You will need to change the User Account type in Windows 10, in case you have provided a User on your Computer with more control than necessary and want to prevent this User from downloading programs or making changes on your computer.
Windows 10 User Accounts
Windows 10 provides users with two types of Accounts: Administrator and Standard User Account. The Guest Account option that was available in earlier versions of Windows has been removed in Windows 10.
As the name suggests, Administrator Accounts have complete control over a computer. An Admin Account allows the User to Change settings, Install programs and create other User Accounts.
In comparison, Standard User Accounts have limited privileges or access to what they are allowed to do on a computer. Standard users cannot install programs or change global settings on a computer.
In order to protect the data and settings on your computer, it is recommended that your create Standard User Accounts for kids and anyone in your house who is likely to play with the settings on your computer. Such users should not be allowed to use an Admin Account or a User Account with Admin privileges.
Change User Account Type in Windows 10
In some cases you may want to give more access to a certain user on your computer, so that the User is able to install programs or help with maintenance tasks on your computer.
Similarly, you may have mistakenly provided Admin privileges to a User on your Windows 10 computer and may want to downgrade the User Account to Non-Admin or a Standard User Account type.
All this can be achieved by changing the User Account type in Windows 10. This can be done by using the Settings App, Control Panel or the Command Prompt on your Windows 10 computer.
Change User Account Type in Windows 10 Using Control Panel
Follow the steps below to change the User Account Type in Windows 10 using the Control Panel.
1. Right click on Windows 10 Start button and then click on Control Panel.
2. On the Control Panel Screen, make sure you are in Category View and click on User Accounts (See image below).
3. On the next screen, click on Change the Account Type option.
4. Next, click the User Account that you would like to change.
5. On the next screen, select the Standard or Administrator option depending on whether you want to upgrade or downgrade the User Account.
6. Finally, click on the Change Account Type button to complete the change (See image above).
Change User Account Type in Windows 10 Using Settings App
Another way to change the User Account Type on a Windows 10 Computer is through the Settings tab.
1. Click on the Windows 10 Start button and click on the Settings.
2. On the Settings screen, click on Accounts.
3. On the next screen, click on Family & Other People (See image in item 4 below).
4. Under Other people, first click on the User Account that you would like to change and next click on Change Account Type option (See image below).
5. On the next screen, select Standard User Or Administrator option as applicable in your case.
6. Click OK to complete the User Account Type change.