4 Ways to Solve the "This App Can't Be Activated by the Built in Administrator" Error in Windows

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Learn how to solve the "This app can't be activated by the built-in administrator" error
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This wikiHow teaches how to fix the "This App Can't Be Activated by the Built in Administrator" error that occurs when you try to start some apps as an administrator in Windows 8 and 10, usually caused by problems with the User Account Control settings.

Quick Fix for Windows' Built-In Administrator Error

Setting up incorrect settings in the User Account Control can cause unexpected errors when you try to do things on your computer. Go to where you can change User Account Control settings and move the slider up one level. Then, clear the app's cache.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Adjusting UAC Settings

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    You can also press ⊞ Win .
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    This will search for UAC options.
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    This will open the User Account Control Settings window.
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    If UAC was disabled, move the slider up one level to enable basic UAC. If UAC was already enabled, raise the slider to the next security level.
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    Click Yes if prompted by UAC to continue.
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    You'll need to reboot your computer in order for the new UAC changes to take effect.
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    If the app is able to launch, you should be able to go back to your UAC settings and lower it to the setting you were using before. You'll need to reboot again after making the changes.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Clearing the Store Cache

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    This will open the Run window.
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    You'll see a Command Prompt window appear for a few moments, and then the Windows Store will open.
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    Resetting the Windows Store may have fixed the problem you were experiencing. [1]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Running System File Checker

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    You'll see a list of options appear. If you're using Windows 8 and don't see a Start button, press ⊞ Win + X .
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    This will open a Command Prompt window with administrator access.
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    This will begin the System File Checker utility.
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    You can see the scan progress in the Command Prompt window. The scan can take quite a while, especially for slower systems or computers with large amounts of storage.
    • You can cancel the scan at any time by pressing Ctrl + C .
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    If the scan was able to find and repair any problems, your app may now work.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Checking Security Policies

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    This will open the Run window.
    • This method should only be attempted if all other methods have failed, as it involved manually editing Windows Registry entries.
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    If you get a "Windows cannot find secpol.msc" message, you are not running a compatible version of Windows. This feature is only available in Pro and Enterprise versions of Windows.
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    You'll see this in the left frame, and several folders will appear underneath it.
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    You'll see a list of policies appear in the right frame.
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    You may have to scroll to find it.
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  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/63\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-23.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-23.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/63\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-23.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-23.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-24-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-24-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-24-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-24-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1e\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-25.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-25.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1e\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-25.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-25.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open the Run window again.
  10. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-26.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-26.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-26.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-26.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  11. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-27.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-27.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-27.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-27.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Expand the directory tree in the left frame to open the following location:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE → SOFTWARE → Microsoft → Windows → CurrentVersion → Policies → System → UIPI
  12. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-28.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-28.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-28.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-28.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this in the right frame after selecting the UIPI folder.
  13. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-29.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-29.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-29.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-29.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  14. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-30.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-30.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-30.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-30.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will save the changes.
  15. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fb\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-31.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-31.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fb\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-31.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-31.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will apply your new security policy and registry settings.
  16. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-32.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-32.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-32.jpg\/v4-728px-Fix-the-%22This-App-Can%27t-Be-Activated-by-the-Built-in-Administrator%22-Error-in-Windows-Step-32.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If your computer's security policy settings were to blame for the app not working, it should work now. [2]
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  • Question
    When I Win+R and searched for GPEDIT.MSC, why would it prompt an error saying I don't have it?
    Community Answer
    Group Policy Editor does not come with any home version.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_store/app-cant-open-with-built-in-administrator-account/be3c88a8-af06-4bbb-9ac7-1d8fdc53f91c
      2. ↑ http://www.bleepingtech.com/windows-8-fix-this-app-cant-open-for-built-in-administrator-account/

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