Windows 8: Enable the hidden Administrator Account
Windows 8 just like its predecessor Windows 7 ships with an administrator account that is disabled by default. While it is not suggested to enable and use the administrators on a day to day basis, it can be used for a variety of purposes. One of the reasons is to use it as a fallback account in case you can't log in to a regular user account, or for tasks that require administrative privileges.
When you list the accounts in the user accounts control panel applet, you will notice that the hidden administrator account is not listed there while the guest account that is also disabled is. It is easier to enable the administrator account if you can still log in to Windows with another administrator account.
Enable the administrator account on Windows 8
You need to run the command from an elevated command prompt. To do that you need to do the following:
- Press the Windows key to get into the Metro interface if you are not already there.
- Enter cmd and right-click on the Command Prompt result that should appear.
- This opens a list of options at the bottom. Select Run as administrator there.
- Accept the UAC prompt
Enter the following command to enable the hidden administrator account: net user administrator /active:yes
If you ever want to disable the account follow the same instructions, but run the following command instead: net user administrator /active:no
Once you have enabled the account, you will see it listed in the user accounts control panel applet. Note that the account has not assigned a password to it, and that you should consider setting one to improve account security.
Enable the account if you can't log in anymore
If you have forgotten your account password and can't log in to the system anymore, you may use the administrator account to get back into the system. Please note that it may be easier to request the password to be reset if you are using a Microsoft Account password to log in. You can for instance request that from a different system or your smartphone.
If you can't sign in anymore you can still recover the system from that by enabling the hidden administrator account. The process itself requires you to download the Offline NT Password & Registry Editor which is available as an ISO image that you can burn to CD or DVD, and a file that you can install on an USB Flash Drive. You then need to boot from the selected device to see a DOS-like interface where you need to run a series of command in to restore the user account. Here are the steps that you need to complete:
- First screen, press enter to continue
- Select the hard drive that your Windows installation is installed on. This may take some time to get right depending on the number of partitions on the PC as it is using the "Linux-way" of listing the hard drives.
- You then need to enter the path to the Registry. I'd recommend to tap on enter to try the default path first which usually is detected correctly by the program.
- Press q
- Select the Password Reset option (1)
- Enter Administrator as the user account that you want to modify.
- Select the unlock and enable user account option (4)
- Use ! and q to end the editing and save the values
Restart the PC and make sure you are booting from the operating system's drive again. You should now see the administrator account listed on the sign in page. Select it to regain access to the system. From there, you can change other account passwords or run administrative tasks to restore access to the PC. (thanks Caschy)
Addendum
Instead of enabling the hidden administrator account, you could as easily create a new user account with administrative privileges on the system. You could then use that account to log in if there is an emergency and you can't sign in with your regular account anymore.
You also need to know that changing the password of a user account may have an impact on the files accessible to that account. This is especially true if encryption was used. If that is the case, the files may not be accessible anymore after the account password has been changed.
Closing Words
I'd generally recommend to create a second "regular" administrator account for the purpose of recovery than enabling the hidden administrator account. The core reason for this is that the hidden account has additional privileges that other administrator accounts do not have.
Is anyone still looking for a solution ???
I just managed to do it !!!!!!! ¯_(ツ)
Everyone asking to use elevated CMD’s and other tricks are rubbish. You cannot do any of those tricks when you are logged in as a Standard User in Windows 8…
TRY THIS:
Hold SHIFT Key when Clicking on RESTART
Your system will restart in Blue Screen with lots of Options…
Click on Advanced Settings… Choose “SAFE MODE with Command Prompt”…
Once Computer Starts in Safe Mode, you will see CMD window. Close that and press CAD (Ctrl+Alt+Del)…
CLICK Switch User… You will get logged back in SAFE MODE with the CMD Window Open…
Now type in… “net user administrator /active: yes”
CAD… Shutdown… Restart… You will find what you’ve been looking for
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
FINALLY … Don’t Forget to Send me LOTS of LOVE… (◡‿◡✿)
              ∧__∧
             ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
            ⊂  ã¤
             (㤠ノ
              (ノ
I have started admin account in cmd in my Win 8.1 but when I try to delete some files in one folder (also in cmd) – it writes, that: “Acces has been denied”. Why? Is there any solution for it?
