How To Switch Administrator Accounts on Windows 10 Easily

Changing the administrator on Windows 10 might seem straightforward, but there are a few tricks that can trip you up if you’re not careful. Sometimes, you won’t even see the option to switch accounts unless your current account has admin rights — of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Plus, it’s good to know what to expect: after the change, the new admin can install apps, tweak system settings, and basically have full control. In some setups, you might need to dig deeper or use tools like PowerShell or Command Prompt for the nitty-gritty, especially if the GUI refuses to cooperate.

How to Change Administrator Windows 10

Method 1: Using the Control Panel

This is the classic route. It works well if you’re already logged into an admin account and just want to tweak permissions without diving into command lines. On some machines, the process might be glitchy or require a restart to fully apply. Follow these steps:

Open Control Panel: You can do this by clicking the Start menu and typing Control Panel. It’s usually under System and Security → Control Panel. Sometimes, it’s faster to right-click the Start button and choose Run, then type control.
Navigate to User Accounts: Once inside Control Panel, click on User Accounts. If you don’t see it straight away, switch to Large icons view with the dropdown in the upper right.
Click on “Manage another account”: This link shows all local accounts. It’s kinda hidden in plain sight, but once you find it, click away.
Select the account you want to promote: The list shows whether an account is standard or admin. Click the one you want to change.
Change account type: Hit the Change the account type link. Then pick Administrator from the dropdown. Confirm your choice.

That’s usually enough if everything goes smoothly. On some machines, though, the changes might not stick until you restart or even run a quick command-line fix. Still, it’s the easiest way if the GUI is cooperative.

Method 2: Using PowerShell commands

This one’s for when the GUI is being stubborn or you need to script it for some reason. It’s kind of weird, but PowerShell can do the lift — no need to mess with the registry directly. Here’s what to do:

Open PowerShell as Administrator: Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin). Alternatively, search for PowerShell, right-click, and pick Run as administrator. Yes, this step is crucial — if you don’t run it as admin, the commands will fail.
Check current user privileges: You can see who’s in the Administrators group with:

Get-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators"

Add a user to the Administrators group: To promote an existing user (say, username “John”), run:

Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "John"

Remove user from Administrators (to demote): If needed, just run:

Remove-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "John"

This approach is powerful and quick, but be careful. Running commands like this makes it easy to assign admin rights to the wrong account or strip them unintentionally. Definitely back up your settings or be ready to troubleshoot if something weird happens.

Tips for Changing Administrator Windows 10

Make sure you’re logged into an account that’s already got admin access before trying to switch or promote another.
If you’re uncomfortable with command lines, try the GUI first — it’s safer and less error-prone.
Sometimes, changes don’t apply immediately; logging out or rebooting can help lock in the new permissions.
Keep a note of which accounts have admin rights — this helps avoid accidental lockouts or security slips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I change the administrator on Windows 10?

If you’re not signed in with an admin account, these options tend to be grayed out. Make sure you’re actually logged in with an admin, or you’ll hit a wall.

Can I have multiple administrators on Windows 10?

Yep, Windows supports multiple admin accounts. Good for shared machines or workspaces where different people need full access.

What if I forget the admin password?

This can get tricky. If another admin account exists, you can reset it from there. If not, password recovery tools or booting into recovery mode might be necessary, which gets more involved.

Does changing admin status mess with the installed programs?

Not really. Your apps stay, but who has permission to uninstall or modify them will change based on your new permissions.

How do I remove admin rights from an account?

Same deal — just go to the account settings and switch it back to a Standard User. No fancy commands needed unless you’re scripting it.

Summary

Open Control Panel and go to User Accounts.
Manage other accounts and select the one to change.
Adjust the account to be an Administrator or revert it.

Wrap-up

Changing the admin rights on Windows 10 isn’t rocket science, but a few missteps can make you think it’s impossible. Sometimes, you need to use PowerShell or restart a couple of times. Not sure why, but that’s just how Windows rolls. Once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty straightforward — just remember to be careful with permissions, especially if multiple people share the device.

Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Just keep an eye out for the little quirks, and you’ll be fine.