This wikiHow teaches you how to tell if you're using an administrator account, and how to change an existing user account to one. You must be logged in as an administrator if you want to change the status of an account on your computer.
Step
Method 1 of 2: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Go to Start
Do this by clicking on the Windows logo in the lower left corner. You can also do this by pressing Win.
Step 2. Open Settings
Do this by clicking the gear icon in the lower left of the Start menu.
Step 3. Click Accounts
This person-shaped icon is in the middle row of options.
Step 4. Click the Your info tab at the top left of the Settings window
By doing so, your profile information will be displayed.
Step 5. Look for the “Administrator” tag under the profile name
The profile name is displayed at the top of this page. If you see " Administrator " under your name and email address, you are using an administrator account.
You can't change another user's account status if you're not logged in as an administrator
Step 6. Click the Family & other people tab on the left side of the window
If this option does not appear on the left side of the window, you are not an administrator. Skip to the last step to learn how to find out the administrator account name on a computer
Step 7. Click the user's name or email address
This option is below the " Your family " or " Other people " heading.
Step 8. Click the Change account type button located below the user's name or email address
Step 9. Click the drop-down box below the "Account type" heading
Step 10. Click Administrators
It's at the top of the pop-up menu.
Alternatively, you can click Standard user to cancel administrator rights on a user.
Step 11. Click OK
Your changes will be saved, and administrator rights will be granted to the selected user.
Step 12. Find out who is the administrator through the standard account
If you're not logged in as an administrator, you can find out the name and/or email address of a person with administrator status by triggering an administrator-specific command:
-
open Start
Windowsstart - Type control panel.
- Click Control Panel.
- Click heading User Accounts, then click User Accounts again if the User Accounts page is not opened.
- Click Manage another account.
- Check the name and/or email address that appears in the prompt to enter the password.
Method 2 of 2: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Open Apple menu
This can be done by clicking on the Apple logo in the upper left corner. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 2. Select System Preferences… located at the top of the drop-down menu
Step 3. Click Users & Groups
The icon is a silhouette of two people in the lower-left corner of the System Preferences window.
Step 4. Find your name in the left sidebar
The name of the account that the computer is currently using will appear at the top of this sidebar.
Step 5. Look for " Admin " under your name
If it says "Admin", it means you are an administrator. If not, then you are a shared user, who does not have the right to change other people's account statuses.
Even if you only use a guest account, you can still see the words "Admin" displayed under the administrator account name
Step 6. Click on the padlock-shaped icon located at the bottom left corner
Step 7. Type in the administrator password
Enter the password used to unlock the computer, and click OK. The editing menu for the administrator user will open.
Step 8. Click a username
Select the name of the person you want to give administrator rights to.
Step 9. Check the box "Allow user to administer this computer"
This box is next to the username. On the other hand, if you want to revoke administrator rights from an admin account, uncheck this box.
Step 10. Click the lock icon again
The settings you make will be saved, and changes to the account status will be applied to the account you selected.
Tips
- To increase the level of security, grant administrator rights to only a few people.
- Standard users have only limited control over system changes. The user is also unable to install applications, delete system files, and change settings. The guest account can only access basic files and programs, and has almost no other authority.
