Enable the (Hidden) Administrator Account on Windows 7, 8 ...

net user administrator /active:yes. Command prompt with the activation command. You should see a message that the command completed ... Skiptocontent Weselectandreviewproductsindependently.Whenyoupurchasethroughourlinkswemayearnacommission.Learnmore. 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Bysubmittingyouremail,youagreetotheTermsofUseandPrivacyPolicy. ManypeoplefamiliarwithpriorversionsofWindowsarecuriouswhathappenedtothebuilt-inAdministratoraccountthatwasalwayscreatedbydefault.Doesthisaccountstillexist,andhowcanyouaccessit? TheaccountiscreatedinWindows11,10,8,7,orVista,butsinceit’snotenabledyoucan’tuseit.Ifyouaretroubleshootingsomethingthatneedstorunasadministrator,youcanenableitwithasimplecommand. Warning:Thebuilt-inAdministratoraccounthasalotmoreprivilegesthanaregularadministratoraccount—privilegesthatcaneasilygetyouintotroubleifyouuseitregularly.Werecommendonlyenablingthebuilt-inAdministratoraccountifyouarecertainyouneedittotroubleshootaspecificproblemandthendisablingitwhenyouaredone.Ifyou’reunsurewhetheryouneedit,youprobablyshouldn’tuseitatall. EnableBuilt-inAdministratorAccountinWindows First,you’llneedtoopenacommandpromptinadministratormodebyright-clickingandchoosing“Runasadministrator”(orusetheCtrl+Shift+Entershortcutfromthesearchbox). NotethatthisworksthesameinallversionsofWindows.Justsearchfor cmdandthenright-clickonthecommandprompticonintheStartmenuorStartscreen. IfyouareinWindows10,11,or8.1,youcanright-clickontheStartbuttonandchoosetoopenacommandpromptthatway. Nowtypethefollowingcommand: netuseradministrator/active:yes Advertisement Youshouldseeamessagethatthecommandcompletedsuccessfully.Logout,andyou’llnowseetheAdministratoraccountasachoice.(ThebelowscreenshotisfromWindowsVista,butthisalsoworksonWindows10,Windows11,Windows7,andWindows8.) You’llnotethatthere’snopasswordforthisaccount,soifyouwanttoleaveitenabledyoushouldchangethepassword. DisabletheBuilt-inAdministratorAccount Makesureyouareloggedonasyourregularuseraccount,andthenopenanadministratormodecommandpromptasabove.Typethefollowingcommand: netuseradministrator/active:no Theadministratoraccountwillnowbedisabled,anditwillvanishfromtheloginscreen. READNEXT ›HowtoCircumvent“ThisAppHasBeenBlockedForYourProtection”toInstallAppsInWindows10›HowToCreateaShortcutThatLetsaStandardUserRunAnApplicationasAdministrator›WhatDoes“RunasAdministrator”MeaninWindows10?›HowtoEnabletheHiddenWindows7AdminAccountUsingtheRegistry›175Windows7Tweaks,Tips,andHow-ToArticles›HowtoEnterTaskManagerasAdminonWindows10and11›WhatIsa“Bump”OntheInternet?›4UselessTechProductsYouShouldn’tBuy How-ToGeekiswhereyouturnwhenyouwantexpertstoexplaintechnology.Sincewelaunchedin2006,ourarticleshavebeenreadmorethan1billiontimes.Wanttoknowmore?