Applies ToOffice 2016 Office 2013 Office for business Office 365 Small Business Microsoft 365 admin Office 365 operated by 21Vianet Office 365 operated by 21Vianet - Small Business Admin Office 365 operated by 21Vianet - Admin Office 365 Germany - Enterprise Office 365 Germany - Enterprise admin

You must be an administrator on the computer where you want to install Microsoft 365, Office 2019, Office 2016, or Office 2013.

If you're not already an admin, when the User Account Control windows appears during the Office installation, a person with administrator rights on your computer must type in their admin username and password, and then select Yes for the installation to continue.

Screenshot showing User Account Control window

How to check if you're an administrator

How you check if you have administrator privileges on your computer and what to do if you don't, depends whether or not your computer is joined to a domain.

Tip: A domain is a way for the network administrator of an organization (such as your work or school) to manage all the computers in their environment. Not sure your computer is or isn't joined to a domain? Do the following: Open the Control Panel and then select System and Security > System. At the bottom of the View basic information about your computer section, if you're joined to a domain it says, Domain: and lists the name of the domain you're joined to. If you're not joined to a domain, it says Workgroup: and indicates name of the workgroup your computer is part of.

Select your operating system from below.

Computer isn't joined to a domain

  1. Select Start, and type Control Panel.

  2. In the Control Panel window, select User Accounts > Change your account type.

  3. Make sure Administrator is selected. If you can't select the Administrator option, contact the person who has administrator rights on your computer and ask them to give you admin privileges, or have them type their administrator username and password when asked for it during the Office installation.

Computer is joined to a domain

  1. Select Start, and type Control Panel.

  2. In the Control Panel window, select User Accounts > Change your account type.

  3. In the User Accounts window, select Properties and then select the Group Membership tab.

  4. Make sure Administrator is selected. If you can't select the Administrator option, contact the person who has administrator rights on your computer and ask them to give you admin privileges, or have them type their administrator username and password when asked for it during the Office installation.

Computer isn't joined to a domain

  1. Select Start, and select Control Panel.

  2. In the Control Panel window, select User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts > Change your account type.

  3. Make sure Administrator is selected. If you can't select the Administrator option, contact the person who has administrator rights on your computer and ask them to give you admin privileges, or have them type their administrator username and password when asked for it during the Office installation.

Computer is joined to a domain

  1. Select Start, and select Control Panel.

  2. In the Control Panel window, select User Accounts and Family Safety > User Accounts > Manage User Accounts.

  3. In the User Accounts window, select Properties and the Group Membership tab.

  4. Make sure Administrator is selected. If you can't select the Administrator option, contact the person who has administrator rights on your computer and ask them to give you admin privileges, or have them type their administrator username and password when asked for it during the Office installation.

Computer isn't joined to a domain

  1. Select Start, and select Control Panel.

  2. In the Control Panel window, select User Accounts and Family Safety > Change your account type.

  3. Make sure Administrator is selected. If you can't select the Administrator option, contact the person who has administrator rights on your computer and ask them to give you admin privileges, or have them type their administrator username and password when asked for it during the Office installation.

Computer is joined to a domain

  1. Select Start, and select Control Panel.

  2. In the Control Panel window, select User Accounts and Family Safety > Manage User Accounts.

  3. In the User Accounts window, select Properties and the Group Membership tab.

  4. Make sure Administrator is selected. If you can't select the Administrator option, contact the person who has administrator rights on your computer and ask them to give you admin privileges, or have them type their administrator username and password when asked for it during the Office installation.

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