My problem is that the user used her MS email account and has passed away. No one knows the password so I cannot log on at all. Not sure if the boot disk deal will work but will have to try it.
Yep, disk did not boot. Bummer!
After writing net user administrator /active:yes my computer responds following System error 5 has occurred Access is denied.
Please respond asap
Hi… So I accidentally deleted myself as the administrator on my laptop. So now the laptop don’t have any administrator on.. how do i fix this… (Window 8)
Thanks for the tips. I tried to find your YouTube. Do you have an updated ScreenName/ID?
Am not able to log in windows log on windows. i tired all the above changes but i cant. when i enter the windows cd and advanced option then command prompt… then i enter c: and i enter cd windows its telling the speciy file is not valid.
please do the helpful
sir, i did same as you describe but, after clicking on “run as administrator’ it asks me administrator password. my laptop is second hand and the administrator account is in the name of previous user. please help me remove that account and create my own account as administrator one,
sincerely
dewang vinchhi
one question
where is the windows key?
other than that….. no problems.
evan:
The Windows key is the ‘flag’ key located to the left of the keyboard space bar.
this is completely useless. you CANNOT run cmd as admin UNLESS YOU ALREADY HAVE ADMIN..
The first user account on the system is usually an administrator account.
If you get the error password not set Go in to Computer management and and set the password for administrator.
Run the command as administrator net user administrator /active:yes
Guys I have a problem which is very difficult to figure out for me.. I mistakenly disenabled my administrators account and now I am not able to login the pc… I have no others account also like guests account and family safety account.. I had only one administrator account that itself blocked. Now now I am unable to open the pc.. when I try to open it says your account has been disabled please see your system administrators.. please any one help me
Only 4 hours later I find your site and then… BAM! Thank you!
You type net user administrator /ACTIVE
it worked for me
Dear sir
I’m from Myanmar
I was created one user account.
And i was log in with this user accout and i was disable this user account in window time.
And then i was restarted.I see this user account but can’t log in ( Say “you account is disable ” )
how to solve it and how to swift administrator account in log out time.
My window is 8.
I think there need’s to be a class action suit against Microsoft, as many misfit operating softwares they have designed and failed at, at the expense of the consumer, they NEED to make it right, I say, go back to Win 7 and don’t fix something that’s not broke. I would like to see Google step up to the plate and put the android system on the desktops, I see HP has some laptops with Google android operating system in them, and working.
Awesome! Thanks. I thought I was going to have to shell out for the pro version. Now to find a replacement for bitlocker…
when iam enabled my built-in administrator account iam getting a error that is the following error occurred while attempting to save properties for user administrator:
this operation is disallowed as it could result in an administration account being disabled,deletet or unable to logon. Anybody know a solution for this error?
Wouldn’t it be nice if people actually read the problem as written. The people having real problems on these posts are those who CANNOT access Admin Rights under any circumstances and are frustrated beyond belief by MS and it stupidity. Nothing new there of course.
BUT……no right clicking, registry hack, CMD access, log in, log out as GUEST account or ANYTHING is going to work apart from a re-install. But you need the recovery disc to do that and even then it probably won’t work. Only way to do it is to take it to a PC repair shop and hope they have tools to erase your disc and reinstall another version of Win 8.1. Those with the problem and who have tried everything have little hope of getting their version of the OS back.
I have read hundreds of posts and most offer the simple solutions that DO NOT work for this complex problem and NO ONE has offered a solution that comes close to working. Many have tried and some rather arrogantly suggested simple solutions. I am grateful to everyone who tried to help but some things are not as simple as they seem at first glance.
Hello,
I want to thank you for this. I have been trying to get this installed forever with 8.1. This worked on first
attempt!!
