How to Create a New User Account on Windows
With or without a Microsoft account, and when a Standard account makes more sense than Administrator.
You want someone else to use your PC with their own account, separate from yours — advisable if you share the machine with more people at home.
- Settings → Accounts → "Family & other users".
- "Add account" (next to "Other users").
- With a Microsoft account: type their email. Without a Microsoft account: "I don't have this person's sign-in information" → "Add a user without a Microsoft account" (local account).
Local vs Microsoft account for the new account: just like with your own, a local account doesn't sync anything to the cloud but is simpler; a Microsoft account allows password recovery and settings sync. We cover this in more detail in difference between a local account and a Microsoft account.
Administrator or standard?
By default, the new account is "Standard" — it can use the machine normally but can't install programs or change system settings. To give it administrator permissions: click the account → "Change account type" → "Administrator".
Tip: leave the account as "Standard" unless the person needs to install programs themselves — it reduces the risk of accidental changes to system settings.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Microsoft account to create a new user?
No, Windows lets you create a local account with no email or Microsoft account needed, though the option is somewhat hidden behind 'I don't have this person's sign-in information'.
What's the difference between a Standard account and an Administrator one?
A Standard account can use the machine normally but can't install programs or change critical system settings. Administrator has full control, including changes that affect all accounts on the machine.
Are each account's files kept separate from each other?
Yes, each user account has its own personal folder (Documents, Desktop, etc.), separate from the other accounts on the same machine.