How to Show or Hide Administrator Accounts in Windows 11 UAC Prompt

What is UAC?

Let’s start by understanding User Account Control (UAC). It’s a security feature built into Windows. It 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.

Why Use This Feature?

Hiding administrator accounts adds an extra layer of security. This means someone would need to know both the admin username and password to gain access. If you already know which admin account to use, showing the accounts can make entering the password faster.

Method 1Using Local Group Policy Editor (🪟 Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education)

Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education users can choose to show or hide administrator accounts on the UAC prompt using the Local Group Policy Editor.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor %📂%ADMIN%copy%
   Press Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the correct folder
   In the window that opens, go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Credential User Interface
3. Click on the Credential User Interface folder
   You’ll see it listed on the left side.
4. Find and open the setting
   On the right, find and double-click Enumerate administrator accounts on elevation.
5. Choose your option
   You’ll see three choices:

   • 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. Save your changes
   Click OK to save.
7. 🔄 Restart your computer
   Your PC needs to restart for the changes to work.

Method 2Using Registry Editor (All 🪟 Windows 11 Editions)

All Windows 11 users, including those with the Home edition, can control whether administrator accounts appear on the UAC prompt by editing the Windows Registry.

Be careful when editing the registry, as mistakes can cause system issues. Follow each step precisely. Consider backing up your registry first if you’re not comfortable with this.

1. Open the Registry Editor %📂%ADMIN%copy%
   Press Windows key + R. Type regedit and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the correct location
   Go to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\CredUI
3. Create the folder if needed
   If the CredUI folder doesn’t exist, you need to create it. 🖱️ Right-click on Policies. Choose New > Key. Name it CredUI.
4. Create a new value
   🖱️ Right-click on the right side of the CredUI folder. Choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the new value
   Name it EnumerateAdministrators.
6. Set the value
   Double-click the new EnumerateAdministrators value. Set Base to Decimal. Then enter one of these numbers:

   • 0 to hide administrator accounts in the UAC prompt.
   • 1 to show administrator accounts in the UAC prompt.
7. Save and close
   Click OK and close the Registry Editor.
8. 🔄 Restart your computer
   Your PC needs to restart to see the changes.

What Happens When You Change This Setting?

Changing the setting for the Windows 11 UAC prompt determines if you’ll see a list of admin accounts to choose from or a blank field where you must type the username.

If you set the value to 0 (hide accounts), the next time UAC asks for permission, you’ll see a blank field. You need to type the full admin account name and password yourself.

Summary

You can easily manage whether the Windows 11 UAC prompt displays administrator accounts or requires you to enter the username manually.

• Use the Local Group Policy Editor for Windows 11 Pro and above.
• Use the Registry Editor for all Windows 11 editions, including Home.
• Always 🔄 restart your PC after making these changes for them to work.

Want to learn more about UAC or how to run 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!