How to create local account on Windows 10

On Windows 10, you can create a local account on a computer to perform any task. However, unlike using a Microsoft account, your settings, preferences, and files will remain locally for a more secure and private experience.

You will typically see the local account type on organizations and less on home computers as a Microsoft account is the preferred type for its benefits and sync capabilities. However, it is still a good option to create additional accounts or when you want to share a device with other people.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to create a Windows 10 local account using the Settings app as well as with Command Prompt. In addition, this guide outlines the steps to set up an administrator account and the steps to delete an account from your device.

Create local account with Settings on Windows 10

Use the following steps to create a local account on Windows 10:

1. Open Settings on Windows 10.

2. Click on Accounts.

3. Click on Family & other users.

4. Under “Other users,” click the Add someone else to this PC button.

   

   Windows 10 create local account option

5. Click the I don’t have this person’s sign-in information option.

   

   I don’t have this person’s sign-in information option

6. Click the Add a user without a Microsoft account option.

   

   Add a user without a Microsoft account

7. Under the “Create an account for this PC” section, confirm the new local account information.

8. Create the security questions and answers to recover the account if the password is lost.

   

   User account details and security questions

9. Click the Next button.

Once you complete the steps, the new local account will be listed under “Other users.” The only caveat is that for security reasons, Windows 10 creates every new account with standard privileges that limits the usability of Windows 10. If you want the user to have more privileges to install the application and make system changes, you will need to change the account type to “administrator.”

Change local account with Settings on Windows 10

Use the following steps to change the account type from “standard” to “administrator”:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Accounts.

3. Click on Family & other people.

4. Under the “Other users” section, select the user account.

5. Click the Change account type button.

   

   Change account type on Windows 10 settings

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6. Use the “Account type” drop-down menu and select the Administrator option.

   

   Change local account type on Windows 10

7. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the account will have administrator privileges to install apps and make system changes. 

Delete local account with Settings on Windows 10

Use the following steps to delete a local Windows 10 account and files:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Accounts.

3. Click on Family & other people.

4. Under the “Other users” section, select the local account.

5. Click the Remove button.

   

   Windows 10 remove account option

6. Click the Delete account and data button to confirm the account deletion.

   

   Delete account and data on Windows 10

Once you complete the steps, the user account and data will be deleted from the Windows 10 installation.

Create local account with Command Prompt on Windows 10

If you are comfortable typing command lines, it is actually a lot faster to create a local account and modify its settings using Command Prompt.

Use the following steps to create a local account with Command Prompt:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to create a new account and press Enter:

   net user USER_NAME PASSWORD /add

   In the command, make sure to change USER_NAME and PASSWORD with the credentials you want to use for the new user account.

4. (Optional) Type the following command to add the newly created account to the “Administrators” group and press Enter:

   net localgroup administrators USER_ACCOUNT /add

   

   Create local account command

   In the command, make sure to replace USER_ACCOUNT with the account name you want to add to the administrators’ group.

If you want to test the new changes, sign-out, and you will notice the new user account sitting in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Then select the new user account and sign in.

It is also possible to create a local account using PowerShell, and here are the steps.

Change local account with Command Prompt on Windows 10

Use the following steps to change the account type from “standard” to “administrator”:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to add the newly created account to the Administrators group and press Enter:

   net localgroup administrators USER_ACCOUNT /add

   

   Change account type command

   In the command, make sure to replace USER_ACCOUNT with the account name you want to add to the administrators’ group.

Once you complete the steps, the profile will have administrative privileges, meaning that the users will be able to install apps, modify system settings, and unlimited access to the device.

Delete local account with Command Prompt on Windows 10

Use the following steps to delete a Windows 10 local account using Command Prompt:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to delete the Windows 10 account and press Enter:

   net user USER_ACCOUNT /del

   

   Delete account command

   In the command, make sure to change USER_ACCOUNT for the account name you want to delete.

After you complete the steps, the user account and files will be removed from the device.

Update March 31, 2020: This guide was originally published in October 2015, and it’s been updated to reflect the new changes.

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