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How to Remove Administrator Account in Windows 10

While multiple admin accounts come in handy when you have to share the computer with other family members and colleagues, it simply becomes an unnecessary profile when you have the computer all by yourself. Windows designates the first users as the Administrator for a good reason: they have access to system-wide configurations. If you do not use the admin account, it is best to remove the additional admin accounts.

How to Remove Administrator Account in Windows 10

Read on to find how to remove administrator accounts in Windows 10. In this guide, you will find ways to delete the admin account — after logging in and without logging in (i.e., without knowing the password).

Option 1. Remove Administrator Account on Windows 10 After Logging In

Windows 10 allows you to remove the administrator account using several methods, all listed below. You can use any of these to delete the admin account.

You will have to sign in as an administrator to delete the other admin accounts. If you do not have admin access, skip to Option 2 and learn how to remove the admin account without logging in, i.e., without knowing the password or having admin privileges.

Note: Deleting the Administrator Account will remove all the data associated with the particular account. Back up any critical files (present on the desired admin account’s profile) before proceeding with the below-mentioned methods.

1.1. Delete Administrator Account Windows 10 from Settings

As you will find, there are numerous ways to delete the Administrator account on Windows 10, but the simplest (for the touchscreen users) is via PC settings.

Note: Ensure to sign out from the admin account (on the computer) before proceeding with subsequent steps to remove the admin account. Else, Windows will not remove the admin account.

Follow these simple steps to learn how to remove an administrator account in Windows 10 using the PC Settings:

Step 1. Hover to the Start menu, and click on Settings (gear icon).

The Start menu showing Settings options on Windows 10

Alternatively, you can press Win+I (windows logo plus I hotkeys) at once to open the Settings menu.

Step 2. Choose the Accounts option.

The Settings Menu with Accounts Options on Windows 10

Step 3. On the left sidebar, select Family & other users (second to last option).

Step 4. Under the Other Users menu, choose the administrator account you want to remove. And click on the Remove option.

The Accounts (of Settings Menu) showing Remove Admin account option on Windows 10

Step 5. After selecting the Remove option, you will see a confirmation box with two options: Delete account and data (and) Cancel; then, opt for Delete account and data.

User Account Control pop-up to confirm the deletion of Admin account

Selecting the option will remove the Administrator account and all the data linked with the profile.

Note: To remove the Administrator account on the Enterprise edition (Windows 10):

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Choose Accounts.
  3. Click on Other Accounts (instead of Family & other users mentioned above).
  4. Select the Admin account.
  5. Accept the UAC by clicking on Delete account and data.

1.2. Delete Administrator Account Windows 10 from Control Panel

The Control Panel, just like Settings, allows users to configure and customize system settings. The interface might judge your patience, but it does allow you to modify everything from user accounts to network settings.

Follow these simple steps to learn how to delete an administrator account on Windows 10 via Control Panel:

Step 1. From the Search menu, type in the Control Panel and click on Open.

Note: Here’s a little tweak that can make this process easier:

  • Just check the View by: section (in the upper-right section).
  • And set it to Small icons.

It should be like— View by: Small icons.

Step 2. After setting it to Small icons, navigate User Accounts (alphabetically arranged; so, you’ll find it at the bottom section).

All Control Panel Items on Windows 10

Step 3. In the second pane, choose the third option: Manage another account.

The User Accounts Menu on Windows 10

After you click the option, you can view all the accounts existing on the computer.

Step 4. Now, choose the user account (admin) you want to delete.

List of admin accounts on the Manage Accounts menu of Control Panel

Step 5. Click on the second option: Delete the account.

Delete the account (in Control Panel) on Windows 10

Step 6. On the next tab, you will have the option to either Keep the files or Delete them. You can choose one that best suits your needs.

If you choose to Keep the Files, a folder on the desktop will contain all the files associated with the intended admin account; whereas, opting to Delete Files will remove all the files (for good).

That’s it; once you choose a preferred option, Windows will remove the admin account successfully.

1.3. Delete Administrator Account Windows 10 from Local User and Groups

Another simple way to delete the Administrator account on Windows 10 is via Local Users and Groups. Local Users and Groups enable administrators to manage both local and remote computers (connected to the network).

Note: Local Users and Groups snap-ins are not accessible in Windows 10 Home edition. Nonetheless, Home edition users can employ any other method mentioned and can remove the admin account successfully.

Follow these simple steps to delete an administrator account on Windows 10:

Step 1. Open the Run box by pressing Win+R (Windows logo plus R hotkeys) at once.

Step 2. Type in lusrmgr.msc and click on Enter.

Step 3. Select the Groups option in the left pane.

The Computer Management tab on Windows 10

Step 4. On the right pane, select Administrator; then right-click, and select Properties in the context menu.

List of options to delete the admin account under lusrmgr options

Step 5. On the new windows, select the desired admin account and click on the Remove option.

Step 6. Click OK to save the changes and exit the menu.

Note: You can do the same by clicking on the Users option instead;

  1. Select the desired admin account.
  2. Right-click on it and select Properties from the list of options.
  3. On the new tab, choose the Member of tab.
  4. Click on Administrator (as you want to remove the admin account).
  5. Click on Remove.
  6. Select OK and exit the menu.

