To create a local user in Windows 10, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users (called Other users on some builds), choose Add someone else to this PC or Add account, and select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information. Then choose Add a user without a Microsoft account, enter the user name and password, and finish the wizard.
The resulting profile belongs to this computer rather than to a Microsoft cloud identity. It is normally a Standard account, which is the safer choice for everyday gaming and other work. You can grant administrator rights later if the person genuinely needs to install software or change system-wide settings.
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What a local account is in Windows 10
A local account is a Windows security identity whose rights and permissions apply to one device. Microsoft Learn describes local accounts as having rights and permissions “only on that device.” The account can sign in to Windows, have its own desktop and files, and run installed games according to the permissions assigned to it, but it does not automatically connect that profile to Microsoft cloud services.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11A Microsoft account is a cloud-connected identity that can support Microsoft-account recovery and synchronization features. A local account does not automatically provide those services. You can still use individual apps, game launchers, or online services with their own sign-ins after logging in to Windows locally.
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Local account versus Microsoft account
| Consideration | Local account | Microsoft account |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Rights and profile are tied to one Windows device. | Identity is connected to Microsoft’s online account system and can be used across supported services and devices. |
| Cloud synchronization | Not automatic. | Microsoft-account features may synchronize supported settings and data. |
| Privacy and separation | Useful when you want a separate Windows profile without adding another Microsoft email identity. | More closely connected to Microsoft services. |
| Administrator rights | Can be Standard or Administrator; the account type is controlled on the PC. | Can also be Standard or Administrator; account type and online identity are separate decisions. |
| Password recovery | There is no automatic Microsoft-account recovery for the local password. Use the recovery options available on that PC. | Microsoft-account recovery may be available through the account’s online recovery process. |
For a shared family computer, a guest profile, or a second gaming profile, a local Standard account limits changes to the account holder’s own environment while keeping the main administrator account separate.
Before you start
- Sign in to Windows with an account that has administrator rights. Windows may request administrator approval before it creates or changes another user.
- Decide whether the new person needs only ordinary access or must install programs and change settings for every user. Start with Standard access unless there is a clear reason to elevate it.
- Choose a password the user can retain securely. Prepare a password hint that helps the owner remember the password without revealing the password itself.
- Have the person’s preferred user name ready. Windows uses it for the sign-in tile and the profile folder, so avoid punctuation or wording that could be confusing later.
Create the account in Settings
- Open Settings. Select the Start button and then the Settings gear, or press
Windows+I. - Open Accounts. This section contains sign-in options and the list of users who can access the PC.
- Open the other-user page. Select Family & other users. Some Windows 10 builds label the same area Other users.
- Start adding a user. Under the add-user control, select Add someone else to this PC or Add account. The exact wording depends on the Windows 10 build.
- Decline the Microsoft-account sign-in prompt. When Windows asks for an email address or phone number, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
- Choose a local-account option. On the next screen, select Add a user without a Microsoft account. This is the key choice identified by Microsoft Support for creating a local account.
- Enter the credentials. Type the new user name, enter the password twice, and add a useful password hint. The hint is visible to someone attempting sign-in, so do not put the password or an obvious variation in it.
- Finish the wizard. Select Next. Windows adds the account to the user list and creates its profile the first time that person signs in.
If the wizard presents security questions or other recovery prompts, complete them accurately and keep the answers private. They are intended to help the account owner regain access, not to replace a strong password.
Sign in and check the new profile
- Save any open work in the current session and choose Start > your account picture > Sign out, or use Switch user if you want to keep the existing session open.
- At the Windows sign-in screen, select the new user name and enter its password.
- Allow Windows a few minutes to create the desktop, user folders, and first-run settings. A first sign-in can take longer than later sign-ins.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Your info and confirm that the profile is using a local sign-in. Check the user name and test the applications or games that the person needs.
Installed programs are generally available to all users when they were installed for the whole computer, while per-user apps and saved settings may belong only to the account that created them. A new local profile therefore may not contain another user’s desktop shortcuts, game configuration files, or local save data.
Keep the account Standard or make it an Administrator
Windows normally creates the new local user as a Standard user. Standard access is appropriate for ordinary play, web browsing, schoolwork, and most applications. It reduces the chance that an accidental installer or settings change affects every profile on the PC.
An Administrator can manage local users and permissions, install software for the system, and change system-wide settings. Give that level deliberately rather than as a convenience.
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Change the account type through Settings
- Sign in to an existing administrator account.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users (or Other users).
- Select the local user, choose Change account type, and select Administrator or Standard User.
- Select OK, then have the user sign out and sign back in so the new permissions are applied.
