How to Log in as an Administrator on Windows 7

Sign on to your administrator account for more options when troubleshooting.

If you've recently upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7, you're probably wondering how to log in as an administrator. In Windows XP, the administrator account was clearly visible from the log-on page, but it's no longer there in Windows 7. Although there is an administrator account, it must first be enabled with the Windows command prompt before you're able to use it. Enabling the administrator account lets you troubleshoot problems with programs on your computer.

Instructions

1. Click on the "Start" button, and then type "command" into the search bar.

2. Right-click "Command Prompt" when the results appear. Click "Run as Administrator." The command prompt opens.

3. Type "net user administrator /active:yes," excluding the quotation marks. Hit "Enter."

4. Click "Start," and then click "Switch User." Click the "Administrator" icon to log in.

Tips & Warnings

• It's only necessary to use the administrator account for troubleshooting. Otherwise, it's usually best to use your original account.

References

• How-To Geek: Enable the (Hidden) Administrator Account on Windows 7 or Vista