Solved How to get Out of Admin Account Back to Where I Was

Wynona · Oct 18, 2023

Windows 11 22H2 version 22671.2428

When booting Windows 11, I decided to click on Admin . . . when I tried to get back to where I was before clicking Admin, I couldn't!

I'm getting along OK, but there are so many things I don't like . . . I can't change that stupid huge blue ribbon, I can't change back to my regular account, etc.

Anyone got any suggestion as to how I can get out of a completely changed system back to what I had?

Thanks in advance . . .

johnlgalt · Oct 18, 2023

Uh, normally you don't have an Admin to click on. Can you detail which tutorial(s) you were using to get Win11 installed?

Or is this post install, as in a regular boot?

And if so, did you by chance follow a tutorial to enable the Admin account?

If so, you're logged in as Admin, so log out.

If not, more details please

FreeBooter · Oct 18, 2023

You can use Hiren's bootCD PE to enable Admin account.

Boot your computer with Hiren’s BootCD PE.
Goto Start Menu -> Securiy -> Passwords -> NT Password Edit
Open your SAM file (It is usually located in C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM).
Click your username and the click ‘Unlock’.

Reboot your system to login to Admin account.

Download | Hiren's BootCD PE

In this video, you will find detailed instructions on how to enable the hidden administrator account on Windows 11,10, 8, 7 or Vista based computer, by modifying the Windows Registry Offline in case you cannot login to Windows by using another account with admin rights.

Bree · Oct 18, 2023

Wynona said:
Windows 11 22H2 version 22671.2428

When booting Windows 11, I decided to click on Admin . . . when I tried to get back to where I was before clicking Admin, I couldn't!
....Anyone got any suggestion as to how I can get out of a completely changed system back to what I had?

22671? I assume that's a typo for 22621.

Sounds like you may have enabled the built-in Administrator account, then signed in to that. On booting up Windows tries to sign in with the last account that was used, and if that has no password (as Administrator does by default) then it goes straight in to the desktop.

Try clicking on Start, then on the user icon at bottom left, then sign out. You should then see a choice of accounts to sign in with, including your usual one. Sign into it and your account will now be the last one to be used, and the one that you'll see at the next boot up.

OAT · Oct 18, 2023

@Wynona
Just from the command line type:
net user administrator /active: no
Reboot
You will have your other account back.

antspants · Oct 18, 2023

OAT said:
@Wynona
Just from the command line type:
net user administrator /active: no
Reboot
You will have your other account back.

Nice!

Wynona · Oct 19, 2023

johnlgalt said:
1. Uh, normally you don't have an Admin to click on. Can you detail which tutorial(s) you were using to get Win11 installed?

2. Or is this post install, as in a regular boot?

3. And if so, did you by chance follow a tutorial to enable the Admin account?

4. If so, you're logged in as Admin, so log out.

5. If not, more details please

1. I wasn't using a tutorial. This computer came with Windows 11 installed . . . I've only updated it so far.

2. I really don't know when the Admin account appeared; whether it's been there from the beginning or whether I somehow enabled it by mistake.

3. No, I did not consciously enable the Admin account. It was just there and Ms. Dumb Bunny clicked on it.

4. I logged out as per @Bree's instructions on how to do that. Thanks, Bree.

5. I don't have any more details . . . nor a real clue as to what happened.

Thanks to the mess I encountered though, I now know how to go back and forth between Wynona and Admin!

Wynona · Oct 19, 2023

OAT said:
@Wynona
Just from the command line type:
net user administrator /active: no
Reboot
You will have your other account back.

Thanks, one to put in the hints and tips file.

I had already followed Bree's instructions when I came to this one.

Ghot · Oct 19, 2023

Wynona said:
nor a real clue as to what happened

Obviously, the computer decided you were Administrator material.

Wynona · Oct 19, 2023

Bree said:
22671? I assume that's a typo for 22621.

