Solved Why would Microsoft Update create a separate Administrator Account

Running the Windows 11 Insider Program and upon after a recent update I noticed that Windows Update had gone in and created a separate Administrator Account

Super weird because I didn't authorize that another Administrator Account be created

Not sure what Microsoft is up to, but I'm guessing that it might have something to do with their failed attempt at deploying Recall (maybe)

Out of the blue this morning I got a notice to reboot the machine because Microsoft wanted to do a *Repair Update

The *Repair Update is taking forever

If for some reason this *Repair Update doesn't address the added *Extra* Administrator Account problem I may need help getting rid of that extra account

Not sure what the OS version Windows 11 is right now on the big box because it's in the middle of this so-called *Repair Update, but I'll post is as soon as I can

An update --

Okay, so the so-called *Repair Update is completed

When the machine rebooted it went through all of the trappings of a new install complete with all of the "Don't turn your device off because great things are coming your way" notices.

Specs indicate that as of today I've got 23H2 version OS build 22631.3737

The machine rebooted into my original Administrator Account (finally)

Microsoft had turned a few things on that I had shut off previously, but that's all minor stuff (Microsoft will turn things back on any chance it gets)

I still have that other Administrator Account that Windows Update created on the last go -- Can't find it under "Users" tho' ... would like very much to get rid of it.

It's probably the Hidden Administrator account doing some housework but it should have been hidden again once it's finished.

Rollback_Jockey said:

It's probably the Hidden Administrator account doing some housework but it should have been hidden again once it's finished.

Click to expand...

Seems a bit odd that Microsoft would go in and turn it on without shutting it back off

I thought that the Administrator Account that's showing was an extra

If indeed this is the one that's supposed to be hidden then I'll go in and look to see if *net user administrator /active: * is actually set to yes or not

I'm sure Microsoft enabled hidden user account execute Net users command to view list of all user accounts.

Reddwebdev said:

Windows Update had gone in and created a separate Administrator Account

Click to expand...

What do you actually mean by "had gone in" and where did you see that seperate Administrator Account?

I’ve had that happen 2 or 3 times following windows updates before. It showed my acct and a second acct with the default bmp user image. This was due to haveing auto login enabled via netplwiz. With that option disabled, it has never happened again. I’m pretty sure it’s due to trying to log in with cached creds after reboot.

Tester said:

What do you actually mean by "had gone in" and where did you see that seperate Administrator Account?

Click to expand...

It showed up right after a Windows Update session so I figured that Microsoft had "gone in" and left the door open when they left

I noticed this when upon after reboot, the machine went straight to that Administrator account and not my original Administrator account

Reddwebdev said:

It showed up right after a Windows Update session so I figured that Microsoft had "gone in" and left the door open when they left

I noticed this when upon after reboot, the machine went straight to that Administrator account and not my original Administrator account

Click to expand...

It doesn't need an explanation that involves any action on Microsoft's part.

On boot Windows will always try to sign into the last account that was signed in, and if that account has no password then it goes straight in, bypassing the sign in screen. Only if there's a password will it stop and ask you for one.

If you have enabled the built in Administrator account (which by default has no password) and had last signed in as Administrator, then that could explain this.

My Notebook new in Oct. '21 with Win10 Pro immediately Upgraded to Win11 Pro: