How to change administrator rights on my Laptop for Microsoft Account

Question

New Laptop - I apparently have two Microsoft Accounts , one that appears to be the default - but has an email address currently not utilized - and has Admin Rights (passworded protected), the second account has current up to date email - and has Standard privileges that I wish to have the Admin. Rights on.

I have tried the various ways as noted in the on-line Help process, but none allow me to change Admin. Rights on either account.

Once having the Admin rights on the second account w/ updated email, I would then like to remove the first Microsoft account with non utilized email altogether.

Make sense?

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

Jerrel

Answer 1

Hello

In order to do this, you need to be able to log into the first account that has admin right. You said it is password protected, are you saying you cannot access it?

If you cannot access it, then you have to backup your data and perform a clean install to start over. there's no way around this.

Let me know if that's the case, I can share clean install instruction if you want.

Answer 2

To give the second account administrator rights and then remove the first account, use the built‑in account management in Windows.

1. Sign in with the current administrator account (the one that already has admin rights). Changing account types requires an admin.
2. Open the Settings app on the laptop.
3. Go to Accounts > Other users (or Family & other users, depending on the exact Windows 11 build). You can also use this shortcut: Other Users.
4. Under Other users, select the account that has the up‑to‑date email address.
5. Select the flyout for that account, then next to Account options, choose Change account type.
6. In the dropdown, change the account type from Standard user to Administrator, then select OK.

After confirming that the second account now has administrator rights and can sign in successfully:

1. Still signed in as an administrator, go back to Settings > Accounts > Other users.
2. Select the first Microsoft account (the one with the unused email) under Other users.
3. Use the available option to remove that account from the device. This will remove that user profile and its local data from the PC.

Important: Administrators have complete control over the system (install software, change settings, access all files). Limit the number of admin accounts to reduce security risks and use standard accounts for day‑to‑day work.

If the account to be removed is the one currently used to sign in to Windows (the primary sign‑in account), it cannot be removed directly from there. In that case, first ensure the new admin account is created and working, sign in with it, and then remove the old one as described.

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References:

• Manage User Accounts in Windows
• How to change your user account name