Alex Ruben
How To Change the Administrator Account in Windows 11 for 2025
Changing your account type to administrator in Windows 11 isn’t exactly rocket science, but it’s kinda weird how things are spread out across different menus. Sometimes, you think you’re doing the right thing, only to find out the option is hidden or grayed out. Been there, done that. So here’s a quick rundown with some little tricks to get you there faster.
Step 1: Access User Account Settings
This is the starting point. Why? Because apparently, Windows hides some options unless you dig through the right menus. To get there:
- Hit the Start button or just click the search icon down in the taskbar.
- Type Other users — not “Change your account type,” because that’s somewhere layers down.
- Click on Add, edit, or remove other users. That opens up the really detailed user settings page.
Step 2: Pick the User to Modify
Once you’re in the account list:
- Find the user account you wanna bump up to admin. Maybe it’s a standard account you set up ages ago.
- Click on that account, and you’ll see options appear underneath.
- Hit Change account type. On some setups, this button seems to hide or disappear if you’re not logged in as an admin — so make sure you are.
Step 3: Flip the Switch to Administrator
This is where the magic happens:
- Click the drop-down that says Standard user.
- Switch it to Administrator. Yeah, that gives full control, so don’t assign this lightly.
- Hit OK. Done. Or at least, it should be. Sometimes, Windows needs a quick reboot to register the change — weird, but that’s Windows for you.
Step 4: Optional — Use the Advanced User Accounts Panel
If you want a more direct path or the menu’s acting funny, try this:
- Press Windows + R — that opens the Run dialog.
- Type
netplwizand press Enter. - This launches the User Accounts window — no crazy setup needed.
Step 5: Change User Properties (If Needed)
In the User Accounts panel:
- Select the user and click Properties.
- Go to the Group Membership tab.
- Choose Administrator from the list. Sometimes, you gotta tick that box or select from the dropdown, depending on your Windows version.
- Click Apply and OK. That’s it, really.
Step 6: Make Sure It’s Really Changed
Close everything, log out and back in, or just restart. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. If the change didn’t stick immediately, that should do the trick.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Some things to watch out for:
- Make sure your current account has admin rights before messing with other users. Otherwise, it’s like trying to open a door without a key.
- On certain setups, the change might not apply until after a quick reboot.
- If the option to switch account types is missing or grayed out, it usually means your current account isn’t an admin itself. Time to log into an admin account first.
Conclusion
Basically, changing someone to an admin in Windows 11 involves digging a little and sometimes restarting. Not super complicated, but if things seem wonky, that reboot often does the trick. Just remember: with great power comes great responsibility — don’t give admin rights to everyone just because you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch back to a standard user later?
Definitely. Same steps — just pick Standard user instead of Administrator.
Why doesn’t the option show up?
If it’s missing, make sure you are logged in with an account that already has admin privileges. No cheating.
Is it risky to give someone admin rights?
Yep, it can be. They can install stuff, change settings, mess things up if they’re not careful. Only do this for trusted users.
Summary
- Access user settings via Start > Other users
- Pick your account, then Change account type
- Select Administrator and save
- Restart if needed, and voilà — extra control.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Windows’ UI can be a mess, but at least this method works on quite a few setups.