Administrator account keeps disappearing after regular user logs off

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  1. Posts : 6
    Win10 Pro v1903 Build 18362.295
       #1

    Administrator account keeps disappearing after regular user logs off


    Hi,

    Win10 v1903 build 18362.295.

    I have a regular user configured and the default administrator account. Every time the regular user is done and shuts down the computer, the administrator account is missing on startup at the Windows login prompt - the only option is to log in as the regular user.

    I logged in as the regular user, opened an administrative CMD prompt and ran NET USER - I can see the Administrator account is active. It just never shows up after a regular user shuts down.

    I can get around this by NET USER Administrator /active:yes and restart but that isn't a solution.

    Anyone experience that before? Thoughts? Prayers?

    Thanks
    Sid
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,848
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #2

    Does the User with Administrative Rights have a password? The Standard User probably doesn't need one. There two types of Accounts, Local Account and Microsoft Account, which do you have set up?
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #3

    Welcome to TemForums @Sidster

    The Administrator account is not intended for regular use and is disabled by default.

    If you require an account with admin privileges to appear in the list of available accounts for sign in, then it is better practice to create an additional local user account and make it an administrator. Then you should disable the Administrator account and only enable it in emergencies.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #4

    Hi,
    If an admin account has a user name and password it will show up.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #5

    ThrashZone said:
    If an admin account has a user name and password it will show up.
    The OP is not talking about an administrator account, it is the Administrator account.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #6

    Hi,
    No shit Sherlock
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #7

    ThrashZone said:
    No shit Sherlock


    Easy to miss that in the OP, but I'm not surprised Administrator doesn't appear in the sign in page. Administrator behave differently from all other user accounts, hence the suggestion to create a normal user account with admin privileges instead of trying to use Administrator. A normal admin account should, as you rightly say, always show up.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #8

    Hi,
    Been said way back it's not a bad idea to add a password to the default admin account seeing it's pretty silly not too have a password to it at all

    But it's also said no apps work on the built in admin account so why use it at all.
    Just like you said and before make a admin account/ Local user account add a user name and password and it will show up all the time same as standard user account does.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 6
    Win10 Pro v1903 Build 18362.295
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hi Gang - thanks for the feedback. I'll answer all questions above here:

    1. Yes Administrator and the regular user accounts both have complex passwords. They are all local Windows accounts.
    2. I know Administrator shouldn't be used and MS is giving me a hard time about it now.

    Keep in mind the Administrator account isn't going inactive, it's always active but just never appears as a login account in the login splash screen.

    Now this morning, the Administrator account shows (because of my workaround to "active:yes" it again, but the password no longer works. This is really bizarre. I see an Windows.old folder on C drive from 2 weeks ago. That's about when this problem started. Likely related to an update.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #10

    Sidster said:
    Now this morning, the Administrator account shows (because of my workaround to "active:yes" it again, but the password no longer works. This is really bizarre. I see an Windows.old folder on C drive from 2 weeks ago. That's about when this problem started. Likely related to an update.

    Your Windows.old suggests that two weeks agor was when you got the update to 1903. That was a major feature update and likely explains the change in behavior.

    What (if any) is the reason for wanting to use Administrator? A local account that is an administrator should have be just as useful, without the complication of MS trying to hide it.
      My Computers


 

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