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How To Change A User Account To Administrator On Windows 10/11

Geeksdigit Team

May 26, 2026

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Windows 10 and Windows 11 support multiple user accounts, allowing different people to use the same computer while maintaining separate settings, files, and preferences. By default, Windows assigns accounts either Standard User or Administrator privileges. Standard accounts can perform everyday tasks such as browsing the web, using applications, and managing personal files, while Administrator accounts have additional permissions that allow them to install software, modify system settings, manage other user accounts, change security configurations, and perform advanced administrative tasks.

There are many situations where you may need to change a standard user account into an administrator account. For example, a family member may need permission to install applications, a work account may require access to administrative tools, or you may have created a new account that now needs full control over the computer. Fortunately, Windows provides several methods for changing account types, including the Settings app, Control Panel, Computer Management, Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Local Users and Groups.

This guide explains multiple ways to change a user account to an Administrator account in Windows 10 and Windows 11, along with important security considerations and troubleshooting steps.

Understanding Administrator And Standard Accounts

Before changing account privileges, it is helpful to understand the differences between account types.

Standard User Account

A standard account can:

• Use installed applications
• Browse the internet
• Access personal files
• Customize personal settings
• Use most Windows features

However, it cannot:

• Install certain software
• Change system-wide settings
• Manage other user accounts
• Modify security policies
• Install drivers without approval

Administrator Account

An administrator account can:

• Install and remove software
• Create and delete user accounts
• Change system settings
• Modify security configurations
• Install drivers
• Manage Windows features
• Access administrative tools

Because administrators have elevated privileges, only trusted users should be granted administrator access.

Before You Begin

To change another account to Administrator, you typically need:

• Access to an existing administrator account
• Administrator credentials
• Permission to modify account settings

If no administrator account is available, recovery procedures may be necessary.

Method 1: Change A User Account To Administrator Using Settings

This is the easiest method for most Windows 10 and Windows 11 users.

Open Settings

Follow these steps:

• Press Windows + I.
• Open Settings.

Open Account Settings

Navigate to:

Accounts

Then select:

Family & other users

or

Other users

depending on your Windows version.

Select The User Account

Locate the account you want to modify.

Click the account name.

Change Account Type

Select:

Change account type

A dialog box appears.

Select Administrator

Under:

Account type

choose:

Administrator

Save Changes

Click:

OK

The account immediately receives administrator privileges.

Verify The Change

Sign out of the account and sign back in.

The user can now perform administrative tasks.

Method 2: Change A User Account To Administrator Using Control Panel

The classic Control Panel also provides account management options.

Open Control Panel

Follow these steps:

• Press Windows + S.
• Search for:

Control Panel

• Open it.

Open User Accounts

Select:

User Accounts

Then click:

Manage another account

Choose The Target User

Select the account you want to modify.

Change Account Type

Click:

Change the account type

Select Administrator

Choose:

Administrator

Apply The Change

Click:

Change Account Type

The account now has administrative privileges.

Method 3: Change A User Account To Administrator Using Computer Management

Windows Professional editions include Computer Management tools.

Open Computer Management

Follow these steps:

• Press Windows + X.
• Select:

Computer Management

Alternatively:

• Press Windows + R
• Type:

compmgmt.msc

• Press Enter

Navigate To Local Users

Expand:

System Tools
 └ Local Users and Groups
     └ Users

Open User Properties

Double-click the user account.

Add Administrator Membership

Open the:

Member Of

tab.

Click:

Add

Enter Administrators Group

Type:

Administrators

Click:

Check Names

Then click:

OK

Apply Changes

Click:

• Apply
• OK

The account becomes a member of the Administrators group.

Note

This method is generally available on:

• Windows 10 Pro
• Windows 11 Pro
• Enterprise editions
• Education editions

Method 4: Change A User Account To Administrator Using Local Users And Groups

You can also directly manage group membership.

Open Local Users And Groups

Follow these steps:

• Press Windows + R
• Type:

lusrmgr.msc

• Press Enter

Open Groups

Navigate to:

Groups

Open Administrators Group

Double-click:

Administrators

Add User

Click:

Add

Enter the username.

Click:

Check Names

Then:

OK

Save

Click:

• Apply
• OK

The selected user now has administrator privileges.

Method 5: Change A User Account To Administrator Using Command Prompt

Advanced users can use Command Prompt.

Open Command Prompt As Administrator

Follow these steps:

• Search for:

Command Prompt

• Select:

Run as administrator

Add User To Administrators Group

Run:

net localgroup Administrators Username /add

Replace:

Username

with the actual account name.