Sounds like you may have enabled the built-in Administrator account, then signed in to that. On booting up Windows tries to sign in with the last account that was used, and if that has no password (as Administrator does by default) then it goes straight in to the desktop.

Try clicking on Start, then on the user icon at bottom left, then sign out. You should then see a choice of accounts to sign in with, including your usual one. Sign into it and your account will now be the last one to be used, and the one that you'll see at the next boot up.

Thank you, @Bree. That worked! Now I know how to go back and forth if I feel the need later. Prolly not, though.

Wynona · Oct 19, 2023

Ghot said:
Obviously, the computer decided you were Administrator material.

Boy, did the computer get a wrong number! :shush:

Wynona · Oct 19, 2023

Thanks everyone. I've learned from this experience, so I guess it was worth it.

Marking the thread solved.

Bree · Oct 20, 2023

Wynona said:
Thank you, @Bree. That worked! Now I know how to go back and forth if I feel the need later. Prolly not, though.

Thought that would do it. :thumbsup:

I wonder if your built-in Administrator account had been enabled, or a new user account called Admin had been added (either by you, or whoever installed Windows). I suspect Admin is a second user account.

It's easy enough to find out, open a command prompt and use the command net users to see a list of all user accounts. Here's mine, to make it more obvious I've highlighted the standard built-in accounts in red, and my two user accounts in blue.

Owner is my main user account. It's always useful to have a second local administrator account for emergencies, so I add one to all my PCs. That's the one I've named Maintenance.

Try3 · Oct 20, 2023

Wynona said:
I decided to click on Admin

Wynona said:
I really don't know when the Admin account appeared

Is the username being displayed on the login screen
Admin
or
Administrator
- The first is just an account that happens to have that username. Some computer makers have been reported as creating accounts with that username prior to delivery.
- The second is the Built-in Admin account itself.

Denis

johnlgalt · Oct 20, 2023

Wynona said:
Thanks everyone. I've learned from this experience, so I guess it was worth it.

Marking the thread solved.

Just out of curiosity, how did you make the bootable drive you used to install Windows 11? I suspect something here, but want to make sure.

Otherwise, glad you got it all figured out.

Wynona · Oct 20, 2023

Try3 said:
Is the username being displayed on the login screen
Admin
or
Administrator
- The first is just an account that happens to have that username. Some computer makers have been reported as creating accounts with that username prior to delivery.
- The second is the Built-in Admin account itself.

Denis

It's Administrator.

Wynona · Oct 20, 2023

johnlgalt said:
Just out of curiosity, how did you make the bootable drive you used to install Windows 11? I suspect something here, but want to make sure.

Otherwise, glad you got it all figured out.

I didn't install Windows. This desktop came with Windows 11 preinstalled. I've only updated it from Windows Update.

Spunk · Oct 20, 2023

When you login to the computer, go to Settings/Accounts at the top it will list your User Profile name etc

Check Account is Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to check if a user account is either a local account or a Microsoft account 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...

www.elevenforum.com

If you want to switch from a Local Account to a Microsoft Account, try this
Switch to Microsoft Account from Local Account in Windows 11 Tutorial
If you're not logged into your Microsoft Account, Do you see it listed in the Users? If not, click the link to Add Microsoft Account

johnlgalt · Oct 21, 2023

Wynona said:
I didn't install Windows. This desktop came with Windows 11 preinstalled. I've only updated it from Windows Update.

Whoever installed it enabled it lol. By default that should not be an account that you can just log into on a normal Windows 11 install.

Wynona · Oct 21, 2023

johnlgalt said:
Whoever installed it enabled it lol. By default that should not be an account that you can just log into on a normal Windows 11 install.

Agreed! Newbies who got into what I did wouldn't even know to come here for advice!

In a way, I'm glad it happened because I now know what to do . . . or what not to do!

If I'm not mistaken, my "user/owner" account is also an admin account?