How to Remove an Administrator Account in Windows 10

To remove an administrator account in Windows 10, sign in with a different administrator account, open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, select the account and click Remove, then Delete account and data. Windows won’t let you delete the account you’re signed in with, so make sure a second admin account exists first. If you only want to take away admin rights, change the account to Standard User instead of deleting it. This guide covers four ways to delete an account, how to demote one, how to keep its files, and what to do about the hidden built-in Administrator account.

Before you start

• Keep at least one administrator. Without one, you can’t install software, change system settings or manage other accounts. If you need to create a new admin first, see how to make another account on Windows 10 and set it as an administrator.
• Sign in with the other admin account. Sign out of the account you’re removing and sign in to the one you’re keeping.
• Back up the account’s files. Deleting an account permanently removes its user folder, including Desktop, Documents, Downloads and Pictures. Copy anything important from C:\Users\AccountName to another location or external drive.
• Check where its email and passwords live. If the person used Outlook with a local data file or saved passwords in a browser profile, export them before you delete the account.

Method 1: Remove the account in Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts > Family & other users.
3. Under Other users, click the account you want to remove.
4. Click Remove.
5. Read the warning, then click Delete account and data.

The account disappears from the sign-in screen and its files are deleted. Settings doesn’t offer to keep the files, so back them up first or use Method 2.

Method 2: Remove it in Control Panel and keep the files

Control Panel can save part of the account’s files to your desktop before deleting it.

1. Open Control Panel and go to User Accounts > User Accounts.
2. Click Manage another account and approve the prompt if one appears.
3. Click the account you want to remove.
4. Click Delete the account.
5. Choose Keep Files to save a copy, or Delete Files to remove everything.
6. Click Delete Account to confirm.

Keep Files copies the account’s desktop and main personal folders, such as Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos, into a folder named after the account on your desktop. It doesn’t keep email messages, app data or settings, so don’t rely on it as your only backup.

Method 3: Remove it with netplwiz

1. Press Windows + R, type netplwiz and press Enter.
2. Select the account in the list.
3. Click Remove, then Yes.

This method also deletes the account without offering to keep its files. If you’re asked to remove the profile folder separately, check that you’ve backed it up first.

Method 4: Remove it with Command Prompt

1. Search for cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
2. Type net user and press Enter to see the exact account names.
3. Type net user "AccountName" /delete, replacing AccountName with the name from the list, and press Enter.

This command removes the account, but it can leave the old profile folder in C:\Users. After you’ve checked that nothing in it is needed, you can delete the leftover profile in System Properties > Advanced > User Profiles > Settings.

Remove admin rights without deleting the account

If the person still needs to use the computer, change the account to a standard user instead. Standard users can run apps and change their own settings, but they need an administrator’s approval to install software or change system settings.

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Click the account, then click Change account type.
3. Choose Standard User and click OK.

You can do the same thing in netplwiz. Select the account, click Properties, open the Group Membership tab and pick Standard user. For more on switching which account is in charge, see how to change the administrator in Windows 10.

Turn off the built-in Administrator account

Windows 10 also has a hidden, built-in account named Administrator. You can’t delete it, but you can disable it. That’s the safe state, and it’s how Windows ships.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type net user administrator /active:no and press Enter.

The account disappears from the sign-in screen. On a non-English version of Windows, the account may have a translated name. Run net user to check it.

Microsoft, work and family accounts

• Microsoft accounts. Removing a Microsoft account from the PC only removes it from that computer. The account itself, along with its email, OneDrive files and subscriptions, still exists online. See how to remove a Microsoft account from Windows 10.
• Work or school accounts. These are listed under Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. Select the account and click Disconnect. If the PC is managed by your employer, ask IT first.
• Family members. A child’s or family member’s account under Your family is managed through Microsoft’s family settings online. On the PC, you can block that person from signing in.

For standard accounts and accounts that aren’t administrators, the steps are the same. See how to remove a user account in Windows 10.

Delete, demote or disable: which should you choose?

Option	What happens	Best for
Delete the account	The account and its user folder are removed for good.	Someone who no longer uses the PC, or an old account you’ve replaced.
Change to Standard User	The account and files stay, but the person can’t make system changes without an admin’s approval.	Family members, children or employees who still need the PC.
Disable the account	The account is hidden from the sign-in screen and can’t be used, but nothing is deleted.	The built-in Administrator account, or an account you might need again.

To disable an ordinary account rather than delete it, run net user "AccountName" /active:no in an admin Command Prompt. Use /active:yes to turn it back on later. This is a good middle ground if you aren’t sure whether someone will need the files again. You can come back and delete the account once you’re certain.

On a PC that several people share, it’s also worth checking that you aren’t left with only one administrator who rarely uses the computer. Two administrator accounts, each with a strong password, is a sensible minimum. Everyone else can use standard accounts for day-to-day work.

Troubleshooting

There’s no Remove button

You’re probably signed in to the account you’re trying to remove, or your account isn’t an administrator. Sign in with another admin account and try again.

“Access is denied” in Command Prompt

Command Prompt isn’t running as administrator. Close it, right-click it and choose Run as administrator.

I removed the only other admin and now I can’t make changes

If your remaining account is a standard user, you’ll need an administrator password to fix it. If you’ve lost access to every administrator account, see how to recover a Windows 10 administrator password safely.

Frequently asked questions

Can I delete the only administrator account?

No. Windows won’t remove the account you’re signed in with. Create or promote a second administrator first.

Can I get a deleted account back?

No. You can create a new account with the same name, but it will be a different account. The old files are only recoverable from a backup, or from the Keep Files folder if you used Method 2.

Do I need an internet connection?

No. You can remove local accounts and Microsoft accounts while offline.

Does removing an account free up disk space?

Yes, once its profile folder is deleted. Large Downloads or Pictures folders can free up several gigabytes.

Summary

1. Make sure another administrator account exists, and sign in to it.
2. Back up the account’s files.
3. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Remove.
4. Or choose Change account type > Standard User to keep the account without admin rights.

Related: change the administrator on Windows 11.

Related: change the administrator name in Windows 10.