibility Mode. Doing so can resolve compatibility issues that cause error 740. Here's how to set the affected program to run in Compatibility Mode:
1. Open the affected software's folder in File Explorer.
2. Right-click the affected program's EXE (the application file) and select Properties > Compatibility.
3. Select Run this program in compatibility mode for and choose Windows 8 or an older platform from the drop-down menu. It's best to pick the Windows version the publisher originally released the software for.
4. Click the Apply > OK buttons to save the Compatibility Mode settings.
3. Turn off User Account Control in Windows
User Account Control is a security feature that shows a notification when programs try to make changes. UAC can be a potential cause of error 740 when it's set to a very high level. So try turning off UAC before running the affected apps.
4. Adjust folder permission settings
This potential fix is recommended for users who can't open specific folders because of error 740. In that case, the error may be a folder permissions problem, which selecting the Replace all child object permission entries option can resolve.
Try selecting the Replace all child object permission setting for the affected folder as follows:
1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
2. Open any folder that contains the folder showing error 740.
3. Right-click the affected folder and select its Properties option.
4. Select Security on the window's tab bar.
5. Click Advanced to access more security settings.
6. Select the Replace all child object permissions entries with inheritable permission entries from this object checkbox.
7. Click Apply in the Advanced Security Settings window.
8. Select Yes when asked to continue.
9. Close the folder's properties window and restart your PC.
5. Change the behavior of the UAC admin prompt
If your Windows PC has Group Policy Editor, try changing the behavior of the UAC admin prompt with that tool. Selecting the Elevate without prompting setting for the User Account Control: Behavior policy can fix error 740 for some users.
You can select that option in Windows Enterprise and Pro editions as follows:
1. Open Local Group Policy Editor.
2. Next, double-click Computer Configuration to expand that sidebar navigation option.
3. Double-click Windows Settings and select Security Settings.
4. Then go to Local Policies and Security Options to reach the User Account Control policy settings.
5. Double-click the User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode policy.
6. Select the Elevate without prompting option from the drop-down menu.
7. Click Apply to set the Elevate without prompting policy.
8. Select OK to close the policy settings window.
9. Restart Windows after closing Group Policy Editor.
6. Disable Admin Approval Mode in Windows
When enabled, Admin Approval Mode prompts admin users for permission to run tasks. It's a strict security policy in Group Policy Editor that can cause admin rights problems. Follow these steps to turn off Admin Approval Mode.
1. Go to Security Options in Group Policy Editor by following steps 1 through 4 of solution 5.
2. Double-click the User Account Control: Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account policy setting.
3. Click the Disabled button if this policy is enabled.
4. Select Apply to turn off Admin Approval Mode.
5. To close the policy window, select OK.
7. Disable third-party antivirus software
Have you installed a third-party antivirus or security app on your PC? If so, it may be causing error 740 by blocking the EXE file you're trying to run. This can happen when the antivirus flags the application file as malicious.
In this case, a potential fix is to temporarily disable the third-party antivirus before trying to run the affected programs. Right-click the antivirus software's system tray icon to find and select the option that turns off the antivirus shield. If time options are available, choose to turn off real-time protection for about an hour or longer.
If turning off the security software works, you don't necessarily have to disable it every time you want to run the application file. Your antivirus likely includes an exclusion list where you can add exceptions for trusted program files. Add the affected EXE file there to exclude it from antivirus scanning.
8. Switch to a new admin user account for Windows
If the "Requested operation requires elevation" error persists after trying the other solutions, your user account may be corrupted. You may then need to create and use a new admin account to resolve the problem. You can move over to that account by copying files from the old user account to the new one.
To apply this fix for the "Requested operation requires elevation" error, follow the instructions in this article on how to fix Windows problems by creating a new user account. First, set up and sign in to the new admin account to see whether the error occurs there. If it doesn't, transfer your user files to the new account.
