How to change a Windows 10 user account type and why you might want to

How-to
By Mauro Huculak
last updated

If you have to extend or restrict user control on a device, you can quickly complete this task by changing the account type, and here's how on Windows 10.

How to change user account type using Command Prompt

To switch account types with Command Prompt, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
  3. Type the following command to change the account type to Standard User and press Enter:net localgroup Administrators "ACCOUNT-NAME" /deleteIn the command, make sure to change the ACCOUNT-NAME for the actual name of the account that you want to change. If you're trying to change an account using a Microsoft account, then the account name would be the first five letters of the email address.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Type the following command to change the account type to Administrator and press Enter:net localgroup Administrators "ACCOUNT-NAME" /addIn the command, make sure to change the ACCOUNT-NAME for the actual name of the account that you want to change.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Type the following command view the account type and press Enter:net user ACCOUNT-NAME

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Once you complete the steps, the next time the user signs in to the device, the account will load with the privileges allowed by the group that you specified in the command.

Mauro Huculak
Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.