Change a user's account type

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

When you set up Windows, you were required to create a user account. This account is an administrator account, which allows you to set up your computer and install any programs that you would like to use. Once you have finished setting up your computer, we recommend that you create a standard account and use it for your everyday computing. If you create new user accounts, you should also make them standard accounts. Using standard accounts will help keep your computer more secure.

The steps that you should follow will vary, depending on whether your computer is on a domain or a workgroup. To find out, see "To check if your computer is on a workgroup or domain" in How is a network at home different from one at work?

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My computer is on a domain

1.	Open User Accounts by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking User Accounts, clicking User Accounts, and then clicking Manage User Accounts. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.	On the Users tab, under Users for this computer, click the user account name, and then click Properties.
3.	Click the Group Membership tab, click the group you want the account to be in, and then click OK.

My computer is on a workgroup

1.	Open User Accounts by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking User Accounts and Family Safety, clicking User Accounts, and then clicking Manage Another Account. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.	Click the account you want to change, and then click Change the account type.
3.	Select the account type you want, and then click Change Account Type.

NoteWindows requires at least one administrator account on a computer. If you have only one account on your computer, you can't change it to a standard account.

Change a user's account type

My computer is on a domain

My computer is on a workgroup

See also