How to Create and Manage User Accounts in Windows 10
Authenticating on Windows 10 takes on two primary methods: a Microsoft Account or a Local Account. Each account can also be configured with different login credentials, privileges,and preferences. Windows 10 device may have multiple users with multiple levels of privileges. In a previous article, we showed you how to set up a Child Account which can be used to do things like manage screen time or restrict Windows Store purchases and web browsing activity.
Create Additional Local Accounts
You’ll create your first Windows 10 account when you first installed Windows 10.
If you want to add another local user account to your computer, you can do so by opening Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Family & other people. Under Other people, click Add someone else to this PC > I don't have this person's sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account.
In the resulting dialog, enter a username, password, confirm the password then create a password hint. Click Next button to complete the creation of the account.
How to Delete Local User Account
If at any time you would like to delete an account, open Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other people and select the user account then click Remove button.
Click Delete account and data.
How to Change User Account Privileges
Windows Vista and later versions of Windows operating systems, provides two main types of user accounts:
In Windows Vista and later versions of Windows operating systems, by default, standard user account are prohibited from installing most programs and drivers, changing system settings, and performing other administrative tasks.
By default, the first account you set up in Windows 10 is known as a Standard User Account. When you want to change the privilege of an user account, change it into an Administrator user account, open Family & other people in Settings. Select the account then click Change account type button.
Click on the Account type list box, choose your user account type then click OK button.
How to Change Your User Account Password
Updating your user account password is a healthy security practice every Windows 10 user should do from time to time.
Changing passwords can be performed by opening Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Under Password, click Change button.
Enter your current password. Click Next button.
Enter the new password, confirm it then create a password hint. Click Next button.
At the next screen click Finish Button.
If you want to change the password for another user account, open Start Menu > Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage another account. Click the user account, and click Change the password.
When you change the user account password click Change password button. If you want to reset the user account password, click Change password button, without entering new user account password.
Switching Between Microsoft and Local Accounts
A Microsoft account is what you use to access many Microsoft devices and services. It’s the account that you use to sign in to Skype, Outlook.com, OneDrive, Windows Phone, Windows 8 and later and Xbox LIVE – and it means your files, photos, contacts and settings can follow you to any device. There are many perks to signing in with a Microsoft account, due to privacy concerns, you can easily switch back and forth between a local account and a Microsoft account.
If you want to switch from a Microsoft Account to a Local Account. Open Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Your info then click Sign in with a local account instead.
Enter your current password then click Next button.
Choose a username, password, confirm it then create a password hint. Click Next button.
Click Sign out and finish button.
How to Switch from a Local Account to a Microsoft Account
Open Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Your info then click Sign in with a Microsoft account instead.
Enter your email address. If you don’t have one, you can use this opportunity to create one. Click Next button.
Enter your Microsoft Account password. This is the password used to sign into your Outlook.com or Hotmail.com account. Click Next button.
Enter the current local user account password. Click Next button. If you don't have a user account password, just leave the box blank and click Next button.
You can click Skip this step, if you don't have a Windows Hello device.
You should now be signed in to your Microsoft account.
Create Additional Local Accounts
You’ll create your first Windows 10 account when you first installed Windows 10.
If you want to add another local user account to your computer, you can do so by opening Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Family & other people. Under Other people, click Add someone else to this PC > I don't have this person's sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account.
In the resulting dialog, enter a username, password, confirm the password then create a password hint. Click Next button to complete the creation of the account.
How to Delete Local User Account
If at any time you would like to delete an account, open Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other people and select the user account then click Remove button.
Click Delete account and data.
How to Change User Account Privileges
Windows Vista and later versions of Windows operating systems, provides two main types of user accounts:
- Administrator user accounts for users who require full access to the computer
- Standard user accounts for those users who need to run applications but who should be limited or restricted in their administrative access to the computer
In Windows Vista and later versions of Windows operating systems, by default, standard user account are prohibited from installing most programs and drivers, changing system settings, and performing other administrative tasks.
By default, the first account you set up in Windows 10 is known as a Standard User Account. When you want to change the privilege of an user account, change it into an Administrator user account, open Family & other people in Settings. Select the account then click Change account type button.
Click on the Account type list box, choose your user account type then click OK button.
How to Change Your User Account Password
Updating your user account password is a healthy security practice every Windows 10 user should do from time to time.
Changing passwords can be performed by opening Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Under Password, click Change button.
Enter your current password. Click Next button.
Enter the new password, confirm it then create a password hint. Click Next button.
At the next screen click Finish Button.
If you want to change the password for another user account, open Start Menu > Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage another account. Click the user account, and click Change the password.
When you change the user account password click Change password button. If you want to reset the user account password, click Change password button, without entering new user account password.
Switching Between Microsoft and Local Accounts
A Microsoft account is what you use to access many Microsoft devices and services. It’s the account that you use to sign in to Skype, Outlook.com, OneDrive, Windows Phone, Windows 8 and later and Xbox LIVE – and it means your files, photos, contacts and settings can follow you to any device. There are many perks to signing in with a Microsoft account, due to privacy concerns, you can easily switch back and forth between a local account and a Microsoft account.
If you want to switch from a Microsoft Account to a Local Account. Open Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Your info then click Sign in with a local account instead.
Enter your current password then click Next button.
Choose a username, password, confirm it then create a password hint. Click Next button.
Click Sign out and finish button.
How to Switch from a Local Account to a Microsoft Account
Open Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Your info then click Sign in with a Microsoft account instead.
Enter your email address. If you don’t have one, you can use this opportunity to create one. Click Next button.
Enter your Microsoft Account password. This is the password used to sign into your Outlook.com or Hotmail.com account. Click Next button.
Enter the current local user account password. Click Next button. If you don't have a user account password, just leave the box blank and click Next button.
You can click Skip this step, if you don't have a Windows Hello device.
You should now be signed in to your Microsoft account.