- Granting administrator privileges usually requires being logged into an administrator account.
- You can use the built-in administrator account if no other accounts can grant admin access, but you shouldn’t remove its privileges.
- In most cases, the first account created on a fresh Windows installation automatically becomes an admin account.
In most cases, you don’t even need to think about which account is the administrator, as personal PCs rarely come with more than one. However, if you’re using an office device (or handing it over to a new employee) or want to perform extensive troubleshooting, it can be useful to know how to change admin account on Windows 11.
Understanding User Account Types in Windows 11
Windows 11 has three main account types:
- Administrator: Full control over the system, can install software, change system settings, and manage other user accounts.
- Standard User: Limited permissions, cannot install software or change system settings without admin approval.
- Guest: Very limited access, typically used for temporary access. Windows 11 doesn’t allow these accounts by default, and they must be enabled specifically through changing settings.
In most cases, one account will be the administrator while the others remain standard users, and only the administrator account can change admin account for Windows 11 (even if it retains administrator permissions).
Method 1: How to Change Admin Account on Windows 11 Through Settings
The Settings app provides the most user-friendly way to change account privileges if you’ve made them as standard users.
Step 1. Press “Windows + I” to open Settings.
Step 2. Click on the “Accounts” tab in the left sidebar.
Step 3. Select “Other users,” then find the account you want to modify and click on it.
Step 4. Click “Change account type.”
Step 5. In the dropdown menu, select “Administrator.”
Step 6. Click “OK” to apply the changes.
Additionally, you can then log into the new administrator account and downgrade the previous admin account to a standard user in a similar way (selecting “Standard user” in Step 5).
Method 2: Create a New Administrator Account Through Settings
If you only have one account, you’ll need to make a new one to change admin account for Windows 11.
Step 1. Open Settings via “Windows + I.”
Step 2. Select “Other users,” then choose “Add account.”
Step 3. You’ll get a pop up for a Microsoft account login. Choose “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.”
Step 4. Select “Add a user without a Microsoft account” to create a local account.
Step 5. Enter the username and password for the new account, then hit “Next” to create the account.
Step 6. Go to “Change account type.”
Step 7. Select “Administrator” and click “OK.”
Method 3: Change Admin Account for Windows 11 via Command Prompt
Command Prompt can create an account without delving into menus.
To Add an Existing User as an Administrator
Step 1. Press “Windows + X” and select “Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin).”
Step 2. Paste in the following command and press “Enter”:
net localgroup administrators “username” /add
(For commands, replace “username” with the actual username of the new account.)
To Remove a User From Administrators Group
Step 1. Open the Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Run the following command:
net localgroup administrators “username” /delete
To Create a New Administrator Account
Step 1. Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Step 2. Create the user account with the following command.
net user “newusername” “password” /add
Step 3. Add the new user to the administrators group as shown in the first option.
net localgroup administrators “newusername” /add
