Setting and resetting a Windows administrator password
Note: To set an administrator password, you must be logged into the computer as an administrator.
On this page:
Note: At Indiana University, the University Information Security Office (UISO) recommends that you normally refrain from running your Windows computer as an administrator. For more, see What is the principle of least privilege?
Setting the administrator password
Universal steps
These steps work in every case as long as you're able to log in as an administrator.
- Press
Win-r. In the "Open:" field, typelusrmgr.mscand pressEnter.
- Double-click the
Usersfolder. On the right, in the list of local users, right-click the account name for the Administrator account, and selectSet Password.Note: On some computers, the account will not be named "Administrator" because the owner or administrator either changed that name or added administrative accounts with different usernames. In either case, you will need to know which of the accounts in the list is the designated Administrator account.
Also be aware that on Windows Vista by default, and in some Windows XP computers by owner or administrator choice, the account named "Administrator" is disabled. Setting a password does not automatically re-enable the account, but it is useless to change a disabled account's password if your goal is to affect currently active administrator accounts. If you do need to enable this account, do so in the account's settings.
Alternate methods
You can also change the administrator password using the "User Accounts" control in the Control Panel. Some users may prefer this method to the universal steps above. Follow the instructions below for your situation and operating system.
If your computer is joined to Indiana University's Active Directory
In Windows Vista and XP, the control panels where you set or change your password display differently depending on whether your computer is joined to ADS. Note that in any case, these instructions are for changing passwords for accounts residing directly on your computer, not for Active Directory passwords. IU Active Directory account passwords are always changed through https://passphrase.iu.edu. This holds true even if your Active Directory account is an administrator on the computer.
Windows 8
- Press
Win-c, selectSettings, and clickChange PC settings.
- Click
Users, and then clickChange your password.
- In the "Current password" field, enter your current password;
click
Next.
- In the "New password" and "Reenter password" fields, enter the new
password; enter a password hint if desired. Click
Next.
- Click
Finish.
Windows 7
- From the
Startmenu, selectControl Panel. If you are not already in Category View, in the upper left, clickCategory View. Then, clickUser Accounts and Family Safety.
- Under "User Accounts", click
Change your Windows password. If prompted, clickContinue.
- Under "Make changes to your user account", click
Set a password.
- In the "New password" and "Confirm new password" fields, enter the
password. Click
OKtwice.
Windows Vista
- From the
Startmenu, selectControl Panel. If you are not already in Classic View, in the upper left, clickClassic View. Then, double-click theUser Accountsicon.
- Under "Make changes to your user account", click
Manage User Accounts. If prompted, clickContinue.
- From the
Userstab, click the name of the administrative account, and then clickReset Password....
- In the "New password" and "Confirm new password" fields, enter the
password. Click
OKtwice.
Windows XP
- From the
Startmenu, selectControl Panel, orSettingsand thenControl Panel. Double-click theUser Accountsicon.
- From the
Userstab, click the name of the administrative account, and then clickReset Password....
- In the "New password" and "Confirm new password" fields, enter the
password. Click
OKtwice.
On a computer not in a domain
Windows 8
- Press
Win-c, selectSettings, and clickChange PC settings.
- Click
Users. If you want to change the password of a different account from the one you are logged into, click the name of that account.Click
Change your password. - In the "Current password" field, enter your current password;
click
Next.
- In the "New password" and "Reenter password" fields, enter the new
password; enter a password hint if desired. Click
Next.
- Click
Finish.
Windows 7 and Vista
- From the
Startmenu, selectControl Panel. If you are not already in Classic View, in the upper left, clickClassic View. Then, double-click theUser Accountsicon.
- In the
Make changes to your user accountwindow:
- If you are logged into the administrator account whose password
you want to change:
- Select
Change your password. - In the "Current password" field, enter your current password.
- In the "New password" and "Confirm new password" fields, enter the new password.
- Optionally, enter a password hint in the last field.
- Click
Change password.
- Select
- If you are logged into a different account from the one whose
password you want to change:
- Select
Manage another account. - From the list that appears, select the account for which you want to change the password.
- Select
Change the password. - In the "Current password" field, enter your current password.
- In the "New password" and "Confirm new password" fields, enter your new password.
- Optionally, enter a password hint in the last field.
- Click
Change password.
- Select
- If you are logged into the administrator account whose password
you want to change:
Windows XP
- From the
Startmenu, selectControl Panel. In the upper left corner of the window, if given the option, selectSwitch to Classic View. Double-click theUser Accountsicon.
- Click the account name designated as "Computer administrator", and
then click
Change the password.
- In the "Type a new password:" and "Type the new password again to
confirm:" fields, type the new password. If you want to leave yourself
a password hint, you can enter it in the third field labeled "Type a
word or phrase to use as a password hint:".
- Click
Change Password.
If you forget the administrator password
If you forget the administrator password for your computer, the Support Center's Carry-in Consulting service may be able to reset it; see IUB Carry-in Consulting services and pricing.
To reset your administrator password, Support Center consultants must verify that you own the computer. Consultants can:
- Check the computer for a local account matching your name
- Check the computer's registration at Indiana University Bloomington
- Examine the sales receipt for the computer
If consultants cannot verify ownership, they cannot reset the administrator password; they can instead perform a clean installation of the operating system. Installation cost will be based on normal Carry-in Consulting fees.
Last modified on February 19, 2013.







