The fastest way to change who is administrator
To change the administrator on Windows 10, you go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, then select the account you want to make administrator and click "Change account type." Windows will ask you to confirm, and the change takes effect when ready. The person who was administrator before stays on the machine — you are just moving the administrator role to someone else.
If you are locked out of your own account or the account you want to change is not showing up in that list, the process is different and requires either a password reset disk or access to another administrator account. This guide covers both paths.
Key Takeaways
- You can only change administrator status if you are already logged in as an administrator or if you have a password reset disk for the machine.
- The Settings > Accounts > Other people menu is the standard way to promote a standard user to administrator in Windows 10.
- Demoting an administrator account to standard user removes their ability to install software and change system settings, but their files stay on the machine.
- If you cannot see the account you want to change, it may be hidden or you may not have administrator rights on your current login.
- Windows 10 requires you to confirm the change, and the new administrator can make changes to the system when ready after.
Promoting a standard user to administrator through Settings
Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, or click the Start menu and select Settings. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click "Other people" in the menu that appears. You will see a list of all user accounts on the machine.
Find the account you want to make administrator and click on it. A button labeled "Change account type" will appear. Click it, and a dropdown menu will show two options: Administrator and Standard user. Select Administrator, then click OK. Windows will confirm the change, and that account now has full administrator rights.
The person using that account does not need to do anything — the change is live the next time they log in, or when ready if they are already logged in and they restart their machine or sign out and back in.
Demoting an administrator account to standard user
The same process works in reverse. Open Settings > Accounts > Other people, select the administrator account you want to demote, click "Change account type," select Standard user, and click OK.
When you demote an administrator, they lose the ability to install software, change system settings, or modify other user accounts. Their personal files, documents, and desktop items stay exactly where they are. They can still use the machine and access their own files — they just cannot make changes that affect the whole system.
If the account being demoted is currently logged in, Windows will ask them to sign out before the change takes full effect. If they are not logged in, the change happens when ready.
What to do if you cannot see the account in the list
If the account you want to change does not appear in Settings > Accounts > Other people, it may be a hidden account or a system account that Windows does not show in that menu. Hidden accounts can be made visible through the Local Users and Groups tool, which is available on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions — not on Home.
Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R, type lusrmgr.msc, and press Enter. This opens Local Users and Groups. Click the Users folder on the left. You will see all accounts on the machine, including hidden ones. Right-click the account you want to change, select Properties, click the Member Of tab, and you can add or remove it from the Administrators group.
If you are on Windows 10 Home, this tool is not available. Instead, you will need to use the command line or have another administrator account make the change through Settings.
Changing administrator if you are locked out of your account
If you cannot log in to any administrator account, you have two main options: use a password reset disk if you created one before being locked out, or restart the machine in Safe Mode and use the built-in Administrator account.
To use Safe Mode, restart your machine and press F8 repeatedly as it starts up (on some machines it is Shift + F8 or another key — your manufacturer's startup screen will tell you). Select Safe Mode from the menu. Windows 10 will show the built-in Administrator account on the login screen. Click it, and if no password is set, you can log in when ready. Once logged in, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people and make your changes.
If you have a password reset disk, insert it and click "Reset password" on the login screen. Follow the wizard to create a new password, then log in and make your administrator changes through Settings.
Using the command line to change administrator status
If you are comfortable with the command line, you can change administrator status without going through Settings. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select "Run as administrator." You will need to confirm that you want to allow the app to make changes.
Type the following command, replacing USERNAME with the actual account name: net localgroup administrators USERNAME /add. Press Enter. Windows will confirm that the command completed successfully. To remove administrator rights, use the same command but replace /add with /delete.
The command line method works the same way as Settings — the change takes effect when ready, though the user may need to log out and back in to see the change reflected in their account settings.
What happens to files and settings when you change administrator status
Changing who is administrator does not move, delete, or lock any files. The person whose account was demoted keeps all their documents, photos, downloads, and desktop items exactly as they were. They can still open and use those files — they just cannot install new software or change system-wide settings.
If you promote a standard user to administrator, they when ready gain the ability to change system settings and install software, but their existing files and settings do not change. They see the same desktop, the same installed programs, and the same files they had before.
The only time files are affected is if you delete an account entirely, which is a different action from changing administrator status. Changing administrator status only changes permissions — it does not touch the account's data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than one administrator on Windows 10?
Yes. You can make as many accounts administrator as you want. Each administrator can make changes to the system and create or modify other accounts. There is no limit to the number of administrators on a single machine.
What if I change administrator and then forget the new administrator's password?
If the new administrator has set up a password reset disk or linked their account to a Microsoft account, they can use either of those to reset their password. If neither is available, you will need another administrator account to reset their password, or you will need to use Safe Mode and the built-in Administrator account.
Does changing administrator affect my files or programs?
No. Your files stay where they are, and all installed programs remain on the machine. The only thing that changes is who has permission to install new software and modify system settings. If you are demoted from administrator to standard user, you can still use everything that was already there.
Can I change administrator on Windows 10 Home edition?
Yes. Settings > Accounts > Other people works on all editions of Windows 10, including Home. The Local Users and Groups tool (lusrmgr.msc) is not available on Home, but the Settings method is.
What is the difference between administrator and standard user?
An administrator can install software, change system settings, modify other user accounts, and access all files on the machine. A standard user can run installed programs and access their own files, but cannot install new software or change settings that affect the whole system. Standard users are more find if the account is compromised.