This article shows you how to determine whether or not the account you are using is the computer administrator. It also explains how to change the type of an existing account. To be able to change the configuration settings of a user account in Windows, you must have system administrator permissions.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Windows
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Launch the Settings app by clicking the icon
It features a gear and is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Click the Account icon
It represents the stylized silhouette of a person. It is listed in the middle row of the "Settings" window.
Step 4. Select the Your info item
It is one of the tabs listed within the left sidebar of the "Settings" window. Your profile information will be displayed.
Step 5. Look for "Administrator" under the account name
The latter is visible at the top of the main page pane. If "Administrator" appears under the profile name, it means that it is a system administrator user account.
If you are not using an admin user account on your computer, you will not be able to make configuration changes to the other profiles present
Step 6. Select the Family and other people option
It is one of the tabs listed within the left sidebar of the "Settings" window.
If the indicated item is not visible in the left side panel of the page, it means that the user account with which you logged in to the computer does not have access permissions as a system administrator. In this case Skip directly to the last step of the method to find out how to find out the name of the computer's administrative account
Step 7. Select the name or email address of a user account
This information is listed under the "Other People" or "Your Family" section.
Step 8. Select the Change Account Type option
It is displayed in the lower right part of the box for the chosen profile.
Step 9. Access the "Account Type" drop-down menu
It is visible in the center of the pop-up window that appears.
Step 10. Choose the Administrator option
It is one of the items listed within the "Account Type" drop-down menu.
Alternatively, select the item Standard user to revoke administrative access rights to an account that is already administering the computer.
Step 11. Press the OK button
This way all changes made to the user account under consideration will be saved and applied. In this case the chosen user will become one of the computer administrators.
Step 12. Find the computer administrator account name using a standard user profile
If you are not the administrator of the computer you are using, you can still find the name of the person who administers the system by following these instructions:
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Open the menu Start clicking the icon
Windowsstart ;
- Type in the control panel keywords;
- Click the icon Control Panel from the list of results that appeared;
- Select the item User account, then choose the option again User account if you are using the view mode for "Categories" and not for "Icons";
- Choose the voice Manage another account;
- Find the name or email address displayed in the pop-up window prompting you to enter the system administrator account password.
Method 2 of 2: Mac
Step 1. Enter the "Apple" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 2. Choose the System Preferences… item
It is one of the options present in the drop-down menu that appeared. The "System Preferences" dialog box will appear.
Step 3. Select the Users and Groups option
It represents the stylized silhouette of two people. It is displayed in the lower left of the "System Preferences" window.
Step 4. Look for the name of your user account in the left side panel of the window that appeared
The name of the current user account connected to the Mac should be displayed at the top.
Step 5. Look for "Administrator" under the username
If the item "Administrator" is present in the indicated point, it means that you are using a user account that is also the administrator of the Mac. Otherwise it means that you are using a standard account and therefore you will not be able to make changes to the system configuration and user profiles.
Even if you are using a regular account, you should still be able to find "Administrator" under the name of the Mac administrator account
Step 6. Click the lock icon
It is located in the lower left corner of the window under examination.
Step 7. Enter the security password of the Mac administrator account
This is the same password you use to log in initially, so press the button OK. This way you will have the possibility to modify the user profiles present on the Mac.
Step 8. Select a user account name
This is the name of the person you want to grant access privileges to as a Mac administrator.
Step 9. Select the "User can administer this computer" checkbox
It is placed next to the username. If, on the other hand, you want to revoke the system administrator rights of a person, deselect the check button in question.
Step 10. Click the lock icon again
This way changes made to the configuration of user accounts on the Mac will be saved and applied.
Advice
- To increase the level of system security, grant computer administrator rights only to a limited number of accounts.
- Standard user accounts have limited control of the system and its modifications and cannot perform certain actions, such as installing new programs, deleting system files, or changing configuration settings. "Guest" users can only use basic files and programs, while they do not have permissions to take advantage of the other features of the computer.
