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Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name How to Rename the Windows 7 Built-in Administrator Account
Published by Brink
04-19-2009
| Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name How to Rename the Windows 7 Built-in Administrator Account  Information This will show you how to rename the built-in "Administrator" account name to any name you would like instead to be displayed on the Welcome screen, log on screen, Start menu, and C:\Users\Administrator folder in Windows 7.
You could have better security by not using the same default name of Administrator as everyone else does.  Note The built-in Administrator account is not enabled by default in Windows 7. Instead you use a default normal administrator account that was created during installation. This normal administrator account is not the same as the built-in Administrator account.  Tip When you change a name of a user account, the original name is still tied to that account even though the new name is displayed in the Start menu and at log on. So you will not be able to use both names to rename another account with without deleting the other account that already has the name. EXAMPLE: Built-in Administrator Account at Log on NOTE: Top screenshot is the default name, and bottom screenshot is renamed. 
.  OPTION ONE
Manually in Registry Editor and User Accounts
NOTE: This option is will allow you to also rename the C:\Users\Administrator folder if the built-in Administrator account has already been previously enabled. This option will also rename the built-in Administrator account's name displayed on the log on screen and Start Menu. 1. For how, see: User Profile Folder - Change User Account Folder Name OPTION TWO
Through Local Security Policy
NOTE: This option is will allow you to also rename the C:\Users\Administrator folder if the built-in Administrator account has not already been previously enabled. This option will also rename the built-in Administrator account's name displayed on the log on screen and Start Menu. 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: Rename administrator account and click on Properties. (See screenshot above) 4. Type in a name you want instead that has not ever been used by any other user account on the computer, and click on OK. (See screenshot below) 5. Close the Local Security Policy window. (See screenshot below step 2) 6. You can now enable the built-in Administrator account, and log off or switch users to see it's log on icon with the new name in the log on screen. (See screeenshot below)
OPTION THREE
Through Local Users and Groups
NOTE: This option will allow you to also rename the C:\Users\Administrator folder if the built-in Administrator account has not already been previously enabled. This option will also rename the built-in Administrator account's name displayed on the log on screen and Start Menu. 1. Open the Local Users and Groups manager. 2. In the left pane click on Users. (See screenshot below) 3. In the right pane, right click on Administrator and click on Properties. (See screenshot above) 4. In the General tab and to the right of Full name, type in a name you want instead that has not been used by any other user on the computer and click on OK. (See screenshot below) 5. Close Local Users and Groups window. (See screenshot below step 2) 6. You can now enable the built-in Administrator account, and can now log off or switch users to see built-in Administrator account's log on icon with the new name in the log on screen. (See screeenshot below)
OPTION FOUR
Through User Accounts
NOTE: This option will only rename the built-in Administrator account's name displayed on the Welcome, log on screen, and Start Menu, and not for the C:\Users\Administrator folder. If you wanted to rename the folder, then you will need to use one of the other options above instead. 1. If you have not already, you will need to enable the built-in Administrator account. 2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the User Accounts icon. 3. Click on the Manage another account link. (See screenshots below) NOTE: The top screenshot is while logged in to the built-in Administrator account. The bottom screenshot is while logged in to a default administrator account.  4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes. 5. Click on the listed built-in Administrator account. (See screenshot below) 6. Click on the Change the account name link. (See screenshot below) 7. Type in a name you want instead that has not been used by any other user on the computer, and click on the Change Name. (See screenshot below) 8. The built-in Administrator account is now renamed. Close the User Account window. (See screenshot below) 9. You can now log off or switch users to see built-in Administrator account's log on icon with the new name in the log on screen. (See screeenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 34,658 | |
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04-19-2009
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#1 | | Windows 7 Professional 64-bit |
Nice! I assume if I wanted to rename administrator to swarfega and my standard user was already called swarfega, id have to rename that first.
| My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number self built OS Windows 7 Professional 64-bit CPU Intel E8400 3GHz Motherboard Intel DX48BT2 Memory Kingston PC3-10700H 4Gb Graphics Card XFX Radeon HD 5850 BlackEd. Sound Card Asus Xonar DG Monitor(s) Displays 2x Samsung SM-T220HD 22" Screen Resolution 1680x1050 on two monitors Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve USB Mouse Razer Diamondback 3G PSU Thermaltake ToughPower 850w Case Thermaltake Armor Cooling Scythe Mugen II Hard Drives OCZ Vertex 2 120gb 3.5" (OS)
Seagate Momentus XT 500gb
Samsung F3 1Tb (games)
2x Samsung F1 1Tb Internet Speed 8128/443 |
04-19-2009
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#2 | | |
None of my installs have had a "Administrator" account. I usually set a name during install. | My System Specs | | |
04-19-2009
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#3 | | |

Quote: Originally Posted by copernicus None of my installs have had a "Administrator" account. I usually set a name during install. it needs to be enabled in order to use it.
