How to Give Administrator Permission in Windows 10

“Administrator permission” on Windows 10 can mean two things: making a user account an administrator so it can install apps and change settings, or giving yourself permission to a folder or file that Windows says you can’t access. This guide covers both, plus how to run individual programs as an administrator. You’ll need to be signed in with an administrator account (or know an admin password) for most of these steps.

Quick Answer

To make a user an administrator, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, click the account, choose Change account type, select Administrator, and click OK. The change takes effect the next time that user signs in.

Make a User an Administrator

Method 1: Settings

1. Press Windows + I and go to Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Under Other users (or Your family), click the account.
3. Click Change account type.
4. Choose Administrator and click OK.

Method 2: Control Panel

1. Open Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Manage another account.
2. Select the user and click Change the account type.
3. Select Administrator and click Change Account Type.

Method 3: netplwiz

1. Press Windows + R, type netplwiz, and press Enter.
2. Select the user and click Properties.
3. On the Group Membership tab, choose Administrator and click OK.

Method 4: Command Prompt

In an administrator Command Prompt, run net localgroup administrators “UserName” /add. To remove admin rights, use /delete instead of /add.

Give Yourself Permission to a Folder or File

If Windows says “You don’t currently have permission to access this folder” or “Access denied”:

1. Right-click the folder or file and choose Properties.
2. Open the Security tab and click Edit.
3. Select your user name (or click Add, type your user name, and click Check Names, then OK).
4. Check Full control under Allow, and click OK.

Take ownership first if needed

1. In Properties > Security, click Advanced.
2. Next to Owner, click Change, type your user name, click Check Names, and click OK.
3. Check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects for folders, and click OK. Then set permissions as above.

Avoid changing permissions on Windows system folders (like C:\Windows or Program Files), which can break updates and apps.

Run a Program as Administrator

• Right-click the program or shortcut and choose Run as administrator, then click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
• To always run it as admin, right-click the shortcut, choose Properties > Compatibility (or Shortcut > Advanced), and check Run this program as an administrator.
• Keyboard shortcut: search for the app in Start and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

Safety Tips

• Give administrator rights only to people you trust. Admins can install software, change security settings, and access other users’ files.
• For everyday use, many experts recommend a standard account and entering an admin password when needed.
• On work or school PCs, admin rights are controlled by IT; changes may be blocked or reverted.

Summary

1. Make a user admin in Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Change account type.
2. Or use Control Panel, netplwiz, or net localgroup administrators.
3. Fix folder access in Properties > Security > Edit, taking ownership if needed.
4. Use Run as administrator for individual programs.