How the hell am I supposed to get to the start menu if I dont have the password to login to begin with? HELLO! How dense can you be? Quit giving the same answers idjits.
it says access denied please hlp me
dear and sweet martin my problem is that the saad has explained above. ,
please help me
Click on your “Start” menu from the hidden menu at right side of screen. Top right you’ll see an emot which could also be set as a picture. That’s your account. Click on that and in the drop down menu you’ll see Administrator and other stuff you can do.
Seems Microsoft felt it necessary to remove the “switch user” from the start up/ shut down, menu.
Good luck
ANSWER = HEY YOU GUYS YOU NEED TO SIGN OUT OF THE GUEST ACCOUNT BEFOR WINDOW 8, WILL LET YOU INTO BACK INTO
THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT
when you go to the main screen
and enter CMD
right click on the CMD
this will give you the option to run as administrator
what should i do when i want to open some other files on my pc and its refuse says ur u ar in in built-admistration.
Follow the steps here to enable advanced boot menu: https://www.ghacks.net/2013/01/02/modify-windows-8-boot-options-with-boot-ui-tuner/
Boot into safe mode where the admin account should be enabled.
From the Administrator account you can now change your user account type.
How can I do all of this if I don’t have the password???
This killing me!
I cant start the admin account in lusrmgr – “The following error occurred while attempting to save properties for user Administrator: Access denied”
I cant restart it from elevated command prompt – “System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied”
I cant start the computer in safe mode – “system configuration cannot save the original boot configuration for later restoration. Boot changes will be reverted. Access is denied”
No idea what else to do :(
Have no privileges on this PC and I cant find a way of getting them.
I activated the account but it’s not showing up on the login in screen.
Ah, yes, after running cmd as administrator, it worked! thanks!
This is all well and good and it might work except you need to be signed in as an administrator to do any of it. We are helpless with this ridiculous programme – I’ve spent days on trying to fix this issue. In order to add a new user with administrator capabilities, I need to be signed in as an administrator. In order to use the command prompt to enable the hidden administrator account, I need to be signed in as an administrator.
Catch 22 much? Microsoft has lost my business forever. Hello Mac, here I come.
I am having the same problems. I am not able to use all these methods because, despite yhe fact that I am THE OWNER and I set up the OS, I have no admin rights at all. When I download an app I have been using for years on other Windows OS the file just disappears and is not even visible in Search! To install is a major operation. This seems really absurdly convoluted and difficult. Maybe a Mac IS the solution, but then I have to purchase apps that are compatible with their system. Why are you torturing your customers?
I have tried everything under the sun to run everything as administrator but to no avail even “CMD” cannot run as administrator. I don’t know what to do. I can’t even activate windows. This is quite frustrating. Please help me
ppllllllssssssss i need help urgently
Thanks for your kind response
I have dell dimention 9150 and xp. i could play flight stimulator gold edition 2006 until now without any problem.NOW I UPGRADED TO W-8 PRO AND CANT ABEL TO PLAY FLIGHT STIMULATOR ANYMORE. VERY SAD CANT AFFORD TO BUY NEW PC IAM 10YEARS OLD . RAM MEMORY IS ONLY 4X 512MB ..IF I UPGRADE RAM MEMORY TO 4X1GB DOES IT WORK AGIN AS IT DID WHEN I HAD WINDOWS XP..PLEASE HELP IF YOU KNOW WHAT SHALL I DO..VERY GRATEFUL THANK U
I tried booting from USB, but when I get to the point where I have to select a disk, it only lets me select the USB drive. The HDD is listed as EFI GPT and therefore probably not selectable? Does anyone know what to do to force the selection of the Windows 8 HDD?
You might look where you downloaded windows 8 and see if there are fixes or updates, but I am not having any problems.
I followed the tutorial above and it worked like it said for me. I am able to download DLL’s in my Systems 32 just fine without the access denied coming up.
