How to Change Administrator on Windows 11

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, packed with many features to improve your computer experience. One important aspect of managing your PC is controlling user accounts and their privileges. Among these, the Administrator account is special because it has the highest level of control over the system. Sometimes, you may need to change which account has administrator rights, either to give someone else full control or to restrict access for security reasons.

In this article, you will learn in simple steps how to change the administrator on Windows 11. We will cover various methods you can use, so whether you want to promote a standard user to an administrator or switch the admin account entirely, you’ll find the right instructions here.

What Is an Administrator Account in Windows 11?

Before changing anything, it’s good to understand what an Administrator account is:

• Administrator accounts have full control over the PC.
• They can install software, change system settings, add or remove users, and access all files.
• Standard or limited accounts have fewer privileges for safety.
• Having more than one admin account can be useful but also risky if unauthorized users get admin access.

Changing the administrator account means giving or taking away this powerful role.

Why Would You Want to Change the Administrator?

Here are some common reasons:

• New PC owner or user: You want to transfer admin rights to a new user.
• Security reasons: Remove admin rights from someone who no longer needs them.
• Troubleshooting: Fix problems caused by the current admin account.
• Adding a secondary admin: For better management or backup.
• Standard user upgrade: Promote a regular user to admin for more privileges.

How to Check If Your Account Is Administrator

Before changing admin accounts, you need to confirm your current account type:

1. Click Start (Windows icon) and open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts > Your info.
3. Look under your name: it will show if you are “Administrator” or “Standard user.”

Alternatively:

• Press Windows + R, type netplwiz, and press Enter.
• Select your user name, then click Properties > Group Membership tab.
• It will show if you belong to “Administrators” or “Users.”

Method 1: Change Administrator Using Settings App

This is the easiest method for most users.

Steps:

1. Click Start and open Settings.
2. Select Accounts from the left panel.
3. Click on Family & other users.
4. Under Other users, select the user account you want to change.
5. Click Change account type.
6. In the dropdown menu, choose Administrator.
7. Click OK to save changes.

Now, that user has administrator rights.

Method 2: Change Administrator Using Control Panel

You can also change account types through the classic Control Panel:

1. Press Windows + S to open search and type Control Panel.
2. Open Control Panel and go to User Accounts.
3. Click User Accounts again.
4. Click Manage another account.
5. Select the account you want to change.
6. Click Change the account type.
7. Select Administrator and click Change Account Type.

Method 3: Change Administrator Using Computer Management

This method is for more advanced users or if you want more control over accounts:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Computer Management.
2. Expand Local Users and Groups > Users.
3. Double-click the user you want to promote.
4. Go to the Member Of tab.
5. Click Add.
6. Type Administrators and click Check Names, then OK.
7. Click Apply and OK.

This adds the user to the Administrators group.

Method 4: Change Administrator Using Command Prompt

Using Command Prompt is quick and useful if you prefer typing commands:

1. Press Windows + S, type cmd.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
3. To promote a user to administrator, type this command and press Enter: net localgroup administrators username /add Replace username with the actual account name.
4. To remove admin rights from a user, use: net localgroup administrators username /delete
5. Close the Command Prompt when done.

Method 5: Change Administrator Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides similar control and flexibility:

1. Press Windows + S, type PowerShell.
2. Right-click Windows PowerShell and choose Run as administrator.
3. To add admin rights, enter: Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "username"
4. To remove admin rights: Remove-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "username"
5. Replace "username" with the account name.

Important Tips Before Changing Administrator

• Always have at least one admin account active. Losing all admin rights means you can’t install software or change system settings.
• Make sure you trust the user you are promoting because admin access gives full control over your PC.
• Consider creating a system restore point before making major changes.
• Check account names carefully to avoid mistakes in commands.
• Changing the admin account does not delete the previous admin, it only changes privileges.
• You might need to restart your PC after changes to take full effect.

How to Create a New Administrator Account on Windows 11

If you want to create a brand new admin user:

Using Settings:

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Under Other users, click Add account.
3. Follow the prompts to add a new user (Microsoft account or local account).
4. After creating, select the new user and click Change account type.
5. Select Administrator and click OK.

How to Remove Administrator Rights From an Account

If you want to downgrade an admin to a standard user:

Using Settings:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Select the admin user.
3. Click Change account type.
4. Select Standard User.
5. Click OK.

How to Change the Built-In Administrator Account

Windows 11 has a hidden built-in Administrator account which is usually disabled for security reasons. You can enable, disable, or change this account using these steps:

To enable:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type: bashCopyEditnet user administrator /active:yes
3. Press Enter.

To disable:

1. Use the same command with no instead of yes: net user administrator /active:no

To change the password:

1. In Command Prompt, type: net user administrator newpassword

Replace newpassword with the password you want.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Cannot change account type? Make sure you are logged in as an administrator.
• User not found error in command prompt? Double-check spelling and case sensitivity.
• Changes not applied? Restart your PC.
• Account not appearing? Check if it’s a Microsoft or local account.
• Error messages? Run the commands or apps as administrator.