How to Log In as Administrator in Windows 10

Windows 10 includes a built-in Administrator account that’s disabled by default. You can enable it for troubleshooting, then sign in to it from the sign-in screen, as long as you already have an administrator account on the PC. This guide covers enabling the built-in account with Command Prompt or Computer Management, setting its password, signing in, turning it off again, and simpler alternatives such as giving your own account admin rights or running a single app as administrator.

Quick Answer

Open Command Prompt as administrator, run net user administrator /active:yes, then sign out and choose Administrator on the sign-in screen. When you’re done, run net user administrator /active:no.

What You Need

• An account that already has administrator rights, or an administrator’s help.
• If you’ve lost access to every admin account, these steps won’t work. Reset your Microsoft account password at the Microsoft account recovery page, use your local account’s security questions or password reset disk, or on a work or school PC contact IT.

Method 1: Command Prompt (All Editions)

1. Type cmd in Start, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator. Approve the prompt.
2. Run:

   net user administrator /active:yes

3. Set a password (recommended):

   net user administrator *

   Type the password twice; nothing appears as you type.

4. Sign out: open Start, click your account picture, and choose Sign out.
5. On the sign-in screen, choose Administrator at the bottom left and sign in.

The first sign-in takes a minute while Windows sets up the profile.

Method 2: Computer Management (Pro, Enterprise, Education)

1. Right-click Start and choose Computer Management.
2. Go to Local Users and Groups > Users.
3. Double-click Administrator, uncheck Account is disabled, and click OK.
4. Right-click Administrator > Set Password to set one.

Turn It Off When You’re Finished

The built-in Administrator runs every app with full rights without prompting, so leaving it on is a security risk. Sign back in to your normal account, open Command Prompt as administrator, and run:

net user administrator /active:no

Alternatives That Are Usually Better

• Make your own account an administrator: from an admin account, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, select the account, click Change account type, and choose Administrator. See how to add a user on Windows 10.
• Run one app as administrator: right-click the app and choose Run as administrator, or press Ctrl + Shift + Enter after typing its name in Start.
• Elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell: right-click Start and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Check Which Accounts Are Administrators

Run net localgroup administrators in Command Prompt to list them, or check Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, where admin accounts are labeled.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
“System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied.”	Command Prompt isn’t running as administrator
Administrator doesn’t appear on the sign-in screen	Restart fully; check the account is enabled with net user administrator
“The user name could not be found”	The account may have been renamed; run net user to list accounts
Work PC won’t allow changes	Your organization manages admin rights; contact IT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the built-in Administrator the same as an admin account?

No. Regular admin accounts get User Account Control prompts; the built-in account doesn’t, which is why it should stay disabled.

Does this work on Windows 11?

Yes, the same commands work. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025.

Summary

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Run net user administrator /active:yes and set a password.
3. Sign out and choose Administrator.
4. Disable it afterward with /active:no.