system error 5
Easy Fix
Microsoft · Windows
Access Denied — the command or operation you are trying to run requires administrator privileges that your current user account or Command Prompt session does not have
Quick Answer
Error code System Error 5 on your Microsoft Windows means: Access Denied — the command or operation you are trying to run requires administrator privileges that your current user account or Command Prompt session does not have. This is usually fixable — see the step-by-step guide below.
Affected Models
Applies to all models
Likely Causes
How to Fix It
1
Right-click on Command Prompt or PowerShell in the Start menu and select 'Run as administrator', then re-run your command
2
Alternatively, press Win+X and select 'Terminal (Admin)' or 'Windows PowerShell (Admin)'
3
If your account is not an administrator: open Settings > Accounts > Other Users, click on your account, and change the account type to Administrator (requires an existing admin to approve)
4
If you see this error running 'net start' or 'net stop' commands, these always require elevation — use an admin Command Prompt
5
If on a work/school computer with Group Policy restrictions, contact your IT administrator — the operation may be intentionally blocked
Pro Tip
This is a common issue that most users can resolve without specialized tools. Try the first step before moving on to more complex solutions.
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