Enable the Hidden Administrator Account on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 & 10
Windows automatically creates an Administrator account with elevated privileges during the
installation process. We mostly need to access it to perform tasks limited only to system
Administrators. These are tasks performing which result in the UAC asking for confirmation even
if you are using an account with administrative privileges. The elevated Administrator account is
disabled by default in Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Vista
.
To activate it, you need to use any one of the the following simple methods.
Important: It is recommended to only use this account for
troubleshooting purposes and disable it once the task is complete. Even if you do leave it
enabled, protect it with a strong password to prevent unauthorized access.
Enable/ Disable the Administrator Account Using the Elevated Command Prompt
1. If you are on Windows 7, go to Start>Programs>Accessories and right click on Command
Prompt and select Run as Administrator. Windows 8 and 8.1 users, search for CMD on the
Start screen and in the results returned, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as
Administrator. Windows 10 users, search for CMD in the start menu and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
2. In the Elevated Command Prompt, type and execute the following command.
net user administrator /active:yes
3. You should see a message indicating that the command was completed successfully.
4. Upon logging out, you will see the Administrator account available on the login screen.
Disable the built-in Administrator account
To disable the Administrator account, type execute the following command in Step 2.
net user administrator /active:no
Enable the Administrator account using the Local Users and Groups Manager
1. Press Windows key+R to open the Run dialog box.
2. In it, type lusrmgr.msc and press Enter. This will start the Local Users and Groups Manager.
3. In the Local Users and Groups Manager, click on Users in the left hand pane.
4. Then, in the work area on the right side, double click on Administrator.
5. In the following dialog box, uncheck the Account is disabled option and click OK.
6. Administrator account will be immediately available on the login screen.
To disable the Administrator account, check the "Account is disabled" option in step 5.
This method will only work if you are using Professional or Enterprise editions of Windows 7,
Windows 8(.1) and Windows 10. If you are using home and basic versions of these
Enable or Disable the Administrator account using the Local Security Policy Editor
1. Press Windows key+R to open the Run dialog box. Enable Administrator in Windows 10
2. Type secpol.msc and press Enter. This will start the Local Security Policy Editor.
3. In the Local Security Policy Editor, navigate to Local Policies\Security Options.
4. In the work area on the right side, double click "Accounts: Administrator account status."
5. In the following dialog box, encircle Enable or Disable to respectively enable and disable the
Administrator account.
6. Press OK. Log off to the login screen to see the Administrator account.
Local Security Policy Editor is not available on home editions of Windows.
installation process. We mostly need to access it to perform tasks limited only to system
Administrators. These are tasks performing which result in the UAC asking for confirmation even
if you are using an account with administrative privileges. The elevated Administrator account is
disabled by default in Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Vista
.
To activate it, you need to use any one of the the following simple methods.
Important: It is recommended to only use this account for
troubleshooting purposes and disable it once the task is complete. Even if you do leave it
enabled, protect it with a strong password to prevent unauthorized access.
Enable/ Disable the Administrator Account Using the Elevated Command Prompt
1. If you are on Windows 7, go to Start>Programs>Accessories and right click on Command
Prompt and select Run as Administrator. Windows 8 and 8.1 users, search for CMD on the
Start screen and in the results returned, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as
Administrator. Windows 10 users, search for CMD in the start menu and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
2. In the Elevated Command Prompt, type and execute the following command.
4. Upon logging out, you will see the Administrator account available on the login screen.
Disable the built-in Administrator account
To disable the Administrator account, type execute the following command in Step 2.
1. Press Windows key+R to open the Run dialog box.
2. In it, type lusrmgr.msc and press Enter. This will start the Local Users and Groups Manager.
3. In the Local Users and Groups Manager, click on Users in the left hand pane.
4. Then, in the work area on the right side, double click on Administrator.
5. In the following dialog box, uncheck the Account is disabled option and click OK.
6. Administrator account will be immediately available on the login screen.
To disable the Administrator account, check the "Account is disabled" option in step 5.
This method will only work if you are using Professional or Enterprise editions of Windows 7,
Windows 8(.1) and Windows 10. If you are using home and basic versions of these
Enable or Disable the Administrator account using the Local Security Policy Editor
1. Press Windows key+R to open the Run dialog box. Enable Administrator in Windows 10
2. Type secpol.msc and press Enter. This will start the Local Security Policy Editor.
3. In the Local Security Policy Editor, navigate to Local Policies\Security Options.
4. In the work area on the right side, double click "Accounts: Administrator account status."
5. In the following dialog box, encircle Enable or Disable to respectively enable and disable the
Administrator account.
6. Press OK. Log off to the login screen to see the Administrator account.
Local Security Policy Editor is not available on home editions of Windows.
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