How to Open Windows Explorer as a Different User in Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

Opening Windows Explorer as a different user in Windows 10 is crucial for managing permissions and accessing files that are restricted to specific user accounts. This feature is particularly useful for system administrators who need to troubleshoot issues, test user-specific settings, or access network resources with different credentials. By running Windows Explorer as a different user, you can ensure secure and efficient management of files and system resources.

Step-by-Step Guide

Sure, here are the exact steps to open Windows Explorer as a different user in Windows 10:

1. Enable ‘Run as different user’ option:

   • Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
   • Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
   • Double-click on Show "Run as different user" command on Start.
   • Select Enabled and click OK.

2. Use ‘Run as different user’ option:

   • Navigate to C:\Windows.
   • Locate explorer.exe.
   • Press and hold the Shift key, then right-click on explorer.exe.
   • Select Run as different user from the context menu.
   • Enter the credentials for the different user account and click OK.

This will open Windows Explorer under the specified user account.

Using Command Prompt

Here’s how you can open Windows Explorer as a different user using Command Prompt in Windows 10:

1. Open Command Prompt:

   • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

2. Use the runas command:

   • Type the following command and press Enter:

     runas /user:domain\username "explorer.exe"
     

   • Replace domain\username with the appropriate domain and username.

3. Enter the password:

   • When prompted, enter the password for the specified user.

This will open Windows Explorer under the specified user account.

Using PowerShell

Here are the steps and commands to open Windows Explorer as a different user using PowerShell in Windows 10:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:

   • Press Win + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. Use the Start-Process cmdlet:

   • Run the following command to open Windows Explorer as a different user:

     $cred = Get-Credential
     Start-Process -FilePath "explorer.exe" -Credential $cred
     

   • This command will prompt you to enter the credentials of the user you want to run Windows Explorer as.

3. Example:

   • If you want to run Windows Explorer as the user domain\username, the command would look like this:

     $cred = Get-Credential -UserName "domain\username" -Message "Enter password"
     Start-Process -FilePath "explorer.exe" -Credential $cred
     

This will launch Windows Explorer under the specified user’s context.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Here are some common issues and troubleshooting tips for opening Windows Explorer as a different user in Windows 10:

Common Issues

1. Missing “Run as different user” option.
2. Credentials not accepted.
3. Explorer.exe running under the wrong user.
4. Access denied errors.
5. Explorer crashes or freezes.

Troubleshooting Tips

1. Enable “Run as different user”:

   • Hold Shift and right-click the application, then select “Run as different user”.

2. Check Credentials:

   • Ensure the correct format: DomainName\Username or [email protected].

3. Restart Explorer:

   • Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Windows Explorer, right-click, and select Restart.

4. Clear Credential Manager:

   • Open Credential Manager via Control Panel, and remove any stored credentials that might be causing conflicts.

5. Run as Administrator:

   • Right-click the application and select “Run as administrator” if permissions are an issue.

6. Check for System Updates:

   • Ensure your system is up to date by checking Windows Update settings.

7. Run SFC and DISM Scans:

   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run sfc /scannow followed by DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

8. Use Local Group Policy Editor:

   • Navigate to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon, and enable “Always use classic logon”.

These steps should help resolve most issues encountered when trying to open Windows Explorer as a different user.

To Open Windows Explorer as a Different User in Windows 10

Follow these steps:

1. Enable ‘Run as different user’ option by navigating to Local Group Policy Editor, User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar, and enabling the ‘Show