How to Add a User in Windows 10 Administrator Command

Question

How to Add a User in Windows 10 Administrator Command

Solar Dunn 0

For context I've been trying several variations of the "Net User /Add " command so I can add another Administrator account to a Windows 10 Computer. I'm doing this through the Administration Command Box as the Owner account of our device got corrupted so we physically can't login to the computer, let alone add another Administrator account unless is through the Administrator Command.

But no matter how I type the 'Net User / Add' Command, with brackets, without brackets, without the password, with the password, with /Add being placed at the end or at the beginning, I keep getting the same message:

"The Syntax of this command is:

NET USER

[Username [password | *} /ADD [options] [/DOMAIN]

Username {password|*} /ADD [options] [/DOMAIN]

Username [/DELETE] [/DOMAIN]

Username [/TIMES: {Times | ALL}]

Username [/ACTIVE : {YES | NO }]

"

These are some of the many ways I've tried to type the command below:

Net user [username][password] /add

Net user username [password] /add

Net user adminstrat username password /add

Net user username password /add

Net user /add username password

Bet user [username [ password | *} /add (as well as | } and |])

Net user [username | password ] /add

Etc.

No matter what I do I either get the above message or something along the lines of

" ']' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. "

Whenever I Google it they tell me to type in the command without any brackets and the same thing comes up. I've hit a wall, so any advice or help with be appreciated. The specific version of Windows 10 is 10.0.

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

The brackets shown in the NET USER syntax are documentation notation. You do not type them. Also, “Administrator” is not something you put into the command unless that is actually the username you want to create.

From an elevated Administrator Command Prompt, use:

net user NewAdmin MyPassword123! /add

For example:

net user BackupAdmin MyPassword123! /add

You should then see “The command completed successfully.”

Next, add that account to the local Administrators group:

net localgroup Administrators BackupAdmin /add

Again, you should get “The command completed successfully.”

You can verify the account with:

net user BackupAdmin

And verify its group membership with:

net localgroup Administrators

If you are currently at the Windows Recovery Environment Command Prompt rather than a normal elevated Command Prompt, NET USER may be operating against the recovery environment rather than your installed Windows system. If the commands appear to work but the new account does not appear on the Windows login screen after rebooting, that is likely the issue.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Answer 2

Use the command without brackets. The brackets shown in help are placeholders, not characters to type.

To create a local user:

net user <username> <password> /add

Example:

net user Admin2 P@ssw0rd123 /add

To make that user a local administrator:

net localgroup Administrators Admin2 /add

To verify the account exists and is enabled:

net user Admin2

If needed, explicitly enable the account:

net user Admin2 /active:yes

If the goal is to enable the built-in Administrator account instead, use:

net user Administrator /active:yes

Key points based on the errors shown:

Do not type [ ] { } or |. Those are syntax notation only.
/add must be part of the net user command, for example net user Admin2 P@ssw0rd123 /add.
Bet user and similar typos will fail because the command must be net user.
If a password contains special characters, using * prompts for the password instead of showing it on screen:

net user Admin2 * /add

Then add it to Administrators:

net localgroup Administrators Admin2 /add

Warning: adding accounts and granting administrator rights changes local security on the PC. Use only the intended account name and password.