This post shows students and new users steps to change account types when using Windows 11. Windows is a multi-users operating system. Simply put, you can have multiple users using the same computer with separate and unique accounts and profiles.
With Windows multi-accounts functionality, all users can use one device while giving everyone their own sign-in (username and password), and access to their own files, browsers and desktop settings.
There two types of system accounts one can create: A local account or a Microsoft online account. Which account you create will be of two types: Standard or Administrator.
By default, when you create an account, whether a local or Microsoft account, it will automatically be a Standard account.
A Standard is not an elevated account. It can use most apps and change basic system settings that do not affect other users.
An Administrator account is an elevated account. Administrator accounts have complete access to the PC and can make any changes to the system that can impact all users. To make account type changes, the account must be an administrator account.
To get started changing account types, follow the steps below.
How to switch account roles on Windows 11
As mentioned above, Windows is a multi-user with multiple account types operating systems. A user that was created as a standard user can have his/her account type changed.
Below is how to change Windows account types.
Windows 11 has a centralized location for majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane.
To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + i shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below:
Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it.
Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Account, then select Family & other users on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below.
On the Family & other users settings pane, select the user tile, then click the down facing caret to expand the user account option.
The click the Change account type button as highlighted below.
On the pop up windows, there are two types of accounts. You can change a Standard user account to an Administrator or change an Administrator to a Standard account type.
Click OK when done. The changes should take effect immediately. You can now close the Settings app.
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to change account type on Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
