How to Change the Administrator on Windows 11

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    Changing the administrator on Windows 11 usually means switching another account to the Administrator type, or stepping an account down to Standard. If you’re already signed in with an administrator account, you can usually make this change from the Settings app in a couple of minutes. This guide also covers Control Panel, the classic User Accounts dialog, and the command line as backup options, along with what to expect on a work or school device.

    Quick steps

    1. Open Settings and go to Accounts, then Family & other users.
    2. Select the account you want to change, then click Change account type.
    3. Choose Administrator (or Standard User) from the drop-down menu.
    4. Click OK to save the change.

    Before you start

    A few things to check before you make any changes:

    • You need to be signed in with an existing administrator account to change someone else’s account type. Standard users can’t promote themselves or anyone else.
    • Windows 11 always needs at least one administrator account on the device, so you can’t downgrade the only remaining admin.
    • If the account is a Microsoft account, some account type changes also sync to that account online and may require entering the account password for verification.
    • On a work or school PC managed by an organization (Microsoft Entra joined or domain joined), local account type changes may be restricted by organizational policy. If that happens, contact your IT department for help instead.

    This is the method built into Windows 11 for everyday use, and it works the same way whether the account is local or a Microsoft account.

    1. Click Start, then open Settings (or press the Windows key and type “Settings”).
    2. Select Accounts in the left-hand menu.
    3. Click Family & other users.
    4. Under Other users, find the account you want to change and click it to expand the options.
    5. Select Change account type.
    6. In the drop-down box, pick Administrator to grant admin rights, or Standard User to remove them.
    7. Click OK to confirm.

    The change usually takes effect right away, though the other user may need to sign out and back in to see the full set of admin permissions reflected in their apps.

    Change the administrator using Control Panel

    Control Panel still exists on Windows 11, though Microsoft continues to move account settings into the Settings app over time. If you prefer Control Panel, you can usually manage account types from there as well.

    1. Open Control Panel from the Start menu search.
    2. Look for the User Accounts section, then choose the option to manage other accounts on the PC.
    3. Select the account you want to change, then choose the option to change its account type.
    4. Pick Administrator or Standard, then confirm the change.

    The exact wording of these options can vary slightly between Windows 11 versions. If you don’t see Control Panel, or these options aren’t available on your device, use the Settings method above instead.

    Change the administrator using the classic User Accounts dialog

    Windows 11 still includes the classic User Accounts dialog, sometimes opened by running the netplwiz command, which some people find useful for managing several local accounts at once.

    1. Press the Windows key and R together to open the Run box.
    2. Type netplwiz and press Enter.
    3. Select the account you want to change from the list, then open its properties.
    4. Look for the group membership options and choose Administrator or Standard user, then confirm the change.

    This tool is aimed at more advanced users. If anything looks unfamiliar or doesn’t match what you see on your PC, go back to the Settings method instead.

    Change the administrator using Command Prompt or PowerShell

    If you’re comfortable with the command line, you can add or remove an account from the local Administrators group directly. This can be useful for scripting or troubleshooting on multiple machines. PowerShell is Microsoft’s modern command-line tool for Windows and can run the same commands as Command Prompt.

    1. Press the Windows key, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
    2. To add a user to the Administrators group, type net localgroup administrators "username" /add and press Enter (replace “username” with the actual account name).
    3. To remove admin rights, type net localgroup administrators "username" /delete and press Enter.
    4. Close the window once you see a confirmation message.

    Windows also includes a Sudo for Windows feature that lets you run individual commands with administrator rights from a standard console session, instead of changing the account type permanently. This feature has its own prerequisites and may need to be turned on before you can use it, so check Microsoft’s documentation to confirm it’s available and enabled on your device before relying on it.

    Change the administrator on a work or school device

    If your PC is managed by an organization through Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) or a domain, local account type changes may be restricted by policy, and administrator rights are often assigned centrally rather than through the Settings app on the device itself. Some organizations also use Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) to manage the password for a built-in local administrator account, which is a separate concern from who is assigned the Administrator account type. If you can’t change the account type using the steps above, or the options are greyed out, contact your IT department. They can adjust admin rights through their own management tools instead.

    If it doesn’t work

    The “Change account type” option is missing or greyed out

    This usually means you’re signed in with a standard account, not an administrator. Sign out and sign back in with an existing admin account, or ask whoever has admin access to make the change for you.

    You can’t remove admin rights from an account

    Windows 11 requires at least one administrator account on the device at all times. If the account you’re trying to downgrade is the only admin, create or promote another account to Administrator first, then change the original one to Standard.

    Changes don’t seem to apply

    Ask the affected user to sign out completely and sign back in. Some apps and permissions only refresh after a new sign-in session starts.

    The account type option is locked on a work PC

    This is normal on managed devices. Your organization likely controls admin rights through Microsoft Entra ID or group policy, so you’ll need to request the change through your IT support team rather than doing it yourself.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I check if my account is already an administrator?

    Open Settings, go to Accounts, and select Your info. Windows typically shows “Administrator” under your account name if your account has that type; if nothing is shown, it’s likely a Standard account.

    Can I change the administrator without an existing admin account?

    No, you need access to an account that already has administrator rights to change another account’s type. If you’ve lost all admin access, you may need to use Windows recovery options or contact Microsoft support for further guidance.

    What’s the difference between a Microsoft account administrator and a local administrator?

    A Microsoft account administrator is linked to an online Microsoft account and can sync certain settings across devices, while a local administrator account exists only on that one device. Both can be assigned the Administrator type on a given PC, but the way each account is managed and recovered is different, so check Microsoft’s own documentation if you’re deciding which type to use for a specific setup.

    Do I need to restart my PC after changing the account type?

    Usually not, but it’s a good idea for the affected user to sign out and sign back in so the new permissions apply fully across apps and settings.

    Can I have more than one administrator on Windows 11?

    Yes, a device can have more than one administrator account. Many households and small offices keep at least two admin accounts in case one gets locked out.

    Sources

    Updated on November 8, 2026
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