The operator or administrator has refused the request.”

Understanding and Resolving the “Operator or Administrator Has Refused the Request” Error in Windows Scheduled Tasks

Introduction

Scheduled tasks are essential for automating routine operations on Windows servers, such as running applications periodically to maintain system health or perform operations. However, sometimes these tasks encounter errors that disrupt their execution, leading to operational inefficiencies. One common issue is receiving the error message: “The operator or administrator has refused the request.” In this article, we will explore possible causes of this problem and offer strategies to troubleshoot and resolve it effectively.

Scenario Overview

Suppose you have a scheduled task on a Windows Server 2019 machine designed to run an application every five minutes. Initially, the task functioned flawlessly. Over time, it begins to fail, displaying the following error:

“The operator or administrator has refused the request.”

Despite verifying that the task was created with administrator privileges and confirming that the associated user account possesses all necessary permissions, the error persists. The question then arises: what other aspects should be examined to resolve this issue?

Potential Causes and Troubleshooting Steps

Check User Account and Privileges
Ensure the account running the task is part of the Administrators group.
Confirm that the account has “Log on as a batch job” rights via Local Security Policy (secpol.msc).
Verify Task Settings
Ensure “Run with highest privileges” is enabled in task properties.
Confirm that the task is configured to run whether the user is logged on or not, depending on your setup.
Review Action Details
Double-check the program/script path and arguments.
Avoid folders or scripts with restrictive permissions.
Inspect UAC and Security Settings
User Account Control (UAC) can interfere with scheduled tasks run by non-administrator accounts.
Attempt to disable UAC temporarily for testing or configure scheduled task to bypass it.
Review Event Viewer Logs
Check the Windows Event Viewer under the “Application” and “System” logs for detailed error messages related to scheduled tasks.
Look for entries that indicate denied access or security-related issues.
Examine COM Security and DCOM Configuration
Certain tasks or applications might rely on COM/DCOM components which require proper security configuration.
Use “Component Services” (dcomcnfg) to verify permissions.
Test with a Different User or Action