Do not remove the only administrator account while testing. Keep at least one administrator profile whose password is known and stored securely.
Create local users from an elevated command line
Administrators who need repeatable setup can use the documented NET.EXE USER and NET.EXE LOCALGROUP commands or the Microsoft.PowerShell.LocalAccounts module. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell with Run as administrator. These methods are useful for scripted deployment or for creating several accounts, but they are less forgiving than the Settings wizard.
Command Prompt with NET.EXE
To create a user and have Windows prompt for the password instead of exposing it in command history, run:
net user "PlayerTwo" * /addType the password when prompted. To display the account’s basic status, run:
net user "PlayerTwo"The new account is normally Standard. If administrator rights are required, add the user to the local Administrators group:
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net localgroup Administrators "PlayerTwo" /addTo return the account to Standard-level membership, remove it from that group:
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net localgroup Administrators "PlayerTwo" /deleteUse quotation marks when a user name contains spaces. Avoid placing a real password directly in a command, batch file, or screenshot.
PowerShell
In an elevated PowerShell window, create a secure password prompt and a local user with:
$Password = Read-Host "Password" -AsSecureString
New-LocalUser -Name "PlayerTwo" -Password $Password -Description "Second local gaming profile"To grant administrator membership when necessary, run:
Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators" -Member "PlayerTwo"To inspect the account and its group membership, use:
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Get-LocalUser -Name "PlayerTwo"
Get-LocalGroupMember -Group "Administrators"PowerShell commands should be run by an administrator, and the account name must match the name that was created. If a command reports that the user or group cannot be found, check spelling and whether the shell was opened with elevated rights.
Settings or command line?
| Method | Ease of use | Privileges | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings wizard | Guided and easiest to verify visually. | Administrator approval may be required. | One-off account creation and household PCs. |
| NET.EXE | Fast, but syntax and quoting matter. | Elevated Command Prompt for administration. | Legacy scripts and quick administrative tasks. |
| PowerShell LocalAccounts | More expressive and scriptable. | Elevated PowerShell for account and group changes. | Repeatable setup and managed PCs. |
Switch an existing Windows sign-in to a local account
Windows also supports changing an existing Microsoft-connected Windows sign-in to a local one. In the account’s settings, look for the option to sign in with a local account instead, then follow the verification and username/password prompts. Save open work first: Windows signs out when the change completes. This changes the Windows sign-in identity; it does not delete the Microsoft account itself or cancel separate online services.
If the option is absent, the device may be managed by an organization, the current account may not have the required permissions, or the Windows build may present the control under a different account-settings page. Creating a separate local user through Family & other users is the least disruptive alternative.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common problems
“Add a user without a Microsoft account” is missing
- Confirm that you selected I don’t have this person’s sign-in information first. The local-account link appears on the following screen.
- Look for the alternate labels Add account, Add someone else to this PC, or Other users.
- Check that you are in the Windows Settings app, not an app-specific account page.
- If the PC is organization-managed, policy may restrict adding users. Ask the administrator rather than attempting to bypass the policy.
The new user cannot install a game or driver
That behavior is expected for a Standard account when installation requires system-wide changes. An administrator can approve the installation through User Account Control, temporarily change the account type, or install the software for all users. Do not make the account Administrator permanently unless that access is needed.
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The new profile cannot see another user’s saves
Local profiles have separate user folders and settings. A game may store saves per Windows user, in a shared location, or through its own online account. Sign in to the game’s supported account, use its export or cloud-sync feature where available, or copy files only when the game’s documentation identifies the correct save location. Do not overwrite the original profile before making a backup.
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Windows rejects the chosen user name or password
Try a simpler user name without punctuation, confirm that both password entries match, and avoid using a password hint that contains unsupported characters. If the account already exists, choose a different name or manage the existing account instead of creating a duplicate.
The account does not appear at sign-in
Use Switch user or sign out completely, then check the account list again. If it is still absent, return to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users and verify that the account was created. A command-line account can also be checked with net user or Get-LocalUser.
Password recovery and security limits
Record the local password in a secure password manager or another protected method. The hint should be a reminder, not a disclosure. A local account does not automatically inherit Microsoft-account recovery.
If the password is forgotten, use the reset or recovery choices Windows presents for that account, such as a previously configured recovery method or another administrator account on the PC. Microsoft states that when those options do not work, support cannot retrieve or circumvent a lost or forgotten local-account password. That limitation is intentional: anyone with physical access should not be able to ask support to bypass the account’s protection.
Keep recovery information current, maintain a separate administrator account for maintenance, and back up important game saves independently of the Windows profile. A local account protects access to the device, but it is not a substitute for backups or for the security controls of a game’s online account.
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