Log on as Administrator in Windows 10

It’s disabled by default - here’s how to get in

By default, the local Administrator account in Windows 10 is disabled. There are certain programs that require the user to be logged in using the local administrator account in order to install software or perform some action on the computer. Even though you normal user account is considered an “administrator” account, you will still be prompted by UAC when performing certain actions on the computer.

The built-in Administrator account will not receive the UAC prompts. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps to enable the administrator account so you can log into it in Windows 10.

Method 1 – Local Users and Groups

The first way to enable the built-in administrator account is to open Local Users and Groups. You can do this by right-clicking onComputerorThis PCand choosingManage.

On the Computer Management screen, go ahead and expandLocal Users and Groupsand then click onUsers. You’ll see theAdministratoraccount in the right-hand pane.

Right-click on theAdministratoraccount and click onProperties.

Go ahead and uncheck theAccount is disabledbox. It is also a good idea to set a password for the Administrator account since it has total unrestricted access to the system. Now you can log off your current account and you’ll see the Administrator account show up in the list of users.

Method 2 – Command Prompt

You can also enable and disable the local Administrator account via the command prompt. In order to do that, you have to open an elevated command prompt in Windows 10. To do that, click on Start, type incmdand then right-click onCommand Promptand chooseRun as Administrator.

This will open the command prompt with elevated permissions. You may also get a UAC dialog where you just have to clickYes. At the command prompt type in the following to enable the built-in Administrator account:

To disable the built-in Administrator account, use this command instead:

Method 3 – Local Security Policy

The last way to enable or disable the administrator account in Windows 20 is to use the local security policy. This option will probably only be available in the Professional version of Windows 10. To open the Local Security Policy in Windows 10, go toControl Paneland then click onAdministrative Tools. You may also need to change the view to small or large icons instead of Category.

In the left-hand pane, click onLocal Policiesand thenSecurity Options. The first item isAccounts: Administrator account status.

Double-click on the item and you can click on theEnabledradio button.

That’s it! Those are the 3 different ways to enable and log into the built-in Administrator account in Windows 20. If you have any questions, post a comment and I’ll try to help. Enjoy!

Founder of Help Desk Geek and managing editor. He began blogging in 2007 and quit his job in 2010 to blog full-time. He has over 15 years of industry experience in IT and holds several technical certifications.Read Aseem’s Full Bio

Welcome to Help Desk Geek- a blog full of tech tips from trusted tech experts. We have thousands of articles and guides to help you troubleshoot any issue. Our articles have been read over 150 million times since we launched in 2008.

HomeAbout UsEditorial StandardsContact UsTerms of Use

Log on as Administrator in Windows 10#

Method 1 – Local Users and Groups#

Method 2 – Command Prompt#

Method 3 – Local Security Policy#

Log on as Administrator in Windows 10

Method 1 – Local Users and Groups

Method 2 – Command Prompt

Method 3 – Local Security Policy