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

   Information

Standard user (Users) - The standard account 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. We recommend creating a standard account for each 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 you want to do something that affects other users of the computer, such as installing software or changing security settings, Windows might ask you with a UAC prompt to provide a password for an administrator account.

The default administrator account that is created during the installation of Windows 7, or setup already for you on a OEM (ex: Dell) computer, will have complete access to the computer and can make any desired changes. To help make the computer more secure, this administrator account may be asked with a UAC prompt to provide their password or confirmation before allowed to make changes 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.

The built-in Administrator account is an account that has full unrestricted access and permission on the computer, and will not be prompted by UAC. It is not recommended to leave the built-in Administrator account always enabled, or use it all the time for just everyday purposes.

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

   Note

By default, the built-in administrator account is named Administrator, and is disabled.

   Warning

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

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 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 Administrator Account

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.

1. Open a elevated command prompt.

2. To Enable the Hidden Built-in Administrator Account

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

net user administrator /active:yes

B) Go to step 4.

3. To Disable the Hidden Built-in Administrator Account

A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

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.

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 Administrator Account

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

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable the Hidden Built-in Administrator Account

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.

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