Where to look for your admin username

Your administrator username is the account name you use to log in to your computer when you need to install software, change system settings, or make changes that affect all users on the device. On Windows, you'll find it in Settings under Accounts. On Mac, it's in System Settings under Users & Groups. The name you see on the login screen is usually your admin username, but if you've forgotten it or never set one up, there are specific places to check.

The fastest way is to open a command or terminal window and run a single command that lists all admin accounts on your machine. This takes about 30 seconds and works whether or not you remember the name.

Key Takeaways

  • Your admin username appears on your computer's login screen and in your account settings, and you can find it without needing a password.
  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Accounts, and look at the account name listed under "Your info" — that's your admin username.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click Users & Groups, and your admin account name appears next to the lock icon.
  • If you can't remember your username, you can open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) and run a command that lists all administrator accounts.
  • If you're locked out of your computer entirely, you may need to restart in Safe Mode or use a password reset tool specific to your operating system.

Finding your admin username on Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the app that appears. Once Settings opens, click "Accounts" in the left sidebar. Under "Your info," you'll see your account name displayed at the top. This is your administrator username if this account has admin rights.

If you're not sure whether this account is an admin account, scroll down on the same page and look for text that says "Administrator" or "Standard user" under your account name. If it says "Administrator," you've found your admin username. If it says "Standard user," this account doesn't have admin rights, and you'll need to check other accounts on the computer.

To see all accounts on your Windows computer, go back to Settings and click "Other users" in the left sidebar. This shows every account on the machine. Look for any account marked as "Administrator." If you see multiple admin accounts, any of them can be used to make system-level changes.

Finding your admin username on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings." In System Settings, click "General" in the left sidebar, then click "Users & Groups" (you may need to scroll down to find it). You'll see a list of all accounts on your Mac. The account with a small lock icon next to it is the administrator account. The name shown next to that lock icon is your admin username.

If you don't see the Users & Groups option, your Mac may be running an older version of macOS. In that case, open System Preferences instead of System Settings, and look for "Users & Groups" directly in the main menu. The process is the same: find the account with the lock icon, and that's your admin account.

Using Command Prompt or Terminal to find your admin username

If you can log in to your computer but can't find your admin username through the settings, you can use a command-line tool. On Windows, open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key, typing "cmd," and clicking "Command Prompt." Type this command and press Enter: net localgroup administrators. The output will list every account on your computer that has administrator rights. The names shown are your admin usernames.

On Mac, open Terminal by pressing Command+Space, typing "Terminal," and pressing Enter. Type this command and press Enter: dscl . list /Users UniqueID | grep -E '^[^_]' | awk '{print $1}'. This shows all user accounts. To see which ones are admins, type: dscl . read /Groups/admin GroupMembership. The names listed are your administrator accounts.

What to do if you're locked out of your computer

If you can't log in to your computer at all, you won't be able to use the methods above. On Windows, restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly as it boots up. This opens the Advanced Boot Options menu. Select "Safe Mode with Command Prompt." Once Safe Mode loads, you'll see a command prompt window. Type net user and press Enter to see all accounts. Then type net user [username] * (replacing [username] with an admin account name) to reset that account's password.

On Mac, restart your computer and hold Command+S as it boots. This opens Single-User Mode. Type fsck -fy and press Enter, then type mount -uw / and press Enter. Then type dscl . list /Users UniqueID to see all accounts. You can then reset a password using the passwd command followed by the username. If you're not comfortable with these steps, contact Apple Support or take your Mac to an Apple Store.

Why you might need your admin username

Your admin username is required whenever you install new software, change firewall settings, add a new user account, or modify system files. Windows and Mac both ask for an administrator password when you try to do these things, and you need to know the username that goes with that password. If someone else set up your computer, you may not know the admin username, and you'll need to contact them or reset it.

Some programs also ask for your admin username during installation, separate from your password. Knowing your admin username ahead of time means you won't be stuck mid-installation looking for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than one admin account on my computer?

Yes. Most computers have at least one admin account, but you can create additional admin accounts if needed. Each admin account has the same level of access to system settings and files. If you see multiple names when you run the administrator list command, they're all admin accounts.

Is my admin username the same as my password?

No. Your username is the name of the account, and your password is the secret code you use to log in. You need both to access your computer. Your username is not secret — it appears on the login screen — but your password should be kept private.

What if I see an account called "Administrator" that I don't remember creating?

Windows creates a built-in Administrator account on every machine, but it's usually disabled by default. If you see it in your account list but don't remember using it, you can leave it disabled. Use the admin account you actually log in with instead. If you're concerned about security, contact your IT support or the person who set up your computer.

Can I change my admin username?

Yes, but the process is different on Windows and Mac. On Windows, go to Settings, click Accounts, click "Your info," and then click "Rename your account." On Mac, open System Settings, click Users & Groups, unlock the settings with your password, right-click your account, and select "Advanced Options" to change the short name. Changing your username doesn't affect your password or your files.

What should I do if I forgot my admin password?

Knowing your admin username is different from knowing your password. If you know your username but forgot the password, you can reset it on the login screen by clicking "I forgot my password" (Windows) or using your Apple ID (Mac). If you don't know either your username or password, you'll need to use recovery mode or contact your computer manufacturer's support team.