Accounts Change Account Type in Windows 11


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Accounts_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to change the account type of users to be either a standard user or administrator in 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 to their own files, browser favorites, and desktop settings.

You can add a local user account (an offline account) or Microsoft account for a user to sign in to the PC with. These can be a standard user or administrator account type.

When you add an account in Windows, it will be a standard user account by default.

Standard User - Standard user accounts are good for everyday usage, and can be a local account or Microsoft account. Standard user accounts can use most apps and change system settings that do not affect other users. If any action that requires elevated rights is attempted while signed in as a standard user, Windows will display a UAC prompt for the password of an administrator for approval. If UAC is set to "Never notify", then a standard user will automatically be denied the elevated action.

Administrator - Administrator accounts have complete access to the PC and can make any desired changes. Administrators can be a local account or Microsoft account. If any action that requires elevated rights is attempted while signed in as an administrator, Windows will display a UAC prompt for the administrator to confirm (Yes or No) using full administrator rights.


You must be signed in as an administrator to change an account type.

If you do not have another administrator account to use, you can enable and use the built-in "Administrator" account to change an account type.


You need to always keep at least one administrator account enabled on the PC to be able to sign in to for performing any action in Windows that require administrator (elevated) rights.



Contents





Option One

Change Account Type of User in Settings


If the account you want to change is currently disabled, it will not show in this option.


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Accounts on the left side, and click/tap on Family & other users or Other Users on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Account_type_Settings-1.png

3 Under Other users on the right side, click/tap on the account (ex: "Brink2") you want to change the type for to expand it open, and click/tap on Change account type. (see screenshot below)

Account_type_Settings-2.png

4 Select Standard User or Administrator, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Account_type_Settings-3.png

5 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Change Account Type of User in Control Panel


If the account you want to change is currently disabled, it will not show in this option.


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the User Accounts icon.

2 Click/tap on the Manage another account link. (see screenshot below)

Account_type_Control_Panel-1.png

3 Click/tap on a local account (ex: "Brink2") you want to change the account type for. (see screenshot below)

Account_type_Control_Panel-2.png

4 Click/tap on the Change the account type link. (see screenshot below)

Account_type_Control_Panel-3.png

5 Select (dot) Standard User or Administrator, and click/tap on Change Account Type. (see screenshot below)

Account_type_Control_Panel-4.png

6 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.




Option Three

Change Account Type of User in netplwiz


If the account you want to change is currently disabled, it will not show in this option.


1 Open netplwiz.

2 Check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box if available, select the local account (ex: "Brink2") you want to change the type for, and click/tap on the Properties button. (see screenshot below)

If you turned on For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device (aka: passwordless sign-in), you will not see the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer check box until you turn off For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device.

If your PC is currently joined to a domain, then the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer. box will not be available.


Account_type_netplwiz-1.png

3 Click/tap on the Group Membership tab, select (dot) Standard User or Administrator, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Account_type_netplwiz-2.png

4 If you wanted to have Windows automatically sign in to an account at startup, then you will need to set this up again now.

5 When finished, click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Account_type_netplwiz-3.png




Option Four

Change Account Type of User using Command


1 Open an elevated Windows Terminal, and select Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Do step 3 (see current type), step 4 (standard user), step 5 (administrator), or step 6 (remove) below for what you would like to do.


3 To See Current Account Type of Users

A) Copy and paste the commands below one at a time for each account type into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter after each command. (see screenshots below)

net localgroup users

net localgroup administrators

Account_type_command-1.png
Account_type_command-2.png


4 To Change Account Type to Standard User

A) Type the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

net localgroup users "UserName" /add

Substitute UserName in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") from step 3.

For example: net localgroup users "Brink2" /add


Account_type_command-2.png

B) Go to step 6 below, and remove the user from being an administrator account type if a member.


5 To Change Account Type to Administrator

A) Type the command below , and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

net localgroup administrators "UserName" /add

Substitute UserName in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") from step 3.

For example: net localgroup administrators "Brink2" /add


Account_type_command-3.png

]B) Go to step 6 below, and remove the user from being a standard user account type if a member.


6 To Remove User from an Account Type

A) Type the commands below one at a time into Windows Terminal (Admin) for only the account types you want to remove the user from, and press Enter after each one.

net localgroup guests "UserName" /delete

net localgroup users "UserName" /delete

net localgroup administrators "UserName" /delete

Substitute UserName in the command(s) above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") from step 3.

For example:

net localgroup guests "Brink2" /delete

net localgroup users "Brink2" /delete

net localgroup administrators "Brink2" /delete


Account_type_command-4.png

B) When finished, go to step 7 below.

7 You can close Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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