Downgrading from a local Admin Account to a Standard User Account?


  1. Posts : 812
    Win10
       #1

    Downgrading from a local Admin Account to a Standard User Account?


    After reinstalling Windows 10, I created a local Admin user account just enough for me to install some apps and set things up. After that, I created another local Admin account.

    Now, I need to downgrade my current Admin account (which I created during setup) to a Standard User account.

    What would be the best method for doing this WITHOUT signing out from my current Admin account and then having to logon with my other Admin account which I created? This would be a waste of time signing out and then signing on to other accounts in order for me to downgrade myself to a Standard Account.

    Can I do this through Computer Management by selecting my current Admin account and just removing the Administrators Group and then only adding the Users group?

    It seems that performing this from Computer Management / Local Users and Groups offers more granular options all at once as opposed to doing this from the Windows 10 control panel.

    What are your thoughts please on this?

    Thanks!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello, :)

    Sure, you could use any of the options below to change your account from and administrator to a standard user.

    Change Account Type in Windows 10 Windows 10 Tutorials
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4,224
    Windows 10
       #3

    Please don't do this without first setting up another, different admin account. It's important to make sure you can always take admin control over a Windows install. If your current admin account is the only account on the system, you'll definitely want to do this first.
    HTH,
    --Ed--
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 1,773
    Windows 10 Home
       #4

    "This would be a waste of time signing out and then signing on to other accounts in order for me to downgrade myself to a Standard Account."

    imho; This would not be, if only to make sure that an only admin acct is not accidentally deleted. How much time is involved restarting anyway ?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 812
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I am so sorry, maybe I was not clear enough on this. Please see below on the way I had these accounts setup.

    1. Performed a clean install with setting up a local Admin account during the installation process.

    2. Once after booting up to desktop the first time, I created another local Admin account that I would only use for Admin tasks.

    3. Then, right now, with still being logged on using the Admin account that I created during the install process, I went to Manage User Accounts and then I managed to make myself a Standard User without even having to logout out and logging on to the other Admin account. But yes, I had to just Sign Out for the changes to take effect, but never had to sign-in using the other Admin account.

    So right after installation, I did the following:

    USER-1 with Admin account (created during initial Windows install setup)
    USER-2 was created when everything was installed and setup from using my USER-1 Admin account.

    Then finally, USER-1 was downgraded to a Standard User account without having to even sign-in to USER-2.
    Just had to Sign-Out for the changes to take effect.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

      My Computers


  7. Posts : 812
    Win10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I know better not to make my current Admin account as a Standard User without first creating another Admin account.

    Right before I managed to set my current Admin account to a Standard User, I had another Admin account created before doing so.

    Hope this is clear.

    Many thanks!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,224
    Windows 10
       #8

    Good job, thanks for clarifying. Having shot myself in that same foot years ago, I was hoping to steer you clear of that potential gotcha. Very glad you made your way around it independently. Good work.
    --Ed--
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 32
    Windows 10
       #9

    win10freak said:
    After reinstalling Windows 10, I created a local Admin user account just enough for me to install some apps and set things up. After that, I created another local Admin account.
    Now, I need to downgrade my current Admin account (which I created during setup) to a Standard User account.
    What would be the best method for doing this WITHOUT signing out from my current Admin account and then having to logon with my other Admin account which I created? This would be a waste of time signing out and then signing on to other accounts in order for me to downgrade myself to a Standard Account.

    Can I do this through Computer Management by selecting my current Admin account and just removing the Administrators Group and then only adding the Users group?

    It seems that performing this from Computer Management / Local Users and Groups offers more granular options all at once as opposed to doing this from the Windows 10 control panel.

    What are your thoughts please on this?

    Thanks!
    The quickest way is changing to user account in Accounts settings.
    Go to Settings > Accounts > Change account type > Standard User Account.
    Hope it can help you without signning out and then signning in.
      My Computer


 

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