Technical Tip: How to delete or rename the default 'admin' user

Description

This article describes how to delete or rename the default 'admin' user.

Scope

FortiGate.

Solution

To delete or rename the default admin account:

• Log in using the 'admin' account.
• Create a new admin user via System -> Administrators -> Create New ->Administrator.
• Fill in the needed fields.
• As Administrator Profile, choose 'super_admin'.
• Save.

• Log in using the new account and delete or rename the 'admin' user. A password cannot be changed on an account without knowing the old password. It is not possible to disable local admin users.

Renaming the default 'admin' account from the CLI console:

Make sure that the admin has another super_admin profile user to rename the FortiGate default 'admin' account.

Log in to FortiGate using another super_admin account, then follow the steps below to rename the default 'admin' account.

config system admin

rename admin to new_admin

end

Admin can verify by logging in using the 'new_admin' account.

For FortiGate devices managed by FortiManager, refer to this article: Technical Tip: Rename FortiGate(s) default admin user via FortiManager.