What changing administrator means and when you need to do it
Changing your computer administrator is the process of either switching which user account has administrator privileges, or removing administrator rights from one account and giving them to another. Administrator privileges let a user install software, change system settings, create new accounts, and access files across the entire computer — not just their own folder.
You might need to do this if you are the current administrator and want to hand control to someone else, if you created an administrator account by accident and want to demote it, or if you inherited a computer and need to set up your own administrator account. The steps differ between Windows and Mac, and the process takes about five to ten minutes on either system.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, you change administrator status through Settings > Accounts > Other people, where you can promote a standard account to administrator or demote an administrator account.
- On Mac, you change administrator status in System Settings > General > Login Items, or by opening Directory Utility and editing the account type directly.
- You must already be logged in as an administrator to change another account's status.
- Demoting your own administrator account means you will need another administrator account to make system changes later, so create a second administrator account first if you are the only one.
How to change administrator on Windows 10 and 11
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select the Settings app. Click Accounts in the left sidebar, then click Other people (or Family & other users on Windows 10). You will see a list of all user accounts on the computer.
Find the account you want to change. If you want to make someone an administrator, click their name and select Change account type. A dropdown menu will appear — select Administrator and click OK. If you want to remove administrator rights from an account, click that account's name, select Change account type, choose Standard user, and click OK.
Windows will ask you to confirm the change. The account will have the new privileges the next time that person logs in. If you are demoting your own account, you will be logged out when ready and will need to log in as a different administrator to make further changes.
How to change administrator on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click General in the sidebar, then click Login Items. You will see a list of user accounts.
If the account you want to change is not visible, click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner and enter your password to unlock the settings. Find the account in the list, click it once to select it, then look for an Admin checkbox or button. Check the box to make that account an administrator, or uncheck it to remove administrator rights. Close the settings window — the change takes effect when ready.
On some older Mac versions, you may need to use Directory Utility instead. Open Finder, go to Applications > Utilities > Directory Utility, unlock the window with your password, find the account in the list, and change its type from "Standard" to "Administrator" or vice versa.
What to do if you are the only administrator
If you are the only person with administrator rights and you want to demote your own account, you must create a second administrator account first. Otherwise you will lock yourself out of making system changes.
On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people and click Add account. Create a new local account (not a Microsoft account), set it as Administrator, then log out and log back in as that new account. Now you can demote your original account without losing administrator access entirely.
On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Login Items, click the lock icon, then click the + button to add a new account. Set the new account as Administrator before you demote your own. This ensures you will always have at least one administrator account active on the machine.
Recovering access if you locked yourself out
If you demoted your own administrator account and no other administrator account exists, you will not be able to install software, change system settings, or make other administrative changes. On Windows, you can use the built-in Administrator account (which is hidden by default) to regain control. Press Windows key + R, type "lusrmgr.msc", and press Enter. Find the Administrator account in the list, right-click it, and select Properties. Uncheck the Account is disabled box, click explore, and log out. Log back in as Administrator and create a new administrator account for yourself.
On Mac, restart the computer and hold Command + S to enter Single User Mode. Type "mount -uw /" and press Enter, then type "dscl . -passwd /Users/[your username] [newpassword]" (replacing [your username] and [newpassword] with your actual username and a new password). Restart normally and log in with your new password, then go back to System Settings and restore your administrator rights.
Why you might want multiple administrator accounts
Having two administrator accounts is often safer than having just one. If one account is compromised by malware or a weak password, the other can still find the computer. It also means that if you forget the password to one administrator account, you can use the other to reset it.
For households with multiple people, you might want one administrator account for the person who manages the computer and standard user accounts for everyone else. This prevents accidental or intentional changes to system settings by other users. For a single-user computer, one administrator account is usually enough, but keeping a second one disabled and password-protected is a reasonable backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change administrator if I do not know the current administrator's password?
No. You must be logged in as an administrator to change another account's status. If you do not have the password, you will need to reset it first. On Windows, you can use another administrator account to reset the password through Settings > Accounts > Other people. On Mac, you can use Recovery Mode (Command + R at startup) to reset the password through Utilities > Reset Password.
What happens to my files if I change from administrator to standard user?
Your files stay exactly where they are. Changing account type does not move, delete, or hide your documents, photos, or downloads. The only difference is that you will no longer be able to install software, change system settings, or access files in protected system folders.
Can I have more than two administrator accounts?
Yes. You can create as many administrator accounts as you need. Each one has full control over the system. However, more administrator accounts means more potential security risk, so most people keep just one or two.
Do I need to restart the computer after changing administrator status?
On Windows, no restart is needed — the change takes effect when the account logs in next. On Mac, the change is when ready. However, restarting can help if the change does not seem to take effect right away.