Other users account missing

Question

I'm trying to add another user due to the fact that my administrator privileges are gone. I tried all other methods with no success. However, the other users under accounts is missing.

Answer 1

You cannot add another user if your current user itself is not admin user.

On this computer, it doesn't have an admin at all, or it has an admin, but you don't know the password?

If it doesn't have admin at all, there's a way to recover admin access.

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.

Then double click on your username, go to Group Membership tab, make it admin.

Restart, log back into your user. You should now have admin access.

Answer 2

Hi, good day!

Before we proceed, could you confirm whether this is the only user account on the PC, or if there is another account that still has Administrator privileges?

Also, when you go to Settings > Accounts, is the Other users section completely missing, or is it present but not allowing you to add an account?

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I look forward to your update and am willing to collaborate with you until we resolve the issue. Keep me posted by clicking "Add comments" below.

Answer 3

Thanks for confirming. Before we try any recovery steps, I'd like to understand what happened to the account.

Do you remember what you were doing before the account changed from Administrator to Standard user? For example, did this happen after a Windows update, system reset, software installation, account change, or any other system change?

Also, when was the last time this account worked properly with Administrator privileges?