The fastest way to become an administrator
To make your Windows 10 account an administrator, open Settings, go to Accounts, select your name from the left menu, click "Change account type", and choose Administrator from the dropdown. Windows will confirm the change when ready — you do not need to restart.
If you are already logged in as an administrator, this takes about 30 seconds. If you are not, Windows will ask for an administrator password before it allows the change. Once you confirm, your account gains the ability to install software, change system settings, and create or delete other user accounts.
The change applies the next time you open a program that needs administrator rights. You do not have to log out and back in, though some programs may ask you to restart them.
Key Takeaways
- Administrator accounts can install software, change Windows settings, and manage other user accounts; standard accounts cannot.
- The Settings > Accounts > Change account type menu is the official way to switch, and it takes less than a minute.
- You need an existing administrator account and password to promote a standard account to administrator.
- If you are the only account on the machine and cannot remember the password, you will need to reset it through Microsoft account recovery or a password reset disk.
When you need administrator rights and when you do not
Administrator accounts bypass restrictions that Windows puts on standard accounts. If you try to install software, change the system date and time, add a printer, or modify network settings on a standard account, Windows will stop you and ask for an administrator password. Switching to administrator removes those prompts.
Standard accounts are safer for everyday use because they cannot accidentally delete system files or install malware that affects the whole machine. If you are the only person using the computer and you install software regularly, administrator makes sense. If multiple people share the machine, keep most accounts as standard and use administrator only when you need to make system changes.
Step-by-step: changing your account type in Settings
Open the Windows Start menu and type "Settings". Click the Settings app (it looks like a gear). On the left side, click "Accounts".
In the Accounts window, look at the left menu and click your account name. You will see a button that says "Change account type". Click it. A small window will open with a dropdown menu that currently shows "Standard User". Click the dropdown and select "Administrator". Click OK.
If you are logged in as a standard user, Windows will ask for an administrator password at this point. Type the password of any administrator account on the machine and click Yes. The change takes effect when ready.
What to do if you forgot the administrator password
If you are the only account on the machine and you cannot remember the administrator password, you have two options: reset it through your Microsoft account, or use a password reset disk if you created one before you forgot the password.
To reset through Microsoft account, click "I forgot my password" on the Windows login screen. Windows will ask you to verify your identity by email or phone number associated with your Microsoft account. Once verified, you can set a new password. This works only if your Windows account is linked to a Microsoft account (not a local account).
If your account is local (not linked to Microsoft) and you have no password reset disk, you will need to reinstall Windows or contact Microsoft support. This is why Microsoft recommends creating a password reset disk when you first set up the account — it lets you reset a forgotten password without losing your files.
Administrator vs. standard account: what changes
| Task | Standard Account | Administrator Account |
|---|---|---|
| Install software | Blocked; asks for admin password | Allowed without prompts |
| Change system date and time | Blocked | Allowed |
| Add or remove user accounts | Blocked | Allowed |
| Change network settings | Blocked | Allowed |
| Modify Windows Firewall | Blocked | Allowed |
| Delete files from Program Files folder | Blocked | Allowed |
| Run programs normally | Allowed | Allowed |
Standard accounts can still use most programs, browse the internet, and save files to their own folder. The restrictions only explore to system-level changes. Administrator accounts have no restrictions — they can modify anything on the machine, which is why they are more vulnerable to malware if you read something unsafe.
Using Run as Administrator without changing your account type
If you want to run a single program with administrator rights without making your whole account an administrator, you can right-click the program and select "Run as administrator". Windows will ask for an administrator password, and the program will open with full permissions for that session only.
This is useful if you need administrator rights occasionally but want to keep your account as standard for safety. It is slower than having an administrator account (you have to enter the password each time), but it limits the damage if the program is compromised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have multiple administrator accounts on one computer?
Yes. You can change as many accounts to administrator as you want. Windows does not limit the number. If you share a computer with others, you might want one administrator account for yourself and standard accounts for everyone else, so they cannot install software or change settings.
Will changing to administrator affect my files or programs?
No. Your files, programs, and settings stay exactly the same. The change only affects what you are allowed to do going forward — you will no longer see password prompts when you try to install software or change system settings.
Do I need to restart Windows after changing my account type?
No. The change takes effect when ready. Some programs may ask you to restart them if they were already open, but you do not need to restart Windows itself.
What if I change my mind and want to go back to standard?
Go back to Settings > Accounts, click your name, click "Change account type", and select "Standard User" from the dropdown. The change is when ready and reversible.
Is it safe to use an administrator account every day?
It works, but standard accounts are safer because malware cannot modify system files without asking for a password first. If you only need administrator rights occasionally, use "Run as administrator" for those tasks and keep your account as standard.