Windows 7: Built-in Administrator Account - Enable or Disable

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the built-in elevated Administrator account in Windows 7.

   Note

Standard user (Users) - The standard account is an unelevated restricted users account. It can help protect your computer by preventing users from making changes that affect everyone who uses the computer, such as deleting files that are required for the computer to work. It is recommend to create a standard account for each user instead of an administrator account for the user. When you are logged on to Windows with a standard account, you can do almost anything that you can do with an administrator account, but if a standard user wanted to do something that requires elevated rights that affects other users of the computer, such as installing software or changing security settings, Windows will give the standard user a UAC prompt to enter the password of an administrator account for approval and confirmation before allowing the action.

administrator user - Is an unelevated administrator account that is created by default during the installation of Windows 7, or is already setup or you on a OEM (ex: Dell) computer. An administrator account has complete access to the computer, and can make any desired changes. To help make the computer more secure, this administrator account type will be prompted by UAC by default to give confirmation before allowed to make any changes that require elevated administrator rights. Such as those that affect the system, other users, or when running anything elevated (Run as Administrator) since running elevated will allow it to have access to the entire computer.

Built-in "Administrator" - Is the hidden elevated administrator account that has full unrestricted access rights and permission on the computer. By default, this elevated "Administrator" account is not prompted by UAC by default to provide confirmation before allowed to make any changes that require elevated administrator permissions since it is an elevated account.

   Warning

If you enable the built-in Administrator account, it is recommended to create a password for it to help keep it better secured.

For better security purposes, it is not recommended to leave the built-in Administrator account always enabled, or use it all the time for just everyday purposes.

OPTION ONE

Through Local Users and Groups

1. Open the Local Users and Groups manager.

2. In the left pane, click on the Users folder. (See screenshot below step 3)

3. In the middle pane, right click on Administrator and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)

4. To Enable the Built-in Elevated Administrator Account

A) Uncheck the Account is disabled box. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable the Built-in Elevated Administrator Account
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Check the Account is disabled box. (See screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Users and Groups window. (See screenshot below step 3)

8. Log off, and you will now see the built-in Administrator account log on icon added (enabled) or removed (disabled) from the log on screen. (See screeenshot below)
NOTE: Click on the Administrator icon to log on to the built-in Administrator account.

OPTION TWO

In a Elevated Command Prompt

1. Open a elevated command prompt.

2. To Enable the Hidden Built-in Elevated Administrator Account

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you had previously renamed the built-in "Administrator" account's name, then you will need to substitute administrator in the command below with the new name instead.

net user administrator /active:yes

B) Go to step 4.

3. To Disable the Hidden Built-in Elevated Administrator Account
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you had previously renamed the built-in "Administrator" account's name, then you will need to substitute administrator in the command below with the new name instead.

net user administrator /active:no

4. Close the elevated command prompt.

5. Log off, and you will now see the built-in Administrator account log on icon added (enabled) or removed (disabled) from the log on screen. (See screeenshot below)
NOTE: Click on the Administrator icon to log on to the built-in Administrator account.

OPTION THREE

Through Local Security Policy

1. Open the Local Security Policy editor.

2. In the left pane, expand Local Policies, and click on Security Options. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Accounts: Administrator account status and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable the Hidden Built-in Elevated Administrator Account

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable the Hidden Built-in Elevated Administrator Account
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Select (dot) Disabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Security Policy window. (See screenshot below step 2)

8. Log off, and you will now see the built-in Administrator account log on icon added (enabled) or removed (disabled) from the log on screen. (See screeenshot below)
NOTE: Click on the Administrator icon to log on to the built-in Administrator account.

OPTION FOUR

Enable from System Recovery (WinRE) at Boot

1. For how, see: How to Enable the Built-in Administrator Account from WinRE