How can I add or activate the Administrator account on Windows 11

Question

Instructions found are to go to settings and select Accounts.  Did that.

Select “Family and other users.”  Problem, there is “family” and there is “Other users”  Its two categories, not one.

Question: Is my computer messed up or are the instructions bad?  I found these instructions with a search about “Windows 11”

Select Family then Add someone.  The dialog demands an email address.

NO!  I want a to create an Administrative account on this computer.  It does not need and email address.  I don’t want it to have an email address.  Clicking Cancel just cancels the process, it does not bypass the email requirement.

Why do I want this?

I am having problem after problem.  Things that should not be a problem.  So, after numerous attempts to get things right, maybe it might help to install software using the Administrator account.  Example: Use Visual Studio 2017 to create an MFC app.  Build and run the app with no changes.  It won’t run!!!  No error message!  No anything!  So upgrade to VS 2022 and install with the Administrator account.

Question:  What are the steps to enable the Administrator account on my Windows 11 computer?

Answer 1

Hello

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

You can try to open "local users and groups", click Groups and find local Administrators, please check if there is any member in local Administrators.

If so, you can sign in one account in this Administrators group.

If there is no any account in this Administrators group, you need to add one local user account to this Administrators group. Please check if your machine is in work group or in one domain. If your machine is in domain (such as below), you can ask your domain admin to help you add one account to local Administrators group.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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Answer 2

Before going any further, I followed some instructions and in Settings –> System -> About -> Windows specifications I find:  Edition Windows 11 Home.

Will it be beneficial to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro.  I found this site:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compare-windows-11-home-vs-pro-versions?msockid=3c6b42ad4d9a6db102bd57e94cc46cd9#tabs1-2

Where a comparison table shows the only difference is BitLocker Drive Encryption.  I don’t think that particular item will help me any.  But in the Windows thing, from opening the Windows icon at the bottom of the screen, there appears to be differences in how to access accounts that might be caused by the Home edition.  That is not mentioned in the table, which I presume is not comprehensive.

Still, I am suspecting that there are problems I cannot identify and maybe just a complete reload of the entire system might help.  I see license costs from $960 up to $109.  If there is a 10% chance of improvement I will try that.