The fastest way to make someone else an administrator

To change who has administrator rights on your Windows 10 computer, open Settings, go to Accounts, then select Other people. Click the account you want to promote, choose Change account type, and set it to Administrator. That takes about one minute and requires you to already be logged in as an administrator.

If you need to remove administrator rights from an account instead, follow the same path but change the account type to Standard User. Windows 10 will not let you strip administrator status from the account you are currently using, so you must switch to a different administrator account first.

The method changes slightly if the person whose rights you want to change is not yet on the computer — you will need to create their account first, then promote it. If you have forgotten the administrator password entirely, the process is more involved and requires a password reset tool or recovery options.

Key Takeaways

  • You can only change account types from an administrator account, so log in as one before you start.
  • Go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, select the account, and choose Change account type to switch between Administrator and Standard User.
  • You cannot remove administrator rights from the account you are currently logged into — switch to a different admin account first.
  • If you have locked yourself out of all administrator accounts, you will need a password reset disk or Windows recovery media to regain access.

Step-by-step: promoting an existing account to administrator

Open the Start menu and type Settings, then press Enter. Once Settings opens, click Accounts on the left side of the window.

Click Other people in the left menu. You will see a list of all user accounts on the computer. Find the account you want to make an administrator and click it once to select it.

Click the button that says Change account type. A small window will open with two options: Administrator and Standard User. Select Administrator, then click OK. Windows will confirm the change when ready — no restart is needed.

How to create a new account and make it an administrator right away

If the person does not yet have an account on the computer, you must create one first. Open Settings > Accounts > Other people and click Add account.

Windows will ask whether this person has a Microsoft account. If they do, enter their email address and Windows will link their existing account. If they do not, click I don't have this person's sign-in information, then click Add a user without a Microsoft account. Type a username and password (or leave the password blank if you prefer), then click Next and Finish.

Once the account exists, follow the promotion steps above: go to Other people, select the new account, click Change account type, and set it to Administrator.

Removing administrator rights from an account

The process for demoting an administrator to a standard user is identical to promoting one, except you choose Standard User instead of Administrator in the Change account type window. The account will keep all its files and settings — you are only removing the ability to install software, change system settings, and create new accounts.

Windows will not let you demote the account you are currently logged into. If you need to remove your own administrator rights, log out and log into a different administrator account first, then demote your original account from there.

If you are the only administrator on the computer and you demote yourself by mistake, you will need to log into a Standard User account, then use Settings to create a new administrator account or promote an existing Standard User account. You cannot undo the demotion from a Standard User account.

What to do if you have locked yourself out of all administrator accounts

If every administrator account on the computer is password-protected and you cannot remember any of the passwords, you have two options: use a password reset disk if you created one before, or use Windows recovery media to reset the password.

A password reset disk is a USB drive you create in advance while you still have access. To create one, open Control Panel, search for Create a password reset disk, and follow the wizard. If you already have one, plug it into the locked computer, click Reset password on the sign-in screen, and follow the prompts.

If you do not have a reset disk, you will need to create Windows 10 recovery media on another computer. read the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website, run it on a computer that is not locked, and create a bootable USB drive. Plug that drive into the locked computer, restart it, and boot from the USB. From there you can access recovery options to reset the administrator password. This process is more technical and may take 30 minutes to an hour.

Why you might want to change administrator status

The most common reason to change administrator rights is to set up a computer for someone else. If you are the owner and primary user, you keep administrator rights on your own account and create a Standard User account for anyone else. This prevents accidental system changes and protects against malware that runs with the permissions of the logged-in user.

You might also demote an account if someone no longer needs to install software or change settings. For example, if a child's account previously had administrator rights, you can demote it to Standard User so they cannot bypass parental controls or uninstall programs.

In rare cases, you might promote a Standard User account to administrator if that person needs to troubleshoot hardware problems, install drivers, or manage system settings. Make sure you trust anyone you give administrator rights to, because they can see all files on the computer and change any setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Windows 10 allows multiple administrator accounts on one computer. Each administrator can change account types, install software, and modify system settings. It is common to have two or three administrator accounts as backups in case you forget a password.

Will changing someone's account type delete their files?

No. Changing an account from Standard User to Administrator, or vice versa, does not affect any files, photos, documents, or settings in that account. The change only affects what the account is allowed to do on the system.

What is the difference between Administrator and Standard User?

An Administrator can install and uninstall software, change system settings, create and delete accounts, and access all files on the computer. A Standard User can run most programs and change their own password, but cannot install software, change system settings, or access files from other accounts without permission.

Do I need to restart Windows after changing an account type?

No. The change takes effect when ready. The person using that account may need to log out and log back in to see the change reflected in some settings, but a full restart is not required.

Can a Standard User account promote itself to Administrator?

No. Only an account that already has administrator rights can change account types. A Standard User cannot promote themselves or any other account without an administrator's password.