Determine Account Type in Windows 10  

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10

    How to Determine if Users are an Administrator or Standard User in Windows 10
    Published by Category: User Accounts
    08 Oct 2022
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Determine if Users are an Administrator or Standard User in Windows 10

    When you set up Windows, you were required to create a user account. This account is an administrator account that allows you to set up your PC and install any apps that you would like to use. When you add an account on your PC in Windows, it will be a standard user account by default.

    Standard User - Standard user accounts are good for everyday usage, and can be a local account or Microsoft account. Standard user accounts can use most apps and change system settings that do not affect other users. If any action that requires elevated rights is attempted while signed in as a standard user, Windows will display a UAC prompt for the password of an administrator for approval. If UAC is set to "Never notify", then a standard user will automatically just be denied the elevated action.

    Administrator - Administrator accounts have complete access to the PC and can make any desired changes. Administrators can be a local account or Microsoft account. If any action that requires elevated rights is attempted while signed in as an administrator, Windows will display a UAC prompt for the administrator to confirm (Yes or No) or enter their password first.

    This tutorial will show you how to quickly determine if users on the PC are an administrator or standard user account type in Windows 10.

    For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

    Check Account is Administrator or Standard User in Windows 11



    Contents

    • Option One: To Determine Account Type of Your Account in User Accounts
    • Option Two: To Determine Account Type of Users in User Accounts
    • Option Three: To Determine Account Type of Users in Local Users and Groups
    • Option Four: To Determine Account Type of Users in Command Prompt
    • Option Five: To Determine Account Type of Users in Settings






    OPTION ONE

    To Determine Account Type of Your Account in User Accounts


    1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the User Accounts icon.

    2 Look under your user name in the box with your account picture. (see screenshot below)

    • If you see Administrator under your user name, then you're account is an administrator.
    • If you don't see Administrator under your user name, then you're account is a standard user.

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-user_accounts_administrator.png






    OPTION TWO

    To Determine Account Type of Users in User Accounts


    You must be signed in as an administrator to be able do this option.


    1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the User Accounts icon.

    2 Click/tap on the Manage another account link. (see screenshot below)

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-user_accounts-1.png

    3 Look under the user name in each box with the user's account picture. (see screenshot below)

    • If you see Administrator under the user name, then the account is an administrator.
    • If you don't see Administrator under the user name, then the account is a standard user.

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-user_accounts-2.png






    OPTION THREE

    To Determine Account Type of Users in Local Users and Groups


    The Local Users and Groups is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type lusrmgr.msc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Local Users and Groups.

    2 Click/tap on Groups in the left pane, and double click/tap on the Administrators in the middle pane. (see screenshot below)

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-lusrmgr_administrators-1.png

    3 Look at the user names listed under Members. (see screenshot below)

    • If a user name is listed as a member of the Administrators group, then the account is an administrator.
    • If a user name is not listed as a member of the Administrators group, then the account is a standard user.

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-lusrmgr_administrators-2.png






    OPTION FOUR

    To Determine Account Type of Users in Command Prompt


    1 Open a command prompt.

    2 Copy and paste the net localgroup administrators command into the command prompt, and press Enter.

    3 Look at the user names listed under Members. (see screenshot below)

    • If a user name is listed as a member of the Administrators group, then the account is an administrator.
    • If a user name is not listed as a member of the Administrators group, then the account is a standard user.

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-list_administrators_command.png






    OPTION FIVE

    To Determine Account Type of Users in Settings


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Accounts icon.

    2 Do step 3 (Your info) or step 4 (Family & other users) for which page in Accounts you want to check on.

    3 Determine Account Type on "Your info" Page for Current User

    A) Click/tap on Your info on the left side. (see screenshot below)

    B) Look under the account picture on the right side.

    • If you see Administrator under the user name, then the account is an administrator.
    • If you don't see Administrator under the user name, then the account is a standard user.

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-administrator_in_settings-1.jpg


    4 Determine Account Type on "Family & other users" Page for Other Users

    A) Click/tap on Family & other users on the left side. (see screenshot below)

    B) Look at each user listed under Other users on the right side.

    • If you see Administrator under the user name, then the account is an administrator.
    • If you don't see Administrator under the user name, then the account is a standard user.

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-administrator_in_settings-2.jpg


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. NMI
    Posts : 1,095
    Windows 11 Pro, Version 22H2
       #1

    Settings, Accounts?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,421
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    NMI said:
    Settings, Accounts?
    Settings:

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-capture.jpg

    Accounts:

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-capture1.jpg
      My Computer


  3. NMI
    Posts : 1,095
    Windows 11 Pro, Version 22H2
       #3

    Yep, sorry I made that look like a question. It was really a suggestion for an addition. I should have tried to be obvious rather than succinct.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    NMI said:
    Settings, Accounts?

    Now added as Option 5 in the tutorial.
      My Computers


  5. NMI
    Posts : 1,095
    Windows 11 Pro, Version 22H2
       #5

    Thanks!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16
    Windows 10
       #6

    Subbed :) :)
      My Computer


  7. mlg
    Posts : 73
    Win 10 Prof
       #7

    I am listed under a few group categories and confused


    My computer knows my name is Madeline, and I'm the Local Administrator. When I go to Users in Control Panel I am the only user shown.
    Using Option 3 of Brink's Tutorial:
    I go to to Groups in the left pane and Administrators in the right pane two entries: Administrator and Madeline. However
    under Users in Control Panel the Administrator isn't listed

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-image.png
    Further down the right pane under Home Users I am listed as one of four. Where did these default users come from and are
    they ok?

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-image.png

    I am also listed in General Users

    Determine Account Type in Windows 10-image.png

    I can see some of this should be changed but I'm not very knowledgeable about it and don't want to upset MS :)

    I understand that I should not be steadily running with full permissions and that is what I'm doing (I think), if I'm the only user and the Local Administrator.

    There is an Administrator listed under Users via control panel but this entity doesn't seem to show up again which is confusing to me.

    I'd love some suggestions as to how to have myself as a daily user without full Admin privileges, perhaps I can find the missing Administrator?

    Please forgive the image below as I created it accidentally and can't seem to remove it.

    Thanks for all help and suggestions.


    0 %x
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16,712
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #8

    There is an Administrator listed under Users via control panel but this entity doesn't seem to show up again which is confusing to me.
    That is not "an" Admin, it is a user account with the username Administrator.
    It is actually a built-in user account that is, by default, disabled.
    Disabled user accounts such as Administrator do not show up in all listings, as you have discovered. This does not indicate any problem.

    By the way, if Windows ever detects that there are no functioning Admin accounts on your computer it will automatically enable Administrator and make it available to log in to at the Safe mode sign-in screen [nowhere else].
    - Administrator has no password by default.
    - Administrator serves no other purpose.
    - Administrator has no special privileges. You might just as well create a spare Admin account of your own [which is what I do, here are the instructions]

    As long as you have created a least one Admin of your own, you can downgrade your routine day-to-day account to be a Standard user account if you want to.
    Change account type - TenForumsTutorials
    - That is what MS say we should all do but few bother
    - If you decide to stick as you are instead then raise UAC to its maximum level to make it harder for malware to penetrate your computer.
    Change User Account Control level - TenForumsTutorials


    The other entries shown in your various diagrams are all normal and nothing to worry about.
    - Windows design makes use of its user accounts mechanisms in order to make particular functions work and that's why you see some of the entries you do.

    All the best,
    Denis
      My Computer


 

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