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Windows 10: Microsoft Edge can’t be opened using Built-In administrator account

When you login with built-in administrator and open Microsoft Edge(new browser that replaces internet explorer), you may notice below error message.
This app can’t open
Microsoft Edge can’t be opened using Built-in Administrator account. Sign in different account and try again.

Screen Shot 2015-10-06 at 11.12.55 pm

Resolution:

The resolution to this problem is disabling this security setting from local policies. Follow the below steps to resolve it.

  • Open gpmcedit.msc
  • Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options
  • Open User Access Control : Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account policy and enable it.
  • Click Apply & OK to save the change
  • Reboot your computer
Screen Shot 2015-10-06 at 11.22.42 pm

After restart, login with administrator account again and you can start browsing using Microsoft Edge.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Kyle MacPherson March 10, 2016, 1:30 pm

    This solution is problematic at the very first step. I can’t open gpmcedit.msc using built-in administrator account.

    • Wintel Rocks March 23, 2016, 11:05 pm

      What is the error you are getting Kyle?

  • Dusty Lunn March 27, 2016, 12:11 am

    use SECPOL instead of gpmcedit

  • Chris March 30, 2016, 7:01 pm

    I have done this and now it will pop up and then shut down. I still get the message saying it can’t be opened. We only have one login and that is the admin account. I really need to fix this.

  • stavec April 3, 2016, 10:25 pm

    This solution is quite tricky, because enabling this option we’re making our built-in (root) admin like normal-admins if we would have made them from Users-Add new account-type administrator.
    I’ve noted no difference between them.
    How did I find that out? So, I wanted to edit my ‘hosts’ file in system32-drivers-etc. Having this tip (from the article) disabled, I’ve met no problems. Enabling it, windows said that I haven’t got enough permissions to make it. This message also is shown, when I log on as a ‘normal’ administrator.
    And also, typing win+r, you’ve got no message below saying that “This task will be created using admin privileges”.
    So that means that this tip simply makes root-admin to normal-admin. Unfortunately…
    Would be glad if anybody could solve this problem.

    • Wintel Rocks April 17, 2016, 8:44 am

      Hi, The purpose of post is for allowing built-in admin perform actions like normal admin.It is not clear if you notice any problems with that. Consider a situation where you have only built-in admin account in the box, you want to change some settings which are being blocked by admin protection mode. How will you proceed? Create a new admin user and make changes part of that account? You can do that but the problem is additional work. This just saves that one step.

  • Rockydeng February 28, 2017, 7:20 am

    It did not work as you measure.

    • Wintel Rocks April 9, 2017, 7:32 pm

      Hi Rockydeng, what is the problem you faced while enabling this?