Apps run with Keyboard Manager do not respect the selected elevation mode when running PowerToys in administrator

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.79.0, 0.80.0

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

Running as admin

Yes

Area(s) with issue?

Keyboard Manager

Steps to reproduce

I'll put details in brackets

1. Start PowerToys in Administrator (Always run as adminstrator)
2. Remap a chord to start an app (Win + T to start Windows Terminal)

• You can follow KBM → Remap a shortcut → Win + T → Action: Run Program → Select Program → type wt in the directory field, close the terminal window, and copy and paste the directory field contents to the file name field)

3. Set the elevation to normal
4. Save the confuration, hit Win + T, and find that the command prompt is in administrator mode

✔️ Expected Behavior

Windows Terminal, the app opened by a remapped shortcut, is opened with normal privileges

❌ Actual Behavior

Windows Terminal, the app opened by a remapped shortcut, is opened with adminstrator privileges

Other Software

Windows Terminal 1.19.10821.0
Windows 10 22H2 build 19045.4170
UAC Settings is set to Never Notify (i.e. skip administrator password entry)

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Open similar issues:

• PowerToys.Run does not run apps as an admin when in admin mode (#17226), similarity score: 0.77

Closed similar issues:

• Run as Administrator - Applications don't open as Administrator (#4045), similarity score: 0.77
• PowerToys Always in Administrator Mode (#31052), similarity score: 0.76

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[htcfreek]

@jacko-png
Can you please upload some screenshots and a /bugreport. This would be very helpful.

Apps.run.with.Keyboard.Manager.do.not.respect.the.selected.elevation.mode.when.running.PowerToys.in.administrator.mp4

[Curstantine]

I can reproduce this issue too. Pretty annoying and unsafe. I didn't realize but I've been using admin mode to run different shell scripts for weeks now :(

Recording.2024-04-04.085911.mp4

[htcfreek]

@jacko-png
The run as administrator problem is logical for me even if isn't what users are expecting. It should be reworked.

But you wrote something about a wrong working directory. And I don't understand exactly how this problem behaves. Can you post a screenshot for this too please.

<removed to keep the scrolling clean, I had screenshots and a description of the working directory issue which is separate>

[htcfreek]

@jacko-png
Regarding the wt issue I suggest you to check the wt documentation. I imagine that they have a working dir parameter.

Yes, the -d option does this. It's not listed in the --help page, however, so I had to find it on MSDN. For any future commenters, let's return this thread to the elevation issue.