Can't effectively change my user account type from Administrator to Standard User

Question

Hello,

I have a problem I couldn't find an answer to.

I try to change my personal account type on my laptop from Administrator to Standard User, but it doesn't seem to work.

First, I created a new admin account, signed out from my personal account, and signed in to the new admin account.

I went to Change Account Settings > Family and other people > [Personal Account] > Change account type > Account type: Standard User. On the admin account it seems to have worked (displays the Standard User type for my personal account), but after logging in to the personal account under Change Account Settings the account type for said account is Administrator.

Then, I tried to change the type with netplwiz, to both Users and HomeUsers groups, but after logging in to the personal account - it still has administrative privileges.

Then, I tried changing the type with net localgroup users and net localgroup administrators - the results are the same.

I tried this with a built-in local Administrator account as well - no change. Tried adding my new admin account to my Microsoft Family - no change.

The problem seems the same to this one: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-security/changing-a-user-account-from-administrator-to/c9b52329-032f-4f8a-a84b-6bbbd3cb4f75 - it's a shame the Microsoft staff gave him a non-answer. I seem to be dealing with option #3.

Anyhoo, I tried everything I could think of or find online, but nothing worked. I need to change the account type, but I don't want to format my hard drive or re-install Windows.

I would *really* appreciate some help. Thanks in advance!

Moved from: Windows / Windows 10 / Windows settings

Answer 1

The group names are set like that regardless of the language I use (and the language is already set to English) - that's because Windows was originally in Polish - I can't change them (or at least just don't know how)

Since the stuff you posted is pure text, you could paste it into your reply while replacing the Polish text with English.

Hi, sure:

C:\Users\b****>net users

User accounts for \H*****

---

Admin                    Administrator            Guest

Default account           postgres                 u*********.pl

WDAGUtilityAccount

The command completed successfully.

C:\Users\b****>net localgroup administrators

Alias name     administrators

Comment        Administrators have complete and unrestricted access to the computer/domain

Members

---

Admin

Administrator

LOCAL

MicrosoftAccount\b******************.com

NT AUTHORITY\SERVICE

The command completed successfully.

C:\Users\b****>net localgroup users

Alias name     users

Comment        Users are prevented from making accidental or intentional system-wide changes and can run most applications.

Domain           :

Members

---

MicrosoftAccount\u*********.pl

NT AUTHORITY\Authenticated Users

NT AUTHORITY\INTERACTIVE

u*********.pl

The command completed successfully.

(I bolded the bits that are translated)

Answer 2

From your feedback I see that you have three accounts with admin privileges:

• Administrator
• Admin
• Your own Microsoft account

You now wish to demote your own account. Unfortunately I have no experience with Microsoft accounts. I prefer local accounts. Maybe the other two accounts are inactive, which might cause Windows to prevent you from painting yourself into a corner.

I recommend you start a new post, using the Subject line "Cannot demote my Microsoft admin account" in order to attract the attention of respondents who know more than I do.

Answer 3

Once you've got the new local account made and elevated, go to control panels, user accounts/change account access, and demote the default account.

Answer 4

I'm having same problem so that I search Internet and arrive here.

After some test, I've found that all standard users can get admin privilege.  Then a question comes to my awareness: does Windows 10 Home edition support folder security setting?

Answer 5

Hi,

When you're signed in to your Windows 10 Home account, you get full control over the files and folders you create, sometimes you may also need access to other files. If you don't have specific permissions, Windows 10 will deny you access. But if your account has administrative privileges, you can take ownership of certain files and folders on your computer. Here's how to take ownership of files and folders:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse and find the file or folder you want to have full access.
3. Right-click it, and select Properties.
4. Click the Security tab to access the NTFS permissions.
5. Click the Advanced button.
6. On the "Advanced Security Settings" page, you need to click the Change link, in the Owner's field.
7. Click the Advanced button.
8. On the "Select User or Group" page, click the Find Now button.
9. From the search result, select your user account, and click OK.
10. On the "Select User or Group" page, click OK.
11. Click Apply.

It's important to note that if you're taking ownership of a folder, you can check the Replace ownership on subcontainers and object option in the Advanced Security Settings page to take control of the subfolders inside of the folder.

Feel free to post back should you have further concerns.