How to Get Rid of Admin on Windows 11
Removing an admin account on Windows 11 might seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s not too hard once you know the steps. The main thing? Make sure you’ve got another account with admin rights ready to go — trying to delete the only admin account is just asking for a whole lot of trouble and locked-out frustration. Once you’ve got that sorted, jump into the “Settings” app. Look for “Accounts,” then “Family & other users,” where you can find the account you want to remove. Hit “Remove,” give it a confirmation, and you’re good to go. Easy, right? Well, not always — sometimes things can get a bit quirky, but nothing too tricky.
Start off by clicking the little Start button (you know, the Windows logo down the bottom left corner) and select “Settings.” Seems straightforward, but Windows does love hiding things in plain sight, so it might take a couple of goes to find it. When the Settings window pops up, you’re on your way to managing user accounts. Pro tip: press Windows + i and it’ll open directly, saving you a few clicks.
Next, once you’re in Settings, click on “Accounts.” This is where all the user stuff happens — permissions, profiles, the lot. Just a heads-up: sometimes the layout can be a bit confusing because Windows updates like to reshuffle things without warning. Here, you’ll see both local accounts and Microsoft accounts, depending on what you’ve set up.
Now, look for “Family & other users” in the sidebar on the left. Clicking here shows all the accounts linked to your PC — like a guest list for who’s allowed to log in. If the admin account you want to get rid of isn’t obvious, double-check because it might be hiding under “Other Users.” With a mix of local and Microsoft accounts, it can get messy. To see a quick list of local accounts through the command line, just run:
Get-LocalUser
Find the admin account you want to ditch. Click on it, and options should pop up — like “Change account type,” “Remove,” or something similar. Sometimes, account names can look a bit fuzzy, especially with different profiles that seem alike. Make sure you’re deleting the right one — you don’t want to accidentally bin your important stuff.
When you’re ready, hit “Remove,” then confirm your choice. This part can be a bit tricky — especially if you’re not sure what’ll go missing. Once you confirm, it’s not coming back, so back up any important files first. The whole thing takes just a sec, but the consequences are a bit serious. Handle with care, and don’t rush that final click.
Tips for Removing the Admin on Windows 11
- Back up your important files before yanking an account — once it’s gone, those files are history.
- Make sure you’ve got another admin account up your sleeve; without one, you could lock yourself out of settings.
- Once the admin’s gone, consider setting up a standard user for daily use — keeps things safer.
- Remember: deleting the account wipes all data tied to it.
- It’s a good idea to create a restore point before you start — just in case. Head to Control Panel > System > System Protection and hit “Create,” or type
rstrui.exein the Run box (Windows + R).
FAQs
What happens if I delete the only administrator account?
If that’s your only admin account, you’re basically locking yourself out of important settings. You won’t be able to update Windows or manage user accounts, which can be a real pain. Better to keep at least one admin account active, just in case.
Can I restore a deleted admin account?
Usually, once it’s gone, that’s it — no undo without a backup or restore point. If you forgot to back up, you might need to reinstall Windows. If you made a restore point before deleting, you can try rolling back with:
rstrui.exe
Can I change an admin account to a standard user?
Absolutely. In the “Family & other users” section, you can switch an account from admin to standard without much fuss. Do it through Settings or by using a PowerShell command if you’re comfortable with that:
Rename-LocalUser -Name "username" -FullName "New Name"
What if I can’t find the account I want to delete?
Double-check under “Family & other users.” Sometimes accounts are listed differently depending on whether they’re local or Microsoft. If it’s a Microsoft account, you might need to log into your account online at account.microsoft.com to manage it.
Do I need to know the password of the admin account to delete it?
Not unless you’re logged into a standard user account. If you’re an admin, you won’t need the password of the account you’re deleting. But if you’re just a regular user, yes — you’ll need the admin credentials.
All in all, removing an admin account on Windows 11 isn’t too bad — just remember to have another admin account up your sleeve and back up your stuff before you get started. It might seem a bit fiddly at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty straightforward. Hopefully this helps save someone a few headaches!