How to start SSMS as Administrator

Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you are logged onto a server via RDP - and want to start SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) as another local login. I'm not talking about the actual SQL Server login process - but actually starting SSMS as another login.

Why would you want to do  this?

Let's say you've logged onto a server with a particular login - but that login may not have permissions to start SSMS. Or you may have BUILTIN\Administrators enabled on the SQL Server , therefore you may need to initiate SSMS in the context of a login  is in the Administrator group

Of course you will need the password , as you'll be prompted

The basic sequence of events is :

1(Open a command line window

2)Type the RUNAS command: runas /user:<domain\user> SSMS.

3) This will  then prompt you for the password and if correct will launch SSMS as that user.

Note: I'm only using the Administrator as an example.

Read more on RUNAS and RDP

How to View Remote Desktop Sessions (SQL Server DBA)

SQL Sever - Dedicated Administrator Connection - DAC