You cannot legitimately “become administrator” on a Windows 10 PC without authorization from an existing administrator. If you already control the computer, an administrator can change another account’s type in Settings or Control Panel. If Windows only needs administrator permission for one task, use User Account Control (UAC) elevation instead of converting the account permanently.
Windows 10 Support Note
Standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Eligible Windows 10 version 22H2 consumer PCs can receive Extended Security Updates through October 12, 2027. Move compatible PCs to Windows 11 when practical.
How to Change a Windows 10 Account to Administrator
- Sign in with an existing administrator account. Standard users cannot grant themselves administrator rights.
- Open Settings. Press Windows + I.
- Select Accounts.
- Open Family & other users or Other users. The wording depends on the Windows 10 build.
- Select the account you are authorized to change.
- Choose Change account type.
- Select Administrator and confirm the change.
- Sign out and back in if necessary. Then verify that the account type is shown correctly.
Use UAC for One Administrative Task
Administrator accounts normally still use UAC. When an application needs elevated privileges, Windows can ask for approval or administrator credentials. This is safer than running every program elevated all the time.
Standard Account vs. Administrator
A standard account can run normal applications and change many personal settings but cannot make certain system-wide changes without administrator approval. An administrator can install system-wide software, manage other accounts, and change protected system settings. For day-to-day use, limiting administrative privileges reduces the impact of mistakes and malicious software.
If You Forgot the Administrator Password
Use the supported recovery method for the account. For a Microsoft account, use Microsoft’s account-recovery process. For a local account, use configured security questions, a password-reset disk if one was created, or another authorized administrator account. On an organization-managed PC, contact IT.
Do Not Use Administrator Bypass Tricks
A tutorial that replaces accessibility tools, modifies offline account databases, or uses another lock-screen workaround to grant administrator rights is bypassing Windows access controls. Do not use those techniques. If no authorized administrator account can be recovered, use supported Windows recovery/reset options while accounting for data loss and BitLocker.
Work or School PCs
Your organization may intentionally prevent local administrator access. Do not change group membership, policy, or management settings to defeat those restrictions. Ask IT to install the required application or approve the administrative task.
Summary
To make a Windows 10 user an administrator, sign in with an authorized administrator account and change the account type. For a single privileged action, use UAC elevation instead. If you have lost administrative access, recover the authorized account or use supported Windows recovery rather than bypassing the sign-in system.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.