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
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.
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)
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.
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)
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.
1 Open a command prompt.
2 Copy and paste thenet 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.
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.
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.
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.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- How to Change Account Type of Users in Windows 10
- How to View Full Details of All User Accounts in Windows 10
- How to Check if User is a Local Account or Microsoft Account in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable Built-in Elevated Administrator Account in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Users from Groups in Windows 10