You can use any of the two methods to remove admin accounts on Windows 10 using Local Users and Groups. However, the one via Groups is easy, as sorting the Administrator option first narrows down the users present only in the admin group.

1.4. Delete Administrator Account Windows 10 from Command Prompt

Command Prompt, or Command-Line Interpreter, allows you to perform a task efficiently if you know the commands. Type in the request in an elevated command prompt, and Windows permits you to manage pretty much anything and everything.

Here’s the Command that you can use to delete an administrator account on Windows 10:

Step 1. Type in Command Prompt in the search bar and select the Run as administrator.

Options to open the elevated Command Prompt from Search Menu

Step 2. In the command prompt, enter the net user command and execute it; this will give you a list of all the users (with the user types) on the computer.

Step 3. After you find the username of the desired admin account, type in;

net user username/delete

Cmd showing the command to delete admin account on Windows 10

Note: In the above command, instead of typing username, type in the name of the desired admin account. For instance, it can be net user Sherlock/delete — here Sherlock — is the admin account name.

Once executed, you will see a message displaying: The command completed successfully.

There you go; if you see the message, it means that you have removed the admin account successfully.

1.5. Delete Administrator Account Windows 10 by Changing the User Account Type

Unlike the above four methods, changing the user account type will not remove or delete the admin account on Windows 10; instead, it just allows you to restrict the privileges that a user with administrator rights enjoys.

Follow these simple steps to learn how to delete an administrator account on Windows 10 by changing the User Account Type, or to say, remove only the admin privileges:

Step 1. Hover to the Search menu and type in netplwiz. Open it.

Search netplwiz to open User accounts

Step 2. Under Users for this computer: menu, click on the desired admin account.

Step 3. After clicking, select the Properties option— just below the menu.

User accounts menu on Windows 10

Step 4. On the new windows, click on Group Membership (second tab).

Step 5. Determine the level of access you want to grant the user; for instance, the chosen is Standard User.

User Accounts Properties containing option to change the user account type

Note: As stated, Standard User is just an example of how you can change the User Account Type; you can select whichever that best suits your needs by clicking on the Other: option.

Step 6. After selecting the preferred user type, click on Apply.

Step 7. Click on OK.

Step 8. Once you redirect to the previous windows, again click on Apply.

Step 9. Select OK to exit the netplwiz menu.

Option 2. Remove Administrator Account on Windows 10 without Logging in

In the methods mentioned above, you have to log in to the computer to remove the administrator account.

However, there is another way to go about it; you can remove the administrator account on Windows 10 using PassFab 4WinKey that doesn’t necessitate you to log in, i.e., there is no obligation to know the password. For instance, parents can remove the admin account without knowing the password of their child’s computer, if need be.

Note: PassFab 4WinKey is one of the best Windows 10 password reset tools. And you will need a bootable USB (flash drive or pen drive) for removing the admin account with PassFab 4Winkey.

Here’s how to remove the Administrator account in Windows 10 using PassFab 4WinKey:

Step 1. Visit the Official PassFab 4WinKey site and subscribe to the Ultimate Edition of the Software.

Note: You must Subscribe to the Ultimate Edition of PassFab 4WinKey. Other Editions—Standard, Professional, and Enterprise—have limited features.

Step 2. Download and Install the PassFab 4WinKey on another computer; also, insert the USB drive.

Get PassFab 4WinKey Now

Open the application, and from the main interface, choose the inserted USB drive.

remove the Administrator account in Windows 10 using PassFab 4WinKey

Step 3. Click on the Next option. PassFab will take a few minutes to complete the burning process. Once completed, remove the USB drive and insert it into the locked computer.

Step 4. Restart the computer and when the manufacturer’s logo appears, press the F12, F2, F10, or ESC key to open the BIOS menu.

Note: Esc, F2, F10, F12 hotkeys are standard keys to access the boot menu, but it might not work for you. Confirm the specific key depending on the computer or laptop manufacturer.

Step 5. In the BIOS menu, hover to the Boot option using the arrow keys. Then,

  • Make the Inserted USB drive as the first priority.
  • Save the changes; then, Exit the BIOS menu.
  • Restart the computer.

Step 6. After restarting, you will see PassFab’s interface. From there, select the Windows version, i.e., Windows 10, and click on the Next option to proceed.

Step 7. On the next screen, choose the Admin account you want to delete.

Passfab 4WinKey interface showing how to delete the admin account

Here 4WinKey is the admin account.

  • After choosing the desired admin account, select Delete Windows Account.
  • Click on Next.

Step 8. Once complete, click on the Reboot option to restart the computer normally and eject the USB drive.

PassFab 4WinKey showing Reboot option to restart the computer

After you complete these simple steps, Windows will remove the desired administrator account for good, and as you have seen, there is no need to log in to Windows to remove the admin account using PassFab 4WinKey. Read our PassFab 4WinKey Review here.

Conclusion

Be it any method, do not forget to backup the data before proceeding to delete the admin account. Option 1: teaches you how to remove administrator accounts in Windows 10 after logging in to the computer. Option 2, whereas, takes things to another level and enables you to remove the admin account on Windows 10 without even having to log in.

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