Can’t access other windows accounts outside of main administrator(windows 11)

Troubleshooting Access Restrictions to Multiple User Accounts on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Many Windows 11 users may encounter issues where they cannot access other user accounts outside of the main administrator account. This situation can be especially stressful if you’re unsure of the cause and how to resolve it. In this article, we’ll explore common scenarios that lead to such access restrictions, outline potential causes, and provide professional, step-by-step troubleshooting strategies to regain full access to all user accounts on your device.

Understanding the Context

Let’s consider a typical scenario: a user was troubleshooting storage issues on their Windows 11 PC. The user identified that their C: drive was becoming full due to residual files, old applications, and temporary data. To diagnose the issue, they installed a disk space analysis tool, such as WinDirStat, which revealed that a specific game, War Thunder, was occupying approximately 30% of the storage.

While attempting to uninstall the game, the user switched from their secondary account back to the main administrator account. During this process, an error message appeared, indicating a failure to validate the PIN or login credentials, after which the user was returned to the administrator account. Subsequently, the user discovered they could no longer view or access other user accounts, leading to frustration and concern about potential malware or accidental deletion of critical system files.

Potential Causes

This type of access issue can be caused by several factors, including:

• User Account Control (UAC) or permission changes resulting from account switching or administrative actions
• Corrupted user profiles or permissions misconfigurations
• System errors or registry issues affecting account visibility
• Malfunctioned or improperly configured Windows user account settings
• Malware or security software interference (less common but possible)

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting and Resolution Strategies

1. Verify User Account Status and Permissions

2. Open the Settings app (Win + I) and navigate to Accounts > Family & other users.

3. Ensure that all intended user accounts are listed and properly configured.

4. If an account is missing or disabled, consider creating a new user account with administrator privileges.

5. Use the Local Users and Groups Management Console

6. Press Win + R, type lusrmgr.msc, and press Enter (Note: This tool is not available in Windows 11 Home edition; if you’re using Home, skip to alternative methods).

7. Under “Users,” verify the status of all user accounts.
8. Ensure that other accounts