Cannot Access Existing Admin Account to Create New Admin User with Personal Microsoft Account

texasrose0807 · May 4, 2026

Problem
I need to change the primary Microsoft account associated with my desktop Windows 11 computer. The computer was initially set up using a Microsoft account linked to my previous employer.

Current Situation
I am currently unable to sign in to the existing administrator account, which is linked to my previous employer's Microsoft account. This prevents me from making system changes, including adding new user accounts or modifying existing ones.

Goal
My goal is to set up a new administrator user account using my personal Microsoft account.

What I Need Help With
I am looking for guidance on how to create a new administrator user account linked to my personal Microsoft account, given that I cannot access the existing administrator account.

Scannerman · May 4, 2026

There are a number of ways to approach this and the tutorials on how to go about it are in this forum. Before you begin you may wish to consider how much of the data you want to keep as a completely fresh install might be a viable option. In some cases it could be overkill as there was once a way to just give your new account administrative privileges and then delete the old administrator account. This method however does not easily come off without a hitch as often times much data is tied to the old administrator account. There is also a way to just change the display name of the original administrator account.

Change Display Name of Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the full name of a local account or Microsoft account used as the display name in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access...

www.elevenforum.com

If this is not to your liking just type "change administrator account" in the search bar on the tutorials page and you will likely find what you're looking for.

Try3 · May 4, 2026

If you don't take the more comprehensive option of doing a complete Windows reinstallation***, I suggest you enable the [normally disabled] built-in Admin account and use that to create new Admin accounts.
Then disable the built-in Admin account when you've finished.
Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account - ElevenForumTutorials [use Option 5]
Use that to make a Local Admin account [which is not essential but will be a valuable fallback for you in the future]
Add Local Account - ElevenForumTutorials
Change to Admin account type in Windows 11 - In the above ElevenForumTutorial, Option 1 Step 10 shows the Change account type button.
And then, as you wish, create an MSAccount-linked account and make that an Admin if you want.
Add Microsoft Account - ElevenForumTutorials

And don't forget to disable the built-in Admin account when you've finished.

*** Personally, I think a complete Windows reinstallation would be better since it would ensure that there is nothing else from the old owner that might trip you up in the future.
Clean Install Windows 11 - ElevenForumTutorials

Denis

LASTBOOMER66 · May 26, 2026

If a PC has been setup with its TPM keys, they might need reset only when you do the fresh install, bitlocker is setup with TPM

texasrose0807 said:
I need to change the primary Microsoft account associated with my desktop Windows 11 computer. The computer was initially set up using a Microsoft account linked to my previous employer.

I PC that I purchased used, DID have a clean install of windows on it, but the bios had been set with an administrator PASSWORD for firmware changes. The problem with that was I could not clear the TPM keys, and this windows setup was locked in to what TPM was set for and that was to encrypt drives with the keys set in the TPM. Windows saw the TPM was setup for bitlocker in the past and wanted to encrypt my files with the key stored in TPM and that key would only be accessible if I logged into the MS account of the last owner. Before making any changes to your Bios make sure you can read any files on a different PC copy them to a Exfat to remove the NTFS file locks. THEN clear the TPM keys before doing a new windows install so your machine has a fresh start. Just make sure you have a backup that is not encrypted or locked by NTFS file permissions.

Scannerman · May 26, 2026

LASTBOOMER66 said:
If a PC has been setup with its TPM keys, they might need reset only when you do the fresh install, bitlocker is setup with TPM

I PC that I purchased used, DID have a clean install of windows on it, but the bios had been set with an administrator PASSWORD for firmware changes. The problem with that was I could not clear the TPM keys, and this windows setup was locked in to what TPM was set for and that was to encrypt drives with the keys set in the TPM. Windows saw the TPM was setup for bitlocker in the past and wanted to encrypt my files with the key stored in TPM and that key would only be accessible if I logged into the MS account of the last owner. Before making any changes to your Bios make sure you can read any files on a different PC copy them to a Exfat to remove the NTFS file locks. THEN clear the TPM keys before doing a new windows install so your machine has a fresh start. Just make sure you have a backup that is not encrypted or locked by NTFS file permissions.

I generally get rid of bitlocker as soon as possible so I tend to forget about the clear keys part of it. Only goes to show there's more than one way to skin a lizard. So glad I'm also using Linux. So glad I don't need AI. Everyone has different preferences to some degree. Thank you for the reminder!

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