Permission & Access Issues

How to Add the Global Administrator Role in Microsoft 365

Camila Milosovich Sep 29, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to assign the Global Administrator role to an existing user account to grant them full administrative access.

How to Add the Global Administrator Role in Microsoft 365

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing user permissions and delegating full administrative access within the Microsoft 365 organization.
Observed behavior: The target user requires comprehensive administrative privileges across all Microsoft 365 services to manage settings, users, and subscriptions.

Before you start

You must already be signed in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center with an existing Global Administrator account, as standard users or lower-tier administrators do not have the required permissions to assign this role.

Solution 1Recommended

Assign the Global Administrator Role via the Admin Center

Use the Active Users list in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center to upgrade an existing user's permissions to Global Administrator.

This is the standard and most direct method for managing user roles. It requires access to the main Microsoft 365 admin portal.

Sign in to the Admin Center

Navigate to https://admin.microsoft.com in your web browser and sign in using your existing Global Administrator credentials.

Navigate to Active Users

On the left-hand navigation menu, click on 'Users' to expand the section, and then select 'Active users'.

Select the Target User

Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find the user you want to modify. Click on the user's display name to open their account properties flyout pane on the right side of the screen.

Manage Roles

In the flyout pane, go to the 'Account' tab. Locate the 'Roles' section and click on the 'Manage roles' link.

Assign the Role and Save

Select the 'Admin center access' option, then check the box next to 'Global Administrator'. Click the 'Save changes' button at the bottom to apply the new permissions.

Assign the Global Administrator Role via the Admin Center

Security Best Practice: Granting Global Admin access gives the user unlimited access to all management features. Microsoft recommends maintaining between two and four Global Administrators in your organization to prevent accidental lockouts while keeping the environment secure.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Choose WPS Office for Lightweight and Free Document Editing

If you are managing user licenses and find Microsoft 365 subscriptions costly for users who only need basic document editing, WPS Office provides a powerful, free alternative. It offers a highly compatible and familiar interface without the heavy administrative overhead.

1. Download the Installer: Click the download button to get the official, lightweight WPS Office installer for your operating system.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up the suite on your device.
3. Edit Office Documents: Launch WPS Office, open your existing Microsoft Office files, and start editing immediately without any subscription barriers.

Seamlessly opens, edits, and saves Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) without formatting loss.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly on older devices and minimizes system resource usage.Free to use with a familiar user interface, requiring zero learning curve for users switching from Microsoft Office.Requires no complex admin center management or role assignments for basic offline document editing.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I see the 'Manage roles' option in my Microsoft 365 Admin Center?

If you do not see the 'Manage roles' option, your current account does not have the necessary permissions (such as Global Administrator or Privileged Role Administrator) to assign administrative roles to other users.

Can I have more than one Global Administrator in my organization?

Yes, you can have multiple Global Administrators. In fact, Microsoft highly recommends having at least two to ensure you are not completely locked out if one account is compromised, loses its password, or faces multifactor authentication issues.

Will the new Global Administrator automatically have access to all user emails?

By default, Global Administrators do not have automatic read access to individual user mailboxes. However, because of their high-level privileges, they possess the ability to grant themselves or others full access to any user's mailbox through the Exchange admin center.

How long does it take for the newly assigned Global Administrator role to take effect?

Typically, role assignments take effect within a few minutes. However, in some cases, the user may need to sign out of all Microsoft 365 portals and sign back in for the new administrative permissions and admin center interface to properly load.

Document & File Issues