How to make an Administrator user account in Windows 8

By Emily Schiola Published March 3, 2020

Not having Administrator access in Windows 8 can be extremely frustrating. Without admin access, performing many tasks in Windows 8 can be a pain, and unless you have the password written down somewhere, you’ll end up calling the initial account administrator to type it in for you every time you need to do something that requires you to have it. The key to total PC user freedom is having an account with administrative rights.

Here’s our three-step guide on how to give administrator rights to a user account in Windows 8. Additionally, check out our guide on how to upgrade to Windows 8.1 if you have yet to install the newest refresh of Microsoft’s latest OS.

Windows 8 Settings

Step 1: Log on to your computer with an administrator account. Enter the Metro/Moudern UI and type “user”. Then, click Settings from the list on the right hand side of the screens.

User Accounts — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2: Click User Accounts located at the very top of the second column.

admin_usersaccounts — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Click Change your account type in the User Accounts menu, select the account you wish to change, and click the bubble directly right of the administrator option below the account type. Afterward, click the gray Change Account Type button at the bottom of the window, and once done, feel free to install any software or make any changes you deem appropriate with your new account privileges.

Admin rights — Image used with permission by copyright holder

admin_laststep — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Windows 8 launched Oct 28, 2012, and will be without a doubt the most divisive update to the operating system Microsoft has ever released. While other updates have rearranged, reskinned and retooled the desktop, Windows 8 is the first to push it away entirely and challenge the notion that a mouse and keyboard are necessary at all. It includes many new features which give users the opportunity to use Windows in different ways. A new interface, and new ways to interact with your computer, as well as new shortcuts, new menus and an entirely new class of apps, are all waiting within the new OS. All of these features can be useful, that is, if you know how to use them. Want to learn more? Explore 8 of our favorite Windows 8 tips and tricks.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Emily Schiola is an editorial assistant at Digital Trends where she covers mostly social media and how-to pieces. In her…

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