When you are on the login or welcome screen, the Administrator account is not an option by default in Microsoft Windows 10. You can enable this feature with the following steps.
Method 1 – Via Command
- Select “Start” and type “CMD“.
- Right-click “Command Prompt” then choose “Run as administrator“.
- If prompted, enter a username and password that grants admin rights to the computer.
- Type:
net user administrator /active:yes - Press “Enter“.
Replace “yes” with “no” to disable the admin account on the welcome screen.
Method 2 – From Admin Tools
- Hold the Windows Key while pressing “R” to bring up the Windows Run dialog box.
- Type “lusrmgr.msc“, then press “Enter“.
- Open “Users“.
- Select “Administrator“.
- Uncheck or check “Account is disabled” as desired.
- Select “OK“.
Method 3 – From Registry
- Hold the Windows Key while pressing “R” to bring up the Windows Run dialog box.
- Type “regedit“, then press “Enter“.
- Navigate to the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- SOFTWARE
- Microsoft
- Windows NT
- CurrentVersion
- Winlogon
- SpecialAccounts
- UserList
- On the right side, right-click on “UserList” and select “New” > “DWORD Value“.
- Give the value a name of “Administrator“. Press the “Enter” key when you are done.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart the computer.
Delete the “Administrator” value to turn it off and prevent it from appearing on the Welcome screen.
Method 4 – Group Policy
Note: This will not work in Home editions of Windows 10.
- Hold the Windows Key while pressing “R” to bring up the Windows Run dialog box.
- Type “gpedit.msc“, then press “Enter“.
- Navigate to the following:
- Local Computer Configuration
- Windows Settings
- Security Settings
- Local Policies
- Security Options
- Accounts: Administrator Account Status
- Enable or Disable the setting as desired.
Nikita Srivastava says
Suddenly I changed the control of PC from administrator to user…but I unable to login for user and the control is changing from administrator to user…so what should I do please help me
Elliott says
I tried all 4 methods. None worked. I’m baffled because my account is an administrator account. This is why I hate allowing new updates once the system is stable on working as I want it to.
Craig says
#.3. I was unable to complete but the other 3 worked. I am using win10 pro.
Boki says
Dude… how you can run CMD as administrator if you not logged as administrator???
Mervyn Jack says
Thanks you so much Mitch, this allowed my computer to detect my DV cameras on ieee1394 (Firewire or iLink) port and I am now able to capture videos again.
I did a bit of a rant on the Microsoft support pages.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware/windows-10-and-earlier-will-not-detect-dv-camera/6807f609-8442-45af-9b26-c9694a76ae5f?tm=1575872987747
I read somewhere in the Linux forums that there is a security issue with ieee1394 ports so their permissions are restricted in modern OS’s.
B1m1_05 says
Thanks so much… I tried to install C++ but ’cause of an NSIS error it wouldn’t let me download it. I looked it up and found that I need admin rights… I tried method 1, it took me 20 mins to realise how to run it as an administrator but still, it helped me soooooooo much…. Thanks a lot!!!
Jcwafu says
Method 4 worked for me thanks!
Antonio says
Same issue as Mark D,
Nicole, and
Ian.
Jonathan Sandrelli says
special accounts doesn’t exist
Ian says
Same issue as Mark D and Nicole, I don’t have these options.
Nicole says
Same issues as Mark D from 10/27/19
Dion says
I text my password but system telling “your account has been disabled please see your administrator how it possible
Mark D Evans says
Method one brings up a DOS command prompt – and my options are dead!
Method 2 I get error message Thos snap in may not be used with this edition of Windows 10, use the User Accounts tool in Control Panel – that didn’t work either.
Method 3 – I hit a dead end at WINLOGON at Special Accounts- it doesn’t exist in that window.
Method 4 you say is not applicable to Home version so I guess I am SOL.
Michelle says
how about from local account(no administrator account) to add new administrator account because annoying user account control popping up and I need to update windows 10 to 1903 update and delete some apps that requires administrator account so help me to add new administrator account (using local account now)
Thanks
Roger says
No, says error 5 access denied.
Marvel john says
Thanks so much
Vernon says
EXcellent!!
Thanks so much