How to determine your user account type in Windows (2024)

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Summary

This article helps to determine if your current Windows account is a configured as a Standard user, or as an Administrator account.

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On Windows-based operating systems, your user account type controls what tasks you can perform on your computer, in some cases you may need administrative rights to perform some tasks or to use some applications. The following describes the three types of accounts on Windows-based computers and then helps to determine your user account type.

  • Standard User accounts are for everyday computing.

  • Administrator accounts provide the most control over a computer, and should only be used when necessary.

  • Guest accounts are intended primarily for people who need temporary use of a computer.

Note: If your account is a domain account there are several additional account types. You may need to contact the network administrator to change your permissions.
To determine your current user account type, follow the steps below for your version of Windows:

For Windows 7

To determine your user account type on Windows 7, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, and type User Accounts in the Searchbox

  2. Click User Accountsfrom the list of results (The User Accounts window opens)

    Your user account type is listed beside your user account picture

    How to determine your user account type in Windows (1)

Note: if you’re on a Domain account you will need to click Manage User Accounts from the resulting window. Your user account type will be listed under the Group column.

Performing some tasks in Windows require administrative permissions, to change your user account type, click the link below and follow the steps in that article:

Change a user's account type

For Windows Vista

To determine your user account type on Windows Vista, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, and type User Accounts in the Searchbox

  2. Click User Accountsfrom the list of results (The User Accounts window opens)

    Your user account type is listed beside your user account picture

    How to determine your user account type in Windows (2)

Note:if you’re on a Domain account you will need to click Manage User Accounts from the resulting window. Your user account type will be listed under the Group column.

Performing some tasks in Windows require administrative permissions, to change your user account type, click the link below and follow the steps in that article:

Change a user's account type

For Windows XP

To determine your user account type on Windows XP, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, Control Panel and click User Accounts

    Your user account type is listed beside your user account picture

    How to determine your user account type in Windows (3)

Performing some tasks in Windows require administrative permissions, to change your user account type, click the link below and follow the steps in that article:

To change a user's account type

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How to determine your user account type in Windows (2024)

FAQs

How to determine your user account type in Windows? ›

To Determine Account Type of Your Account in User Accounts

How do I know my Windows user account type? ›

Navigate to the following path: Computer Management > System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users. Right-click the account to determine its type and select the Properties option. Click the Member Of tab. If the "Member of" section reads Administrator (and Users), the account is Administrator.

What is each user account in Windows 10 either a Microsoft account or a ___________ account? ›

There are two kinds of accounts you can use as Windows login. a Microsoft user account and a local user account. If you are using a Microsoft email address as the login, you are using a Microsoft account. While local user accounts are the ones you created natively on the system that that does not use an email address.

What Windows account am I using? ›

From a Windows 10 device where you're already signed in, select Start > Settings > Accounts . Under Email & app accounts, you'll see the usernames associated with your device. Also see Change or reset your Windows password.

What are the 3 user account types? ›

Administrator, Standard, and Managed accounts

Before you create new user accounts, it's important to understand the different types.

What is user account and its types? ›

A user account is an identity created for a person in a computer or computing system. User accounts can also be created for machine entities, such as service accounts for running programs, system accounts for storing system files and processes, and root and administrator accounts for system administration.

What are the 4 types of user profiles? ›

Types of User Profiles
  • Local User Profiles. A local user profile is created the first time that a user logs on to a computer. ...
  • Roaming User Profiles. A roaming user profile is a copy of the local profile that is copied to, and stored on, a server share. ...
  • Mandatory User Profiles. ...
  • Temporary User Profiles.
Apr 30, 2018

What are the user types? ›

A user type defines a class of users, such as administrators, ordinary users, operators, and so on. When enrolling a user through the Information Center Facility ENROLL option, an administrator specifies a user type.

What are the two general types of user accounts? ›

Local user accounts can be divided into two broad categories: users and administrators. Normal users can log into the system, run most programs, print and perform a wide variety of tasks. What they can't do, however, is make system-level changes.

What is an example of a user account? ›

Email accounts are one of the most common examples of user accounts. perform tasks such as installation of applications, while standard users can only use the user accounts as set up by the administrator. Certain computer systems are single-user systems, and therefore do not need to make use of user accounts.

What is the difference between user profile and user account Windows 10? ›

User accounts let you share a computer with several people, while having your own files and settings. Each person accesses his or her user account with a user name and password. Your user profile is a collection of settings that make the computer look and work the way you want it to.

What is standard user account in Windows 10? ›

Users with standard user accounts can run most applications and save files, but cannot run MultiPoint Manager. To see who has standard user access, in MultiPoint Manager, click the Users tab. Standard user accounts are displayed in the Account Type column as Standard.

What is the difference between user account and administrator account? ›

Answer. Administrators have the highest level of access to an account. If you want to be one for an account, you can reach out to the Admin of the account. A general user will have limited access to the account as per the permissions given by the Admin.

Can you have 2 Microsoft accounts with same email? ›

If you see a screen asking, "Which account do you want to use?" when you sign in, it means that you may have two accounts with Microsoft using the same email address.

What is the administrator account? ›

An administrator is someone who can make changes on a computer that will affect other users of the computer. Administrators can change security settings, install software and hardware, access all files on the computer, and make changes to other user accounts.

How do I change my user account type in Windows? ›

Select Start > Settings > Accounts . Under Family & other users, select the account owner name (you should see "Local account" below the name), then select Change account type.

What is the user account type in Windows 11? ›

On Windows 11, like in previous versions, users usually belong to one of the two main account types (including "Administrator" and "Standard User") that will determine the access level to the device and applications. For example, the "Administrator" account gives complete control over the device.

What is account type in Windows 10? ›

On Windows 10, you have two main account types for users, including Administrator and Standard User, each one offering a different set of privileges to use a device and apps.

How do I change user type? ›

Click Start > Settings > Accounts. Click on Family & users on the left. Click on the user account you want to modify and click Change account type. Click on the dropdown box and choose Administrator or Standard User.

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