If you use a standard (non-administrator) account on your Windows 11 PC, sometimes Windows asks for an administrator’s password before making important changes. This is done through a security feature called User Account Control (UAC).

By default, Windows can show a list of administrator accounts on your PC when it asks for a password. This lets you pick the right admin account and enter its password. But you can also hide this list, so you have to type the admin account name and password manually.

Here’s a simple guide to control whether Windows shows or hides administrator accounts when UAC asks for permission.

What is UAC?

User Account Control (UAC) is a Windows security feature that helps stop unwanted changes to your PC. When you try to do something that needs admin permission, Windows shows a pop-up asking for the admin password.

How to Show or Hide Administrator Accounts in the UAC Prompt (Using Local Group Policy Editor)

This method works on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions. If you have Windows 11 Home, skip to the Registry Editor method below.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor:
   
   Press Windows key + R to open the Run box, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. In the window that opens, go to this folder:
   

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Credential User Interface

   
   
3. Click on the Credential User Interface folder on the left.
4. On the right, find and double-click “Enumerate administrator accounts on elevation”.
5. Choose one of the options:
   • Enabled: Shows all administrator accounts in the UAC prompt.
   • Disabled: Hides the admin accounts — you must type the admin username and password.
   • Not Configured: Same as Disabled (admin accounts are hidden).
6. Click OK to save.
7. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

How to Show or Hide Administrator Accounts in the UAC Prompt (Using Registry Editor)

If you don’t have the Local Group Policy Editor (like on Windows 11 Home), you can change this setting using the Registry Editor.

Warning: Editing the registry can cause problems if done incorrectly. Please follow steps carefully and consider backing up your registry first.

1. Open the Registry Editor:
   
   Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to this folder:
   

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesCredUI

   
   
3. If the CredUI folder doesn’t exist, create it:
   
   Right-click on Policies > New > Key, and name it CredUI.
4. Right-click on the right side of CredUI folder, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the new value EnumerateAdministrators.
6. Double-click the new EnumerateAdministrators value.
   
   Set Base to Decimal, then enter:
   • 0 to hide administrator accounts in the UAC prompt.
   • 1 to show administrator accounts in the UAC prompt.
7. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.
8. Restart your computer to see the changes.

Summary

• You can control whether Windows shows administrator accounts or asks you to type the username when UAC asks for permission.
• Use the Local Group Policy Editor (for Windows 11 Pro and above) or the Registry Editor (for all editions) to change this setting.
• Remember to restart your PC after making these changes for them to work.

If you want to learn more about UAC or running apps as an administrator, check out these helpful guides:

• Change UAC Behavior for Standard Users in Windows 11
• How to Run an App as Administrator in Windows 11
• How to Open the Registry Editor in Windows 11

If you have questions or want to share tips, feel free to leave a comment below!