Example

net localgroup Administrators John /add

Verify Membership

Run:

net localgroup Administrators

Windows displays all administrator accounts.

The newly added account should appear in the list.

Method 6: Remove Administrator Privileges Using Command Prompt

If needed, you can remove administrator rights.

Run:

net localgroup Administrators Username /delete

Example:

net localgroup Administrators John /delete

The account reverts to standard user permissions.

Method 7: Change Account Type Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides another administrative method.

Open PowerShell As Administrator

Follow these steps:

• Press Windows + X
• Select:

Terminal (Admin)

or

Windows PowerShell (Admin)

Add Administrator Membership

Run:

Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "Username"

Replace:

Username

with the target account name.

Example

Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "John"

The user immediately gains administrator privileges.

Method 8: Change A Microsoft Account To Administrator

Many Windows users sign in with Microsoft accounts.

The process is identical.

Open Settings

Navigate to:

Accounts

Locate The Microsoft Account

Select the account.

Change Account Type

Choose:

Administrator

and save the change.

Whether the account is local or Microsoft-based does not affect the process.

Method 9: Create A New Administrator Account

If the existing account is problematic, creating a new administrator account may be easier.

Open Settings

Navigate to:

Accounts
 → Family & other users

Add A New User

Click:

Add account

Follow the prompts.

Change To Administrator

After creating the account:

• Select the account
• Choose Change account type
• Select Administrator

The new account will have full administrative privileges.

Method 10: Enable The Built-In Administrator Account

Windows includes a hidden Administrator account.

Open Command Prompt As Administrator

Run:

net user Administrator /active:yes

Set A Password

Use:

net user Administrator *

Enter a secure password.

Disable Later If Desired

Run:

net user Administrator /active:no

For security reasons, this account should generally remain disabled unless needed for troubleshooting.

Security Considerations

Administrator accounts provide extensive control over the system.

Before granting administrator rights, consider:

• Trustworthiness of the user
• Security requirements
• Shared computer environments
• Organizational policies
• Malware risks

Only users who genuinely require elevated privileges should be administrators.

Benefits Of Administrator Accounts

Advantages include:

• Software installation
• Driver management
• Advanced configuration access
• User account management
• System maintenance
• Administrative tool access

These privileges make system management significantly easier.

Risks Of Administrator Accounts

Potential risks include:

• Accidental system changes
• Malware gaining elevated privileges
• Security misconfigurations
• Unauthorized modifications
• Increased attack surface

Using standard accounts for everyday tasks remains a recommended security practice.

Common Problems And Solutions

Change Account Type Option Missing

Verify:

• You are signed in as an administrator.
• Administrative credentials are available.
• Account restrictions are not enforced by organizational policies.

Access Denied Error

Try:

• Running tools as administrator.
• Signing in with an administrator account.
• Using Command Prompt or PowerShell methods.

User Does Not Appear In Account List

Check:

• Account creation status
• Local account existence
• Microsoft account synchronization

Administrator Rights Not Working

Try:

• Signing out and back in.
• Restarting Windows.
• Verifying group membership.

Local Users And Groups Missing

This tool is usually unavailable on:

• Windows Home editions

Use Settings, Command Prompt, or PowerShell instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a user an administrator in Windows 11?

Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, select the account, click Change account type, and choose Administrator.

Do I need administrator rights to create another administrator?

Yes. An existing administrator account is typically required to grant administrative privileges to another user.

Can I remove administrator privileges later?

Yes. Change the account type back to Standard User or remove the account from the Administrators group.

Is it safe to make every account an administrator?

No. Using administrator accounts unnecessarily increases security risks and is generally not recommended.

Does changing account type affect personal files?

No. User files, settings, and applications remain unchanged when switching between Standard User and Administrator.

What happens after making an account an administrator?

The user gains permission to perform administrative tasks such as installing software, changing system settings, and managing other accounts.

Final Thoughts

Changing a user account to Administrator in Windows 10 or Windows 11 is a straightforward process that can be completed through Settings, Control Panel, Computer Management, Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Local Users and Groups. Administrator accounts provide powerful capabilities that allow users to manage software, configure system settings, install drivers, and perform advanced maintenance tasks. While these privileges can be extremely useful, they should be granted carefully and only to trusted users who genuinely need elevated access.

For most home users, the Settings app offers the quickest and simplest method, while IT professionals and advanced users may prefer Command Prompt, PowerShell, or group management tools for greater flexibility and automation. Regardless of the method used, it is important to balance convenience with security by limiting administrative access to those who require it. Proper account management helps maintain both system stability and protection against unauthorized changes.