global admin credential does not work

Question

I bough a brand new computer and signed in with my MS365 admin account. But I am required to login with my "admin credentials" in order to install any scientific softwares. my credential,, even as a global admin would not work

Answer 1

Dear @Johnny Zhu, 

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.    

I understand that you signed in to your new computer using your Microsoft 365 Global Admin account, but the device is still asking for administrator credentials when you attempt to install scientific software. 

This situation is actually very common. The Global Administrator role is designed for managing Microsoft 365 and Azure cloud resources but installing software on a local workstation requires local administrator rights. These two permission models are separate, and they only align automatically in specific device‑join scenarios. 

To help you move forward, here are the key steps to identify the issue: 

• Step 1: Windows edition and join state 

On your new computer, go to: Settings > Accounts > Access work or school.  

Please confirm that the device shows Connected to Entra ID. This indicates an Entra‑joined device rather than just a registered one. 

Note: Entra join requires Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions. Windows Home does not support Entra join. 

What is a Microsoft Entra joined device? - Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft Learn 

• Step 2: Verify who currently has local administrator rights 

Open Command Prompt and run:  

net localgroup administrators  

Check if your Azure AD account (e.g., AzureAD******@yourdomain.com) is listed. 

If your Entra ID account is not listed, that explains why the system asks for administrator credentials during software installation. 

• Step 3: Add your account as a local administrator through the Entra admin center 

If you have the required permissions, you can assign local admin rights by navigating to: Microsoft Entra admin center > Entra ID > Devices > Device settings > Manage Additional local administrators on all Microsoft Entra joined devices. 

From there, add your account under Additional local administrators. 

Additional information is available in the following resources: 

How to manage local administrators on Microsoft Entra joined devices - Microsoft Entra ID 

Microsoft Entra built-in roles - Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft Learn 

Optional: Grant local admin rights directly on the device 

If you have access to any existing local administrator account on the machine: 

Sign in with that account. 

Open Computer Management > Local Users and Groups > Groups > Administrators > Add… 

Enter your Entra account in the form AzureAD******@yourdomain.com and click Check Names, then OK. 

This will give your account the local permissions required to install your scientific software and manage the device as expected. 

As community moderators, we kindly ask for your understanding that our access to internal development details is limited. Our primary role is to guide users toward the appropriate resources and support channels. While we may not have visibility into performing deeper backend analysis, we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.  

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  

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Answer 2

If your global admin credentials are not working when trying to install software on your new computer, there are a few things you can check:

1. Ensure Proper Sign-In: Make sure you are signed in with the correct global admin account. Sometimes, multiple accounts can lead to confusion.
2. Check Permissions: Verify that your account has the necessary permissions to install software. Even as a global admin, certain policies may restrict software installations.
3. Use Administrator Privileges: When prompted for admin credentials, ensure you are entering the credentials for an account that has administrator privileges on the local machine, not just the global admin account for Microsoft 365.
4. Local Administrator Account: If the issue persists, you might need to use the local administrator account on the computer to install the software. This account is separate from your Microsoft 365 global admin account.
5. Contact Support: If none of the above solutions work, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• Solve account access problems
• Can't sign in to Microsoft 365 desktop applications