How to Enable / Activate Hidden Administrator Account in Windows Vista and 7

Many ppl ask me why there is no built-in Administrator account available in Windows Vista and 7 like previous Windows versions? Why can't we use the default Administrator account? The answer is "Yes! The default Administrator account is created in Vista and 7 but its disabled by default for security purposes."

You might want to enable it for troubleshooting or to get rid of the annoying UAC prompts while tweaking your system. So here I'll describe a few methods to enable / activate the hidden Administrator account in Windows Vista and 7:

1st Method:

1. Right-click on My Computer icon on Desktop and select "Manage", it'll open "Computer Management" window. ( You can also open it by giving "compmgmt.msc" command in RUN dialog box or Startmenu Search box).

2. Goto "Local Users and Groups -> Users". In right-side pane double-click on "Administrator" account. It'll open its Properties. Deselect "Account is disabled" option and Apply it.

2nd Method:

1. Type "secpol.msc" in RUN dialog box or Startmenu search box, it'll open "Local Security Policy" window.

2. Goto "Local Policies -> Security Options".

3. Double-click on first option "Accounts: Administrator account status" and select "Enabled" and apply it.

3rd Method:

1. Click on “Start button -> All Programs -> Accessories“. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run As Administrator“. If you are prompted to enter password, enter the password and continue. You can also open Command Prompt in Administrator mode by typing “cmd” in Startmenu Search box and press “Ctrl+Shift+Enter“.

2. Now provide following command:

net user administrator /active:yes

3. Thats it. The Administrator account will be enabled. If you want to disable it again, simply replace "yes" with "no" in above command.

NOTE: Never activate the hidden Administrator account until required. Its better to use other general accounts for better security. Also the Administrator account has no password, so if you enable it then don't forget to set a strong password for it.

This article was posted in Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista.

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30 Comments

Amir

and i did it, i enable it
VG

^^ lol but I'll not advise you to do so. If your system administrator has disabled them then there must be some reason and you should not enable them again.

Anyway you can find lots of such registry codes to enable/disable items here:

http://www.askvg.com/all-kinds-of-restrictions-for-windows-2000-xp-2003-and-vista/
shakir

my activation is expired before i u sed to active. so now how i activate the microsoft window vista i dont have key also . when i open my laptop its asking activate on internet or by phone i dont have any so plz suggest me wat i do
thanking you
Rashidin

hai...i have a problem my window vista ultimate...in my windows has 2 accounts..however thats accounts have password...how i can i reset thats password..?and how can enable administrator account without log in any account...?
Rashidin

hai...i have a problem my window vista ultimate...in my windows has 2 accounts..however thats accounts have password...how i can i reset thats password..?and how can enable administrator account without log in any account...?
Nikolaj

Jamal
insert ur vista DVD and press the repair thing and then command prompt now input the command.
restart ur comp and enter the administrator acount.
now go to cmd just type in start serch box or run.
now type in this

net users

net users your username *

now it asks for a password type it
type it agin and u have changed us password whitout knowing it!
madre

well thanx for the article but i want to activate the administrator's account on windows xp
avi

I created another admin account on my computer and I want to delete it as it's messed with the original one (the original does not show up now on the login screen etc, I only get the choice of the new account or the guest account)
How do I do this? I've logged in to the OLD admin account VIA safe mode and it won't let me delete the new one. when I restart the computer, it just asks me to reconfigure it.
I simply want my computer back to how it was before creating this 2nd admin account. So when it starts up, I get the original admin login option and the guest login.
How does one delete a 2nd admin account?? HELP!!
VG

^^ Try to remove the account using "Manage" option in My computer context menu. There you should get the users list.
harish kumar

i have changed my administrator account to standard user type and now i am asked to enter the password to run as administrator but the password is not working and the dialog box shows that logon failure: the user has not been granted the requested log on type on this computer. Tell me how to solve this problem