This article describes the procedure to reactivate the local administrator user in Windows that is disabled by default in order to gain admin privileges on Windows.
Step 1: Perform the below steps to restart Windows in recovery mode:
To restart Windows in recovery mode from the desktop, click on Start > Startup/Shutdow > (while pressing Shift) Restart.
To restart Windows in recovery mode from the login screen, click on the Power icon > (while pressing Shift) Restart.
Step 2: Choose the following options: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings > Click on the Restart button.
Step 3: Select option 4 to Enable Safe Mode.
Step 4: Once restarted, Windows will boot in Safe Mode. Now you will see Administrator user available to log in. Otherwise, you can log in with any user (all of them will have admin privileges)
Step 5: You have the following 2 options to grant yourself admin privileges:
- ACTIVATE ADMINISTRATOR USER: Open a CMD prompt and enter run this command: net user Administrator /active:yes
- ADD ANY LOCAL USER TO ADMINISTRATORS SECURITY GROUP.
Step 6: Restart the Windows and you will be able to log in either with Administrator user or local user with admin privileges.
