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Windows 11 installation created system with no administrator account

Spencer Murphy 0 Reputation points
2026-03-13T12:12:37.36+00:00

I am requesting assistance with a Windows 11 administrator permission issue on a new Dell computer.

During the initial Windows setup, I signed in using my Microsoft work account. After completing the setup, the system appears to have created my account as a standard user rather than an administrator, and there does not appear to be any local administrator account on the machine.

Because of this, I cannot approve any User Account Control (UAC) prompts. When Windows asks for administrator credentials, it requests an admin email and password, but no administrator account exists on the system.

This means I currently cannot: • Install software (for example, Google Chrome) • Run Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator • Modify account permissions • Enable or create a local administrator account

I have already attempted the following: • Multiple factory resets of the device (approximately six times) • Creating a new Microsoft/Gmail account during setup • Attempting to create an administrator account via Command Prompt • Contacting Dell support (they advised contacting Microsoft)

Each reset results in the same issue where no administrator account is available.

Could you please advise how to:

Restore or enable a local administrator account, or

Correct the permissions on the existing account so it has administrator privileges.

If necessary, I am open to reinstalling Windows using Microsoft installation media, but I would appreciate guidance on the best path forward.

Thank you for your assistance.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login
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  1. EmilyS726 236.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-13T12:54:55.6766667+00:00

    Hello

    If this is your personal computer, you shouldn't be setting it up with your work account. By doing so, you surrended your computer to be managed by your work's IT department admin user, not your own user.

    You might be able to do this.

    Hold down Shift key while you choose Windows restart, then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings, click on restart, then choose option 4.

    When prompted for password, leave it blank and enter.

    When you are in safe mode, hold down windows + r keys, type in netplwiz and press enter. Click Add, create a user without Microsoft account, set it up as a local user, and then make it admin.

    Or reinstall to start over, and either sign in with your personal account, or local user. Logging in with work account typically is only for organization managed device, not for your own personal device, as I said, your computer is then in the company's Azure/Entra domain and admin/IT can manage it remotely. If you just need to use your work account to sign into Microsoft 365, your Windows user can stay personal or local, then just sign into the apps themselves with work account.

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