Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name

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    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name

    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name

    How to Rename the Built-in Elevated "Administrator" Account in Windows 7 and Windows 8
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    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Rename the Built-in Elevated "Administrator" Account in Windows 7 and Windows 8

       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 7and Windows 8.

    You could have better security by not using the same default name of Administrator as everyone else does.

       Note
    The built-in elevated "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 Elevated "Administrator" Account at Log on
    NOTE: Top screenshot is the default name, and bottom screenshot is renamed.
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-log-1.jpg
    .
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-log-2.jpg



    OPTION ONE

    Manually in Registry Editor and User Accounts


    NOTE: This option 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.



    OPTION TWO

    Through Local Security Policy


    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 Security Policy editor.

    2. In the left pane, expand Local Policies, and click on Security Options. (See screenshot below)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-secpol-1.jpg
    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)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-secpol-2.jpg
    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)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-log-2.jpg



    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)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-admin-9.jpg
    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)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-admin-10.jpg
    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)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-log-2.jpg



    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.
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-built_in-1.jpg

    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-default-1.jpg
    4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

    5. Click on the listed built-in Administrator account. (See screenshot below)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-built-2.jpg
    6. Click on the Change the account name link. (See screenshot below)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-built-3.jpg
    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)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-built-4.jpg
    8. The built-in Administrator account is now renamed. Close the User Account window. (See screenshot below)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-built-5.jpg
    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)
    Built-in Administrator Account - Change Name-log-2.jpg
    That's it,
    Shawn







  1. Posts : 4,925
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       #1

    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 Computer


  2. Posts : 620
    7264x64/7260x86
       #2

    None of my installs have had a "Administrator" account. I usually set a name during install.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8,476
    Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
       #3

    copernicus said:
    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 Computer


  4. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    swarfega said:
    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.



    copernicus said:
    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 Computer


  5. Posts : 620
    7264x64/7260x86
       #5

    Hooray for my lack of reading comprehension! =X
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    LOL, no problem Copernicus.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2
    Windows 7
       #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 Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    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; 09 Apr 2011 at 13:07. Reason: update
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    Windows 7
       #9

    Hi Brink,

    That is what I thought, just hoped MS had made a change. Thanks for the welcome and the reply.
      My Computer


 
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