The fastest way to change administrator on Windows

To change the administrator on your PC, you open Settings, go to Accounts, select the account you want to make admin, click "Change account type", and choose Administrator from the dropdown. The person whose account you're changing must already exist on the PC — you cannot create a new account and make it admin in one step. If you're locked out of the current admin account, you will need to use a different admin account or a password reset disk to regain access first.

The process takes about two minutes and requires you to be logged in as an administrator already. If you are the only admin on the PC and you have forgotten your password, you cannot change administrator status without additional help — see the section on locked-out accounts below.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be logged in as an administrator to change another account to administrator status.
  • The account you want to promote must already exist on the PC; you cannot create and promote an account in one action.
  • Changing account type takes place in Settings under Accounts, not in Control Panel or User Management.
  • If you are the only administrator and have lost your password, you will need a password reset disk or another recovery method before you can change administrator status.
  • Standard user accounts can do most everyday tasks; making someone an administrator gives them permission to install software and change system settings.

Step-by-step: promoting a standard account to administrator

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then click the Settings app. Click Accounts on the left side. Click "Other people" (or "Family & other people" on some versions). Find the account you want to make administrator and click it once to select it.

Click the button that says "Change account type". A small window will open with a dropdown menu that currently shows "Standard user". Click the dropdown and select "Administrator". Click OK. The change takes effect when ready — the person using that account will have administrator permissions the next time they log in, and they do not need to restart the PC.

If you do not see the account listed under "Other people", it may not have been created yet. You will need to create the account first by clicking "Add account" and following the prompts, then return to change its type to administrator.

Demoting an administrator account back to standard user

The same steps work in reverse. Open Settings, go to Accounts, click "Other people", select the administrator account you want to downgrade, click "Change account type", select "Standard user" from the dropdown, and click OK.

Before you demote the last administrator on the PC, Windows will warn you that you need at least one administrator account. If you see this warning, you cannot proceed — you must first promote a different account to administrator, or create a new administrator account, before you can demote the current one. This safety feature prevents you from locking yourself out of administrator functions entirely.

What administrator status actually does

An administrator account can install and uninstall software, change system settings, create and delete user accounts, and access files that belong to other users. A standard user account can run most programs, change their own password, and access their own files, but cannot install software system-wide or change settings that affect the whole PC.

Most people use a standard account for daily work and keep an administrator account separate for maintenance tasks. This setup reduces the risk that malware or a mistake will damage system files. If you share a PC with family members or colleagues, giving each person their own account (rather than sharing one) makes it easier to track who changed what and to keep personal files separate.

If you are locked out of the administrator account

If you are the only administrator on the PC and you have forgotten the password, you cannot change administrator status without first regaining access to that account. Windows offers a few recovery paths depending on what you set up before you lost access.

If you created a password reset disk when you first set up the account, insert that disk, click "Reset password" on the login screen, and follow the prompts. If you linked the account to a Microsoft account (not a local account), you can click "I forgot my password" on the login screen and reset it using your email or phone number. If neither of those options is available, you will need to use Windows installation media to reset the password or recover the account — this process varies by Windows version and is more involved.

If you have a second administrator account on the PC, log in with that account and change the first administrator's password from Settings > Accounts > Other people. Select the locked-out account, click "Reset password", and follow the prompts. You will not be able to recover the old password, but you can set a new one that the account owner can use to log back in.

Changing administrator on a work or school PC

If your PC is managed by an employer or school, you may not be able to change administrator status yourself. Work PCs are often joined to a domain, which means a network administrator controls who has administrator rights. Attempting to change account type on a domain-joined PC will either show no option to do so, or will display a message saying the setting is controlled by your organization.

Contact your IT department or help desk to request a change in administrator status. They can grant you administrator rights if your role requires it, or they can help you troubleshoot access issues. Do not attempt to bypass domain restrictions, as this can violate your organization's security policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than one administrator account on the same PC?

Yes. You can promote as many accounts as you want to administrator status. Windows requires at least one administrator account to exist, but there is no limit on how many you can have. Each administrator can change settings and install software independently.

Will changing someone's account to administrator let them see my files?

An administrator can access any file on the PC, including files in other users' folders. If you share a PC and want to keep files private, use Windows file encryption (BitLocker or Encrypting File System) or store sensitive files in a cloud service with a separate password. Giving someone administrator status should only be done if you trust them with full access to the PC.

What happens if I demote my own account from administrator to standard user?

You will lose the ability to install software, change system settings, and manage other accounts. You will still be able to use programs and access your own files. If you demote yourself and then need administrator access, you will have to ask someone else with an administrator account to help you, or promote yourself again if another admin account is available.

Do I need to restart the PC after changing administrator status?

No. The change takes effect when ready. The person using that account will have the new permissions the next time they log in, but the PC does not need to restart.

Can I change administrator status from the Control Panel instead of Settings?

The Control Panel has an older tool called "Manage Accounts" that also allows you to change account type, but Settings is the current method and works on all recent Windows versions. Both tools do the same thing, but Settings is simpler and is where Microsoft directs users to go.