How to Hide an Administrator Account from the Sign-in Screen in Windows 10 while Keeping Administrative Privileges

Managing system security in Windows 10 involves being strategic about which accounts are visible to users and which remain hidden. This article provides two methods for hiding an administrator account from the sign-in screen while still allowing administrative tasks to be performed. Whether you are using Windows Pro or Enterprise edition or a standard edition, these detailed steps will guide you through the process.

Method 1: Using Local Group Policy Editor for Windows Pro and Enterprise Editions

The Local Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool for managing security settings. Follow these detailed steps to hide an administrator account from the sign-in screen using this method.

Open Local Group Policy Editor: Press Windows R to open the Run dialog box. Type and press Enter.

Navigate to the Security Settings: In the Local Computer Policy window, navigate to Computer Configuration Windows Settings Security Settings Local Policies Security Options.

Look for the 'User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode': Find the policy named User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode.

Double-click it and set it to Enabled: This step ensures that you can still access administrative tasks even when the account is hidden from the sign-in screen.

Hide the built-in Administrator account: Look for the policy Interactive logon: Do not require CTRL ALT DEL. Double-click and set it to Disabled if you want to hide the built-in Administrator account.

Restart your computer: Make sure to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Method 2: Using Registry Editor for All Editions

The Registry Editor is another essential tool for customizing your Windows install. Follow the below steps to hide an administrator account using this method.

Open Registry Editor: Press Windows R and type regedit then press Enter.

Navigate to the Winlogon key: In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon.

Create a new key for SpecialAccounts and UserList: Right-click on Winlogon, select New Key, and name it SpecialAccounts. Then, right-click on SpecialAccounts, select New Key, and name it UserList.

Add the user to hide: In the UserList key, right-click on the right pane, select New DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it with the username of the account you want to hide. Set its value to 0 to hide the account.

Restart your computer: Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Running Tasks as the Hidden User

Even after hiding the account, you can still run tasks as that user using the following methods:

Run as different user: When you right-click an application, hold down the Shift key and select Run as different user'. You will be prompted to enter the username and password of the hidden account.

Task Scheduler: You can create scheduled tasks that run under the hidden account. In Task Scheduler, you can specify the user account under which the task should run. This is particularly useful for automating administrative tasks without exposing them in the sign-in process.

Important Note: Always be cautious when modifying the registry or group policies. Incorrect changes can negatively impact system stability. It's a good practice to back up your registry before making changes.

By following these steps, you can effectively hide an administrator account from the sign-in screen while still retaining the ability to use it for administrative tasks. This approach enhances both security and convenience, making your system more manageable while reducing the risk of unauthorized access.