How to Enable UAC Administrator Display in Windows 11

This guide explains how to show or hide administrator accounts when a standard user triggers a security prompt in Windows 11.

Windows uses a feature called User Account Control (UAC). This feature helps protect your computer from harmful programs. It works by asking for permission whenever an administrator tries to make changes to your system settings.

Why does this matter? Windows wants to ensure that only someone with administrator rights can change important system files. When a standard user tries to perform an admin-level task, a prompt appears asking for a password.

What happens when you are done? You can choose if the computer displays a list of available administrator accounts for the user to select from, or if the user must manually type in the username and password every time.

Method 1: Using Group Policy Editor

You can change this setting using the Local Group Policy Editor.

1. Open the editor.
2. Go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Credential User Interface.
3. Click on the Credential User Interface folder.
4. Double-click the setting named “Enumerate administrator accounts on elevation.”

A window will open with three choices:

• Not Configured: This is the default. Administrator accounts are hidden.
• Enabled: All administrator accounts will appear in the prompt.
• Disabled: Users must manually type a username and password.

Select your preferred option and click OK.

⚠️ Admin Privileges Required: You must be logged in as an administrator to use the Group Policy Editor.

Restart your computer to apply these changes.

Method 2: Using Windows Registry Editor

If you cannot use the Group Policy Editor, you can use the  Windows Registry Editor or Windows Registry instead. Open the Windows Registry and follow these steps:

1. Go to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\CredUI
2. If the CredUI folder does not exist, right-click the Policies folder, select New, then Key, and name it CredUI.

3. Right-click inside the CredUI folder. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name this new item: EnumerateAdministrators
5. Double-click EnumerateAdministrators to change it.
6. Ensure the Base is set to Decimal.
7. Change the Value data to 1 to show accounts, or 0 to hide them.

⚠️ Admin Privileges Required: You must be logged in as an administrator to change the Registry.

Click OK and restart your computer to finish.

Summary

You have learned how to manage administrator visibility in Windows 11 security prompts.

• Group Policy: Use the “Enumerate administrator accounts on elevation” setting found under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Credential User Interface.
• Registry Editor: Create or modify the EnumerateAdministrators value located at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\CredUI.

Both methods require administrator rights and a system restart to take effect.