Running as Administrator

Why Elevation Matters

While AppSwitcher can trigger a focus switch to almost any window, Windows enforces a security boundary called UIPI (UI Privilege Isolation). This boundary prevents a standard process from “listening” to keyboard events while an elevated (Administrator) window has focus.

Because AppSwitcher runs without admin rights by default, it loses “line of sight” to your keyboard the instant you switch to an elevated application, such as:

• Task Manager
• UAC-elevated terminals (e.g., Admin PowerShell or Command Prompt)
• System tools or apps launched via “Run as administrator”

The “Ghost Modifier” Side Effect

The most common side effect occurs when you switch focus to an elevated app: AppSwitcher never receives the “Key Up” signal when you release your modifier key (e.g., Alt or Win).

As a result, AppSwitcher thinks the modifier is still being held down. Even after you switch back to a normal application, pressing a single letter key (like W for Web Browser) might trigger another app switch instead of typing the letter. This remains “stuck” until the state is manually reset.

How to Reset

If you find yourself in this “Ghost Modifier” state:

1. Click on any non-elevated window (like a web browser or folder).
2. Tap your Modifier Key once and release it.
3. AppSwitcher will catch the “Key Up” event and return to normal.

Caution

Running AppSwitcher as Administrator allows it to track keyboard events across all windows, preventing these “ghost” inputs. However, giving any app elevated access carries system-wide security risks. Only enable this if you frequently work with admin tools and are comfortable with the implications.

How to Run AppSwitcher as Administrator

To resolve the “Ghost Modifier” issue, you can manually configure AppSwitcher to always run with elevated privileges.

1. Close AppSwitcher if it is currently running.
2. Locate AppSwitcher.exe in your installation folder.
3. Right-click the file and select Properties.
4. Go to the Compatibility tab.
5. Check the box for Run this program as an administrator.
6. Click OK and relaunch the app.

Startup Behavior

If you use the Start with Windows feature while running as Administrator, please be aware of two Windows security behaviors:

• UAC Prompt: Windows will show a User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking for permission every time your computer starts. This is a system-level security requirement that cannot be bypassed by standard apps.
• Startup Delay: Elevated applications sometimes take a few extra seconds to initialize during the Windows login process compared to standard apps.

Note

Power User Tip: If the startup UAC prompt is too annoying, you can technically bypass it by creating a custom task in the Windows Task Scheduler to run AppSwitcher at logon with “Highest privileges.”