Read the top part. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Compaq OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 CPU Intel core 2 duo T 5550 @ 1.83 GHz Motherboard Intel 965 express mobile chipset Memory 3 GB DR 2 @ 667 MHz Graphics Card Onboard with approx 512 MB RAM Sound Card Onboard Monitor(s) Displays 15"4 inch widescreen Hard Drives 160 GB SATA WD. Internet Speed sucks |
04-19-2009
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#4 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 |

Quote: Originally Posted by swarfega Nice! I assume if I wanted to rename administrator to swarfega and my standard user was already called swarfega, id have to rename that first. Hi Swarfega,
Sorry, but if you have already used Swarfega for an account, you cannot use it for another account even if you renamed the Swarfega account. The only way that you could use the same name for another account is to delete the Swarfega account first. Be sure to have another administrator account setup first though so you do not delete your only administrator account. 
Quote: Originally Posted by copernicus None of my installs have had a "Administrator" account. I usually set a name during install. Hello Copernicus,
The built-in Administrator account is not enabled by default in Windows 7. Instead you use a default normal administrator account that was created during installation. This normal administrator account is not the same as the built-in Administrator account though.
Hope this helps guys,
Shawn | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Self built custom OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 CPU Intel i7-980X 3.3 Ghz (3.48 Ghz OC'd) Motherboard ASUS P6X58D Premium Memory 12 GB (2GBx6) DDR3 PC3-16000 2000 MHz Kingston HyperX Graphics Card Sapphire HD5870 Eyefinity 6 2GB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889 Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 3x 27" Asus VE278Q Screen Resolution 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Corsair Obsidian 800D Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 160GB OCZ RevoDrive X2
** 2 x 1TB Samsung HDD HD154UI SATA Internet Speed 50 Mb/s Download and 2 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Lite-On iHBS212 12x BD Writer
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** Netgear WNDR3800 Router
** Motorola SBG6580 Cable Modem
** 2x APC Back-UPS XS 1500 |
04-20-2009
|
#6 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 |
LOL, no problem Copernicus. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Self built custom OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 CPU Intel i7-980X 3.3 Ghz (3.48 Ghz OC'd) Motherboard ASUS P6X58D Premium Memory 12 GB (2GBx6) DDR3 PC3-16000 2000 MHz Kingston HyperX Graphics Card Sapphire HD5870 Eyefinity 6 2GB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889 Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 3x 27" Asus VE278Q Screen Resolution 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Corsair Obsidian 800D Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 160GB OCZ RevoDrive X2
** 2 x 1TB Samsung HDD HD154UI SATA Internet Speed 50 Mb/s Download and 2 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Lite-On iHBS212 12x BD Writer
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** Netgear WNDR3800 Router
** Motorola SBG6580 Cable Modem
** 2x APC Back-UPS XS 1500 |
12-10-2009
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#7 | | |
But how do you change the "Name" not just display name. If you notice in option 3 the name still says Adminstrator. The name you changed was "Full Name", Which is just what is displayed. Is changing the Name possible? | My System Specs | | |
12-10-2009
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#8 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 |
Hello Jacked, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Sorry, but no. Like any other user account, you can only change the account's name that is displayed in the Start Menu and log on screen. The C:\Users\(user-name) folder name can not be changed. Update:
Found a way to do so. User Profile Folder - Change User Account Folder Name
Last edited by Brink; 04-09-2011 at 01:07 PM..
Reason: update
| My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Self built custom OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 CPU Intel i7-980X 3.3 Ghz (3.48 Ghz OC'd) Motherboard ASUS P6X58D Premium Memory 12 GB (2GBx6) DDR3 PC3-16000 2000 MHz Kingston HyperX Graphics Card Sapphire HD5870 Eyefinity 6 2GB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889 Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 3x 27" Asus VE278Q Screen Resolution 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Corsair Obsidian 800D Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 160GB OCZ RevoDrive X2
** 2 x 1TB Samsung HDD HD154UI SATA Internet Speed 50 Mb/s Download and 2 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Lite-On iHBS212 12x BD Writer
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** Netgear WNDR3800 Router
** Motorola SBG6580 Cable Modem
** 2x APC Back-UPS XS 1500 |
12-11-2009
|
#9 | | |
Hi Brink,
That is what I thought, just hoped MS had made a change. Thanks for the welcome and the reply. | My System Specs | | Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name problems? All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:30 PM. |  |