How do I Change to Administrator in Windows 10

Changing to an administrator account in Windows 10 allows you to have higher-level access and control over system settings, software installations, and user management. Here’s how you can change or switch to an administrator account in Windows 10:

Changing to an Administrator Account

1. Using the Settings App

  1. Open the Settings App:
    • Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to Accounts:
    • Go to Accounts > Family & other users.
  3. Select the User Account:
    • Under Other users, find the account you want to change to administrator.
    • Click on the account and select Change account type.
  4. Change Account Type:
    • In the drop-down menu, select Administrator from the list.
    • Click OK to apply the changes.
  5. Sign Out and Sign In:
    • For the changes to take effect, you may need to sign out and then sign back in.

2. Using Control Panel

  1. Open Control Panel:
    • Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
    • Type control and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
  2. Navigate to User Accounts:
    • Go to User Accounts > User Accounts (again, if needed) > Manage another account.
  3. Select the Account:
    • Choose the account you want to change to an administrator.
  4. Change Account Type:
    • Click on Change the account type.
    • Select Administrator and click Change Account Type.

3. Using Computer Management

  1. Open Computer Management:
    • Press Windows + X and select Computer Management, or right-click on the Start button and select Computer Management.
  2. Navigate to Local Users and Groups:
    • Expand the Local Users and Groups section and click on Users.
  3. Select the User Account:
    • Right-click on the user account you want to change and select Properties.
  4. Change User Group Membership:
    • Go to the Member Of tab.
    • Click Add, type Administrators, and click Check Names to ensure it’s recognized.
    • Click OK to add the account to the Administrators group.
    • Click Apply and then OK to confirm the changes.
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4. Using Command Prompt (Advanced)

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
    • Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  2. Change User Account Type:
    • Type the following command and press Enter:

net localgroup administrators [username] /add

    • Replace [username] with the actual user name you want to promote to administrator.
  • Verify the Change:
    • You can verify the account’s status by typing:

net localgroup administrators

Switching to an Administrator Account

If you need to switch to an administrator account (for instance, if you have multiple accounts on your computer):

  1. Sign Out of Your Current Account:
    • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select Sign out, or go to Start > Profile icon > Sign out.
  2. Sign In with an Administrator Account:
    • On the login screen, select the administrator account you want to use and enter the password.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can either change a user account to have administrative privileges or switch to an existing administrator account in Windows 10. Administrative accounts give you more control over your system, but they also come with increased responsibility for managing security settings and system configurations.