How To Enable Hidden Administrator Account In Windows 10

admin Updated on Jan 22nd, 2016

 RECOMMENDED: Click here to fix Windows errors and optimize system performance 
 

As you know, towards the end of the Windows 10 installation or setup, Windows setup prompts you to create a user account. Although Windows gives the Administrator user status to this user account, Windows 10 automatically generates another super or elevated Administrator account during the installation and the account is hidden by default due to security reasons.

The built-in Administrator account is usually used to troubleshoot Windows. Unlike the normal Administrator account, this hidden by default or built-in Administrator account runs all programs and tools with admin rights by default, which means that the annoying UAC box will not appear when you attempt to run a program as administrator. This also means that all programs that are launched from this account are running without any restrictions.

There are three ways to enable the built-in or hidden administrator account in Windows 10. You can enable the same via Command Prompt, Local Users and Groups or Local Security Policy.

IMPORTANT: As the hidden Administrator launches applications and tools without any restrictions, it’s wise to enable and use the account only if you know how to use it. Also, we recommend you assign a password to the account as soon as you enable it.

Method 1 of 3

Enable the built-in administrator account in Windows 10

Step 1: Open elevated Command Prompt (Command Prompt with admin rights). To open Command Prompt as administrator, you need to type CMD in Start search box and then simultaneously press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys. Be sure to simultaneously press all three keys.

When you see the UAC prompt, click Yes button.

Alternatively, you can navigate to Start, All Apps, Windows System (double-click on Windows system folder), right-click on Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator option. Click Yes button when you see the UAC box to open elevated Command Prompt.

When the elevated Command Prompt is launched, “Administrator” will appear in the toolbar of the Command Prompt (see below picture).

Step 2: In the elevated Command Prompt, type the following command and then press Enter key.

Net user administrator /active:yes

Step 3: Close the Command Prompt. That’s it!

The newly enabled built-in Administrator account can now be accessed by clicking your user account name in the Start and then clicking the Administrator account. This hidden Administer will now also appear on the login screen of Windows 10.

Tip: To disable the built-in Administrator account, simply type Net user administrator /active:no in the elevated Command Prompt.

Method 2 of 3

Enable the hidden administrator account

Step 1: Open Run command box by simultaneously pressing Windows + R keys.

Tip: You can pin Run command to Start by following our how to pin Run to Start menu in Windows 10 guide.

Step 2: In the Run command box, type lusrmgr.msc and then press Enter key to open Local Users and Groups window.

Step 3: Here, in the left-pane, click Users folder to see various account names in the middle pane.

Step 4: Now, double-click on the Administrator entry in the middle pane to open its properties dialog.

Step 5: Under the General tab, uncheck the option labelled Account is disabled, and then click Applybutton to enable the built-in admin account. That’s it!

Close the Local Users and Groups window. The enabled Administrator account should be visible on the login screen. Also, you can quickly switch to or sign in to the Administrator account by clicking the user name on the Start and then clicking Administrator.

Method 3 of 3

Enable the hidden administrator account

In this method, we are going to enable the hidden Administrator account using Local Security Policy and this feature (Local Security Policy) might not be available in all editions of Windows 10.

Step 1: Open Run command box. To do so, as you likely know, you need to simultaneously press Windows + R keys.

Alternatively, you can type Run in the Start search box and then press Enter key to open Run command box.

Step 2: In the Run command box, type secpol.msc, and then click the OK button to open Local Security Policy.

Step 3: In the left pane of Local Security Policy window, click Local Policies, and then click Security Settings.

Step 4: On the right-side, look for the policy entry named Accounts: Administrator account status, and then double-click on the same to open its Properties.

Step 5: Under the Local Security Setting tab of the opened Properties, select the option titled Enabled, and then click Apply button to enable the hidden Administrator account.

That’s it! Good luck.