Last Updated on May 14, 2020 by Next Century
Windows 10 doesn’t make it easy or obvious to add a user with a local account, but all it really takes is looking for the fine print.
By default, the account you create when you first install or upgrade to Windows 10 uses your Microsoft account.
Microsoft wants you to do this so you can easily hook into all of Microsoft’s online services, such as the Windows Store and OneDrive. But if you would prefer to keep your account on the desktop, at least as much as possible or don’t want another member of your family interacting with Microsoft’s cloud, then creating a local account would be the better choice.
Follow these steps to create a local user account:
Click on Start
and type add user in to the Type here to search box, then select Add, edit, or remove other users
NOTE: If the Type here to search box is not visible, just start typing after you click on Start and it will appearClick on Add someone else to this PC
Click on I don’t have this person’s sign-in information
Click on Add a user without a Microsoft account
Type in the name of the account for the person in User Name
If you want to secure the account with a password, you will be prompted to complete some security questions
Then click Next to create the local account
As default, the new user account with be a standard user account type
Administrator Account – A user logged into an account with Administrator privileges can do pretty much anything on the computer. They can view every file on the system, change system-wide system settings, run all installed programs, add new programs, install new hardware and change the usernames and passwords of other users.
Standard Account – A Standard user account cannot change most system-wide settings, run software that the account hasn’t been given permission to use, install new software or hardware that affects the entire system or change the usernames and passwords of other users. Also, using a standard account will prevent most malware and other malicious programs and apps from making changes to your Windows system. And as you can imagine, that makes your system more secure.
If you want to change the Account Type for the new user, click on the user account and then click on Change account type
Then click on the dialog box to change between Standard User and Administrator, then click OK
Your new local account is now ready to use
While some of Microsoft’s cloud features are turned off by default with a local account, others are still active, including OneDrive, Wi-Fi Sense, and Cortana.