Hi Martin
I had installed Windows 8 one month back and Administrator user was enabled. Few days back I noticed that its not enabled now. I don’t know how :(
I am facing the same problem as Kimi
When I tried running BootUITuner it asks Run as Administrator and the “Yes” option is disabled (Before this problem it used to come as enabled). I cannot install anything. Is there a way out or its screwed? :(
Hi
I booted with an usb device and reset/unlock an administrator account that became hidden (by my mistake(windows 8 manager mistake really…)) but at the logon screen i still keep seeing local standard accounts only…
I did the same thing with the native administrator account and the result was the same…only clickable local standard accounts appears…
What happens if I turn on the Administrator account and find there is already a password that I do not know in there. New computer from Sams Club (HP) type.
thanks Martin. I’ll update you on what happens
To reboot in safe mode for windows 8, is it by pressing F4 several times when I restart my computer?
You find the explanation on how to do that here: https://www.ghacks.net/2013/01/02/modify-windows-8-boot-options-with-boot-ui-tuner/
Okay. What should I do if I boot in safe mode?
You try and activate the admin account, or create a new user account, or try and give your account more rights.
Yes I have. But the prompt “access denied” always pops up. I cannot even edit/manage this current account user which I am using.
Any ideas on how I’m supposed to go about this?
Really appreciate your help, Martin. Thank you.
Try booting into Safe Mode and see if you can do it there.
Yes, someone else set it up for me, but I have been deleting and making new user accounts since i used windows 8 last week; it was only three days ago when all this problem arose.
If I delete this current user account that I am using, will I be able to open and run my windows 8 even if the administrator user is disabled?
No, if the admin account is disabled, you can’t use it. Have you tried creating a secondary account?
I KNOW HOW TO FIX IT!
Go down to the bottom left of your desktop, and right click it.
Then, go to Command Prompt (Admin)
Finally Type
net user administrator /active:yes
Please subscribe to me on Youtube, my name is 1999DJZ…
Thanks!
Your Welcome!!
This was the prompt: Access denied.
I really do not know what is happening.
Can I delete this local user account and make a new one even though my administrator account is disabled?
I tried to make a new user account but my access is also denied.
You do seem to have limited rights on your machine somehow, I can’t really say why. Did someone else set it up for you?
account active: NO
Okay try the following. Press Windows-R, type secpol.msc. Navigate to Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options and look on the right for Accounts: Administrator account status. Double-click that and select Enabled from the options.
Hi Martin. Thanks for replying.
Regarding the administrator privilages: Yup. I’m logged in as a different user but I ran the command prompt as Administrator
Regarding Net User: I typed that and this came out:
User account for \\COMPUTER
Administrator Guest Kimi
———————————————————————————————
———————————————————————————————
The command completed successfully.
Hey man Please Help me.Please can you give me some steps so that i can re install my FSX.How or Why i should enable the Administrator Account? Please man i have a error 1722
can you type net user administrator to get information about the account, especially the “account active” value.
The command that popped-up earlier like what Julia was saying above looked like this:
C:\windows\system32> net user administrator /active:yes
The syntax of this command is
NET USER
[username [password| *] [options] [/DOMAIN]
username [password | * ] /ADD [options] [/DOMAIN]
username [/DELETE] [/DOMAIN]
username [/TIMES: {times | ALL}]
username [/ACTIVE: {YES | NO}]
What could this be?
Thanks!
Can you please run the command net user and let me know if an administrator account is listed there?
I’m having the same problem just ran the command and it is listed there
(sorry if this message was sent twice)
got this one:
C:\windows\system32> net user administrator /active:yes
System error 5 has occurred.
Access denied.
What does this mean? Thank you!
search the cmd in c drive when identified the cmd.exe file rt click it & click run as administrator & then type the——— net user administrator /active:yes
C:\windows\system32> net user administrator /active:yes
not it will work
Thanks :) it works
Have you started the command line with administrative privileges? You can check if that is the case if you see Administrator in the title.
please tell me where is administrative privileges
It is important to run the command prompt with elevated rights. To those who got the syntax error. Did you copy the command or write it manually?
