How to Enable/Activate Built-in Administrator in Windows 7

How to enable Windows 7 built in administrator account? How to access Windows 7 built in administrator if you lost the password?

As we know, we can easily access Windows XP built-in administrator account in Safe Mode or by pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL keys on classical login screen. But in Windows 7, both of the two ways are unavailable. When install a brand new Windows 7 on PC, you can use the built-in Administrator account to run programs and apps before a user account is created. This account is used when you log into the system by using audit mode, or when you add scripts to the audit User configuration pass. For new installations, after you created a new local admin account, the built in administrator will be disabled and hidden from welcome screen.

This article will show you four easy ways to enable built in administrator account in Windows 7 and access the account even when you forgot the password or totally locked out of your computer.

Method 1: Use a Windows 7 Install Disk to Enable Windows 7 Built-in Administrator Account with Command Prompt.

Method 2: Change the Properties of the Built in Administrator Account by Using the Local Users and Groups.

Method 3: Use a Local Admin Account to Enable/Activate Windows 7 Built in Administrator Account.

Method 4: Enable and Access Windows 7 Built in Administrator Account When You Forgot Local Admin Password and Locked Out of Your Computer. (Apply to all versions of Windows system)

Note: Methods in this article apply to Windows 7 on any laptop and desktop computers such as: HP, Dell, Acer, Toshiba, Lenovo, Asus, Samsung, Sony, MSI etc.

Method 1: Use a Windows 7 Install Disk to Enable Windows 7 Built-in Administrator Account with Command Prompt.

If you have forgotten your Windows 7 admin password and need to use the built-in administrator which was disabled, you can firstly enable the administrator account by using a Windows 7 installation disk. (Step-by-step guide about how to create a Windows 7 installation media) In this guide, I will show you how to use a Windows 7 installation media to open “Command Prompt” and enable/active Windows 7 built-in administrator account. You also can use the installation disk to reset forgotten built-in administrator password for Windows 7.

Step 1: Insert a Windows 7 installation CD/DVD into the computer’s CD/DVD-ROM.

Step 2: Boot the computer from CD/DVD. (Here is the step-by-step guide)

Step 3: Once your computer start and boot from your Windows 7 disc, it will ask you to press a key to continue. Just hit a key on your keyboard.

Step 4: PC successfully boots from CD/DVD. Windows Install screen appears. Select “Next”.

Step 5: Select “Repair your computer”.

Step 6: In the “System Recovery Options” window, it will show you where your Windows 7 installation is. In this guide, the Windows 7 was installed on D drive. Click “Next”.

Step 7: Select “Command Prompt”.

Step 8: Command Prompt window appears. Use the following commands to replace “cmd.exe” with “sethc.exe”.

1. Type “d:” and then press “Enter”. Note: If your Windows 7 installation is on C drive, please replace “d:” with “c:” in the command.

2. Type “cd windows” and then press “Enter”.

3. Type “cd system32” and then press “Enter”.

4. Type “ren sethc.exe sethc_bak.exe” and then press “Enter”.

5. Type “copy cmd.exe sethc.exe” and then press “Enter”.

Step 9: Close Command Prompt and then click “Restart”.

Step 10: Once Windows 7 login screen appears, hit “Shift” key five times to run “sethc.exe”.

1. In the sethc window, type “net user” and press “Enter”. All local user accounts include the built-in administrator will be shown.

2. To enable the built-in administrator account, type “net user administrator /active:yes” and then press “Enter”.

3. If you forget the administrator password, type “net user administrator 123456” and then press “Enter”. The administrator is now enabled and the password has been reset to “123456”.

4. Close sethc window and restart the computer.

5. When Windows 7 login screen appears, select administrator and enter the password “123456” to log on.

 

Method 2: Change the Properties of the Built in Administrator Account by Using the Local Users and Groups.

The easiest way to enable Windows 7 built-in administrator account is using a local admin account to change the properties of the built in Administrator account from the Local Users and Groups Microsoft Management Console.

Step 1: Log on Windows 7 with your admin account.

Step 2: Right-click “Computer” and then select “Manage”.

Step 3: In the Computer Management window, select Local Users and Groups. You will see the built-in administrator account is in user list.

Step 4: Right-click the Administrator account, and then select “Properties”.

Step 5: The Administrator Properties window appears. On the General tab, clear the Account’s disabled check box.

Step 6: Close “Computer Management”. Administrator access is now enabled. To access the account, Log off the current user account.

Step 7: You will see the built-in administrator is in front of yours, select administrator.

Step 8: Enter your password to log on. If you lost the password, just go back to the “Computer Management” and reset the administrator’s password without knowing it.

 

Method 3: Use a Local Admin Account to Enable/Activate Windows 7 Built in Administrator Account with CMD.

If you can log on Windows 7 with a local admin account, in addition to enable built-in administrator from “Computer Management”, you can also do this by using CMD.

Step 1: Open “Start” menu and select “Accessories”. Then right-click “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”.

Step 2: User Account Control pops up, select “Yes”.

Step 3: Command Prompt window appears, type “net user” and then press “Enter”. All local user accounts of Windows 7 will be displayed.

Step 4: To enable the built-in administrator account, type “net user administrator /active:yes” and then press “Enter”.

Step 5: Built-in administrator is now enabled. Select “Switch user”. You will see the administrator is displayed on the login screen. Select it to log on with your password. If you lost the password of built-in administrator, just go back to the command window, type “net user administrator 123456” and then press “Enter”. Then you can use the new password “123456” to log on the administrator.

If you need to disable the built-in administrator account in future, you just need to use the following command to do this: type “net user administrator /active:no” in the Command Prompt window and then press “Enter”.

 

Method 4: Enable and Access Windows 7 Built in Administrator Account When You Forgot Local Admin Password and Locked Out of Your Computer.

With help of Windows Password Rescuer, you can easily enable and access built-in administrator account in Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP or Windows server 2019, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2003 when you forget your admin account’s password and locked out of your computer.

This tutorial will show you how to use Windows Password Rescuer Personal to reset forgotten password for built-in administrator and enable account for Windows 7 Ultimate. So you can get back into your computer by using the built-in administrator account. (Free download Windows Password Rescuer Personal)

Step 1: Use Windows Password Rescuer to create a bootable USB on another computer.

1. Use another computer to download and install Windows Password Rescuer Personal. Then plug a blank USB flash drive into the computer and launch the software. Choose “USB device”.

2. Select your USB from the pull-down drive list and then click “Begin Burning”. The software will create a bootable USB automatically for you.

3. When burning process is successfully completed, unplug your USB. Now you can use the bootable USB to reset forgotten Windows administrator password or enable built in administrator account on any of your computer.

Step 2: Use the bootable USB to reset Windows 7 built-in administrator’s password and enable the account on your locked computer.

1. To enable built-in administrator account on your Windows 7 computer, you must firstly plug the bootable USB into the computer and setup it to boot from USB.

2. When the PC successfully boots from USB, Windows Password Rescuer Personal will run automatically and load all local user accounts including regular user accounts and the built-in administrator of Windows 7. Now you just need to reset password for the built-in administrator account and then it will be enabled/activated automatically at the same time.

3. Select “Administrator” from user list.

4. Click “Reset Password” and confirm it when a message pops up.

5. The built-in administrator’s password has been removed the account is enabled now.

6. Click “Reboot”. When a confirm message pops up, unplug your USB and then click “Yes” to restart the computer.

7. When the Windows 7 login screen appears, you will see that the built-in administrator account is shown in front of your regular account.

8. Click the Administrator account to log on without entering password!