To give a user administrator privileges in Windows 11, open Settings > Accounts > Other users, select the account, choose Change account type, and select Administrator. You must perform this change from an account that already has administrative authority; the user may need to sign out and back in for the new membership to apply.
You can also add an identity to the local Administrators group with elevated PowerShell or Computer Management. Administrator membership does not mean every app runs elevated automatically: User Account Control (UAC) can still request approval.
Give an existing user administrator privileges in Settings
Use this method for most local and Microsoft accounts on a Windows 11 PC.
- Sign in to Windows with an administrator account.
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Accounts in the left pane.
- Select Other users.
- Under Other users, select the account to open its options.
- Select Change account type.
- Open the Account type drop-down menu.
- Choose Administrator, then select OK.
The account is now a member of the local Administrators group. Have the user sign out and sign back in so Windows creates a new access token with the updated group membership. Existing processes keep the token they received when they started.
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If the account does not exist yet
Create it first from Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account. To create a local account rather than use a Microsoft account:
- Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
- Select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Complete the username and password fields.
- After the account appears under Other users, select its options, choose Change account type, select Administrator, and select OK.
Adding the account alone does not grant administrator membership; change its account type separately.
Add a user to Administrators with PowerShell
Use PowerShell when you know the account name, need to add several identities, or need to specify a Microsoft, Entra, or domain identity.
- Open Start and search for PowerShell.
- Right-click PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
- Approve the UAC prompt.
- Run the command below, replacing
USERNAMEwith the account or group identity.
Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "USERNAME"
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| Identity | Example |
|---|---|
| Local user | Admin02 |
| Microsoft account | MicrosoftAccount\username@Outlook.com |
| Microsoft Entra account | AzureAD\user@contoso.com |
| Domain user or group | CONTOSO\Domain Admins |
You can add multiple members in one command:
Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "UserOne", "UserTwo"
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On a domain-joined PC, an unqualified name can resolve to a domain identity when a local account has the same name. Use an explicit prefix if there is any ambiguity, such as COMPUTERNAME\UserName, DOMAIN\UserName, MicrosoftAccount\email, or AzureAD\email.
To check the current members of the group, run:
Get-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators"
Use Computer Management
Computer Management provides a graphical method to manage local users and groups.
- Open Computer Management by searching for it from Start, right-clicking Start and selecting it, or pressing
Windows + R, enteringcompmgmt.msc, and pressing Enter. - In the left pane, expand Local Users and Groups.
- Select Groups.
- Double-click Administrators.
- Select Add.
- Enter the username or qualified identity, then select Check Names.
- Select OK, then select Apply and OK.
You can also open Local Users and Groups > Users, open a local account’s properties, and manage its group membership. If Local Users and Groups is unavailable, use Settings or PowerShell instead.
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Have the user sign out and back in before testing. One way to check the account type is through Control Panel:
- Open Control Panel.
- Select User Accounts.
- Select Change your account type.
- Confirm that Administrator is selected.
On a domain-joined computer, open the account’s Properties, select Group Membership, and verify that Administrator is selected. You can also inspect group membership from an elevated PowerShell window with Get-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators".
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Administrator membership is not the same as constant elevation
An administrator account does not automatically run every application with full administrative privileges. UAC can run an administrator’s interactive session with a standard-user-level token and request approval when an action needs elevation.
To elevate one program, right-click it and select Run as administrator. This elevates that process; it does not change the account’s membership or turn a standard account into an administrator.
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UAC settings are available at Control Panel > System and Security > Change User Account Control settings. Changing UAC settings does not add an account to the Administrators group.
Work, school, domain, and Microsoft Entra accounts
Settings > Accounts > Access work or school > Connect connects an organizational identity to the device; it is not the path for assigning local administrator membership. Add a domain or Microsoft Entra identity to the local Administrators group through PowerShell or Computer Management, using the correctly qualified identity.
Domain policy, Group Policy, or device-management policy can restrict or override local access. If organizational policy affects membership, contact the organization’s IT administrator.
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A local account connecting through network logon receives a filtered token without administrative rights by default. Local administrator membership alone does not guarantee remote administration or access to administrative shares such as C$ or ADMIN$.
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The built-in Windows Administrator account is different from an ordinary account that belongs to the Administrators group. Windows setup disables the built-in account and creates another local account that belongs to that group.
The built-in account has a security identifier ending in -500. It cannot be deleted or locked out, but it can be renamed or disabled. Do not enable it merely to give another user administrator privileges; add the required user to the local Administrators group instead.
Common problems
| Problem | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| There is no Change account type option | You may not be using an administrator session, or organizational policy may manage the account. Sign in with an administrator account or contact the organization’s IT administrator. |
| PowerShell reports that the member cannot be found | Check the spelling and identity prefix. Try a qualified form such as COMPUTERNAME\UserName, DOMAIN\UserName, or MicrosoftAccount\email. |
| The user still cannot install software | Have the user sign out and sign in again. An installer may still require UAC approval, and organizational policy may restrict installation. |
| Remote administration fails | Local network logons can receive a filtered token. Local administrator membership alone does not guarantee remote administrative access. |
| The account appears under Other users but remains standard | Adding or registering an account does not grant administrator rights. Use Change account type and select Administrator. |
FAQ
Can a standard user make itself an administrator in Windows 11?
No. The change must be made by an account with administrative authority. Windows requires administrator approval or credentials for administrative actions.
Is the Family section the right place to change a user to administrator?
No. The general-user path is Settings > Accounts > Other users. Family is for family-group accounts, not the standard path for assigning local administrator membership.
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Does Run as administrator permanently give a user admin rights?
No. It elevates one program. To change an account’s membership, select Administrator under Change account type or add it to the local Administrators group.
Does connecting a work or school account make it a local administrator?
No. Connecting an organizational account does not assign local administrator membership. That membership must be assigned separately and may be affected by organizational policy.
Why should the user sign out after the account type changes?
Windows creates an access token when a user signs in. Signing out and back in creates a new token with the updated group membership; existing processes retain their original token.
The Bottom Line
For most Windows 11 accounts, use Settings > Accounts > Other users > [account] > Change account type > Administrator. Use Add-LocalGroupMember for a command-line method or qualified identities. Have the user sign out and back in, and remember that administrator membership works alongside UAC rather than bypassing it.
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