Where to type your admin credentials

When you sit down at a computer that requires administrator access, you will see a login screen before anything else loads. This screen asks for a username and password — the same way you log into email or social media, but for the machine itself rather than an account within it.

On Windows computers, this screen appears when you first turn on the machine or when you wake it from sleep. On Mac computers, you may see it when you try to install software or change system settings. The exact appearance varies, but the purpose is the same: the system is checking that you have permission to make changes.

The username field is usually labeled "User name" or "Administrator" and sits at the top. The password field is below it and shows dots or asterisks as you type — this hides your password from anyone looking over your shoulder. You type one, then the other, then press Enter or click a button labeled "Sign in" or "OK".

Key Takeaways

  • The admin login screen appears before the main desktop loads on Windows, or when you try to make system changes on Mac.
  • Type your username first, then your password — the password field will show dots instead of letters as you type.
  • Press Enter or click the sign-in button after you enter both pieces of information.
  • If you see a message saying the password is wrong, check that Caps Lock is off, because passwords are case-sensitive.
  • If you do not remember the administrator password, you will need to contact the person who set up the computer or the IT department at your workplace.

Step-by-step entry on Windows

When your Windows computer boots up or wakes from sleep, look for a screen with a user account picture and name. Click on the account name or picture if more than one account appears. The login screen will then show a field labeled "Password".

Click inside the password field so the cursor appears there. Type your password slowly and carefully — you will not see the actual letters, only dots. Do not use the username field; Windows already knows which account you are logging into. Once you finish typing, press the Enter key on your keyboard.

If the password is correct, the desktop will load and you will see your files and programs. If it is wrong, you will see a message saying "The password is incorrect" or similar. Try again, making sure Caps Lock is off — passwords treat uppercase and lowercase letters as different characters.

Step-by-step entry on Mac

On a Mac, the login screen looks different. You will see a username field at the top and a password field below it. Unlike Windows, you must type both the username and the password yourself, even if the computer only has one account.

Click in the username field first and type the administrator name exactly as it appears. Then click in the password field and type the password. Again, you will see dots instead of letters. Press Enter when you finish.

If either piece of information is wrong, the entire login will fail and you will see a message asking you to try again. The Mac does not tell you which field was wrong, so double-check both the username spelling and the password before trying a second time.

What to do if you see a "Run as administrator" prompt

Sometimes you will not see a full login screen. Instead, a smaller window will pop up asking for an administrator username and password while you are already logged in. This happens when you try to install software, change system settings, or perform other tasks that need higher permissions.

This prompt works the same way as the main login screen: type the username in the first field, the password in the second, and press Enter. The difference is that you are already using the computer — this is just asking permission for one specific action.

If you do not have administrator credentials, you cannot proceed with that action. You will need to ask the person who manages the computer to enter their credentials instead, or to change your account type to administrator.

Caps Lock and common typing mistakes

Passwords are case-sensitive, meaning that "Password" and "password" are two different things. If Caps Lock is on, every letter will be uppercase and your password will be wrong. Most login screens show a small warning if Caps Lock is active — look for it near the password field.

Before you try again, press the Caps Lock key once to turn it off, then try typing your password. Also check that you are not accidentally holding Shift while typing, which would capitalize the first letter. Type slowly and deliberately, especially if your password contains numbers or special characters like exclamation marks or underscores.

If you have tried three or four times and keep seeing an error, stop and verify the password with whoever set up the account. Trying too many wrong passwords in a row can lock the account temporarily as a security measure.

When the username and password do not work

If you have the correct username and password but the system still will not let you in, a few things might be happening. The account might be locked after too many wrong attempts — wait 15 to 30 minutes and try again. The account might have been disabled by whoever manages the computer. Or the password might have been changed without your knowledge.

If this is your personal computer, you may be able to reset the password through a recovery process, though this varies widely between Windows and Mac and depends on how the account was set up. If this is a work computer, contact your IT department or help desk when ready — they can verify your identity and reset the password for you.

If you have never had an administrator account on this computer and do not know what the password is, you will need to contact the person who set it up. They are the only one who can give you access or create a new administrator account for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see what I am typing in the password field?

Most login screens hide the password for security. However, some systems show a small eye icon next to the password field that you can click to reveal what you typed. If you want to check your typing before pressing Enter, look for this icon. On some older systems, there is no way to see the password — you must type carefully and try again if it fails.

What if I type the username wrong?

On Windows, the username is usually pre-selected, so you only type the password. On Mac, if you type the username wrong, the entire login will fail and you will see an error. The system will not tell you which part was wrong. Try again with the correct spelling, paying attention to capitalization and any numbers or special characters in the username.

Is there a way to log in without a password?

Some computers are set up to skip the password prompt if only one account exists, though this is less common on newer machines. If your computer requires a password every time, that is the intended security setting. You cannot bypass it without the correct password or administrator help.

What should I do if I forget the administrator password?

On a personal computer, you may be able to reset it through account recovery options, though this depends on your setup. On a work computer, contact your IT department or help desk — they can verify your identity and issue a new password. Do not try to guess repeatedly, as this can lock the account.

Can someone else use my administrator account?

Yes, if they know your username and password. For this reason, you should not share your administrator credentials with others unless absolutely necessary. If you need someone else to perform administrative tasks on your computer, ask your IT department to create a separate administrator account for them instead.