I have been using the command (net user administrator /active:yes) for years on both Vista and Windows 7 so I definitely know how to use it. However on Windows 8, although the command completed successfully and I Restarted, as you do, nothing happened. When the computer came back on there was simply no Administrator account as there was on Vista and Windows 7.
Lucky I’ve still got my Windows 7 on the other partition and that is what I’m using now.
I have the same problem as posted by Julia last Nov. 12, 2012. What do we type after getting all those additional lines? Thank you!
I just installed the “control panel” icon to my desktop and did all of the above from there. I dont see why all the extra hoops…
works. thanks!
Hello, i did this and not turned the UAC off and i am still getting a system 5 error. i did reboot too.
Hi, i did this and even turned the UAC off and i am still getting a system 5 error. i did reboot too.
this is what I need to do but I don’t get that green screen with the list of options but the black window. when I put in net user administrator /active:yes it says I’m “denied”. What can I do? Get a Mac?
same here!! please help!
Simple!!
Open the CMD as an administrator that is …..”run as a administrator”
this can do the trick !!
Sure, simple!! But of course it doesn’t work!!!! BECAUSE the problem is that people can’t get the CMD that is “run as administrator”…………… that is the problem everyone is complaining about.
pon esto en el CMD ami me sirve NET USER administrador. enter
Purchasing a computer loaded with windows 8 was bye far the worst purchase and mistake I have ever made! The desk top is totally unsable for the everyday person.I have since wiped the hard drive and loaded Linux Mint onto it and I wonder now why more people have not heard of this wonderful operating system called .Linux mint reminds me a lot of windows 7,s desktop.I wil never ever return to windows again.Oh even more than that it is free.I was a windows use since the days of 3.1 but with the introduction of the worlds most terrible desktop which is windows 8 it showed me how far down windows has fallen.Get a mac or load linux
try running Music Production Software in linux. like full full any DAW or serious mixing and mastering software an you have one long head ache at best. I mean if you just run web apps and t standard funtions for the tinglinx is peachy and eve then there is the option t install VM program so you can justos envorment you needed so i man i worsbut u splitt system resources if uned to have windows r OS for logic r some shit
run a window with the
The desktop exists as it did in Windows 7, you just have to click the tile for it, which will be one of the first one’s. Once you get over the initial difference it actually works the same as it did, and you can set your programs to run in desktop mode
I don’t like the Windows 8 either, but my laptop can’t boot the Ubuntu install disk. I installed the Classic Shell program though, it added a Windows 7-style Start Menu and bypassed the Start Screen on login.
same here!!! hmm
Guys,
Once the ‘cmd’ is found in the Start screen, right click on it, do not use the usual left click, otherwise you won’t get the ‘green options list’ ….
Hope this helps …
Hello!
I ran the administrator command prompt but i came up with “The syntax of this command is: NET USER [username {password : *} /ADD [options] [/DOMAIN]” ect. and a couple more lines very similar. What does this mean?
Hi, I tried, but each time I hit the Windows button, I just get my Home page! I cannot get this Metro Interface nor the blue screen
HEY YOU GUYS IN WIN 8 YOU NEED TO LOG OUT OF GUEST ON THE START WINDOW BEFOR IT WILL LET BACK INTO THE
ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT.
Same here, it’s asking me for admin password but they don’t show the space to type password or make “yes” option available for me to click. Pls help
how
I KNOW HOW TO FIX IT!
Go down to the bottom left of your desktop, and right click it.
Then, go to Command Prompt (Admin)
Finally Type
net user administrator /active:yes
Please subscribe to me on Youtube, my name is 1999DJZ…
Thanks!
Your Welcome!!!
after writing net user administrator /active:yes
my computer responds following
System error 5 has occurred
Access is denied
it says i need the password
I follow the above instructions to enable administrator by typing net user administrator /active:yes and then they ask for permission and ask for admin password but they don’t give any space to type password.please tell me its solution.