Windows 10 › Configuration › User Accounts

Administrator User Account in Windows 10

4/29/2015

As the previous versions of Windows, Windows 10 comes with the built-in Administrator user account, but it is disabled and hidden by default. Using that account you can perform any operations on system features that require the high-level privileges. To enable the Administrator account in Windows 10 follow the steps below.

Enable Administrator user account using Computer Management

1. Log on to Windows 10 using an account with an Administrator account type. You can use the local user account that has been created during the Windows 10 installation.

2. Open Computer Management.

3. In the left menu open Computer Management > System Tools > Local users and groups > Users.

Local users and groups

4. There is a user accounts list on the right. Double-click the Administrator user account and in the Administrator Properties window clear the Account is disabled checkbox.

Account is enabled

5. Click OK. After you do that the Administrator account will be enabled and displayed in the accounts list on Windows 10 logon screen.

6. Log off the system.

Sign out

7. On the logon screen select the Administrator user account. If you're doing this for the first time, wait while a new user profile is being created and saved.

8. When you're logged on to Windows 10, create a password for this user account.

Remember that your system security depends on this account. Therefore it is strongly not recommended to sign in to Windows 10 using this account without a password.

Enable Administrator user account using the Command Prompt

1. Log on to Windows 10 using an administrator account.

2. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

3. Type the following command and press ENTER:

net user Administrator /active:yes

4. Since the Administrator user account is an important part of the security, it is recommended to create a password for it. To do that, type the following command into the command window and press ENTER:

net user Administrator p455w0Rd

Put the password you need instead of the p455w0Rd in this example.

5. Close the command window.

Important notes and recommendations

Create a password reset disk.

While you are signed in to Windows 10 using the Administrator user account, any software, including harmful programs, is running with administrative privileges and able to affect any user account on the computer. User Account Control is unable to protect your system from a malicious influence. That's why it is recommended to use the Administrator user account in the administration purposes only.

Do not use Fast User Switching when you're logged on as Administrator. Close all the running applications and log off every time before you log on using another user account.

Some applications and network connections, that have been set up using the Administrator user account, may be unavailable for other users.

Disable Administrator using Computer Management

1. Log on to Windows 10 as an administrator.

2. Open Computer Management.

3. Navigate to Computer Management > System Tools > Local users and groups > Users.

Local users and groups

4. Double-click Administrator and in the properties window check the Account is disabled checkbox.

5. Click OK.

6. Log off.

Disable Administrator using the command prompt

1. Log on to Windows 10 using an account that is a member of the Administrators group.

2. Run the Command Prompt as administrator.

3. Type the following command and press ENTER:

net user Administrator /active:no

4. Close the Command Prompt.

5. Log off.