Accounts Add Local User Account in Windows 11


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Accounts_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to create and add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11.

Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and desktop settings.

You can add a local user account (an offline account) or Microsoft account for a user to sign in to the PC with.

Signing in to PCs with a Microsoft account lets you:
  • Download apps from the Microsoft Store.
  • Get your online content in Microsoft apps automatically.
  • Sync settings online to make PCs look and feel the same - like your browser history, account picture, and color.
Signing in with a local account means:
  • You have to create a user name and account for each PC you use.
  • While not recommended, you can remove the account password if you like.
  • You'll need to sign in to the Microsoft Store with a Microsoft account to download apps from the Microsoft Store.
  • Your settings won't be synced across the PCs that you use.
When you create a new account, it will be a standard user by default. You can change the account type to be an administrator if wanted.

Reference:


You must be signed in as an administrator to add an account.

The profile folder (ex: "C:\Users\<username>") will only be created for an added account the first time you sign in to it.

The first time a user signs in to a new account, they will need to choose their privacy settings.

Privacy_Settings.png



Contents





Option One

Add a Local Account in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Accounts on the left side, and click/tap on Other Users on the right side under "Account settings". (see screenshot below)


Add_local_account_settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on the Add account button for Add other user on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_settings-2.png

4 Click/tap on the I don't have this person's sign-in information link. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_settings-3.png

5 Click/tap on the Add a user without a Microsoft account link. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_settings-4.png

6 Type a user name you want for this local account. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_settings-5.png

7 Type a password you want for this local account. (see screenshot below)

If you do not want a password for this local account, then leave the password fields empty, and go to step 9 instead.


Add_local_account_settings-6.png

8 Select your security questions in the drop menu, and enter your answers for them. (see screenshot below)

Security questions allow you to be able to reset your password on the sign-in screen if needed.


Add_local_account_settings-7.png

9 Click/tap on Next when finished. (see screenshot above)

10 The local account has now been added. You can close Settings if you like. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_settings-8.png

11 This new local account will be a standard user account type by default. If you like, you can change the account type of this user to be an administrator instead.




Option Two

Add a Local Account in netplwiz


1 Open netplwiz.exe.

2 In the Users tab, check the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box if available. (see screenshot below)

If you turned on For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device, then the Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer setting will not be available.


Add_local_account_netplwiz-1A.png

3 Click/tap on the Add button. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_netplwiz-1.png

4 Click/tap on the Sign in without a Microsoft account link. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_netplwiz-2.png

5 Click/tap on the Local account button. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_netplwiz-3.png

6 Type a user name, password, and password hint you want for the local account, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshots below)

If you do not want a password for this local account, then leave the password and password hint fields empty.


Add_local_account_netplwiz-4.png
Add_local_account_netplwiz-5.png

7 Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_netplwiz-6.png

8 The local account has now been added. Click/tap on OK to close netplwiz. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_netplwiz-7.png

9 This new local account will be a standard user account type by default. If you like, you can change the account type of this user to be an administrator instead.




Option Three

Add a Local Account in Local Users and Groups


This option is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.


1 Open Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc).

2 Click/tap on the Users folder in the left pane to open it, and click/tap on More Actions and New User in the right pane. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_lusrmgr-1.png

3 Perform the following steps: (see screenshot below)
  1. Type a User name.
  2. Type a Password.
  3. Type password again to Confirm password.
  4. Check or uncheck the options you want.
  5. Click/tap on Create.
Add_local_account_lusrmgr-2.png

4 Click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_lusrmgr-3.png

5 The local account has now been added. You can close Local Users and Groups if you like. (see screenshot below)

Add_local_account_lusrmgr-4.png

6 This new local account will be a standard user account type by default. If you like, you can change the account type of this user to be an administrator instead.




Option Four

Add a Local Account using Command


1 Open an Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Do step 3 (without password) or step 4 (with password) below depending on if you want to add a local account with or without a password.


3 To Add Local Account without Password

A) Type the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

net user "UserName" /add

Substitute UserName in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") you want for the new local account.

For example: net user "Brink2" /add


Add_local_account_command-1.png


4 To Add Local Account with Password

A) Type the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

net user "UserName" "Password" /add

Substitute UserName in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") you want for the new local account.

Substitute Password in the command above with the actual password (ex: "MyPassword") you want for the new local account.

For example: net user "Brink2" "MyPassword" /add



Add_local_account_command-2.png


5 You can now close the Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.

6 This new local account will be a standard user account type by default. If you like, you can change the account type of this user to be an administrator instead.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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Hi Shawn, great as usual. Sure the Local account creation is supported on Windows 11 Home? I was reading Kari's post somewhere else - he said that he could not create a local account. Maybe it was for OOBE?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 5590
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 1021U
Hi Shawn, great as usual. Sure the Local account creation is supported on Windows 11 Home? I was reading Kari's post somewhere else - he said that he could not create a local account. Maybe it was for OOBE?

Hello Sumit, :-)

Oh yes, you can still add a local account in Windows 11 the same as Windows 10.

It may have been an issue to set up a local account during the installation of Windows 11, but that has been worked out now as well.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Hello Sumit, :)

Oh yes, you can still add a local account in Windows 11 the same as Windows 10.

It may have been an issue to set up a local account during the installation of Windows 11, but that has been worked out now as well.
Great, thank you for the response, learning everyday :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 5590
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 1021U
Brink,

I just noticed that you have not produced an equivalent of the additional tutorial you wrote for Windows 10
Change to Admin account type - TenForumsTutorials
If you are not committed to writing one yet, you might consider just adding the procedure as a few additional steps here & in your MSAccount tutorial.

All the best,
Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
Brink,

I just noticed that you have not produced an equivalent of the additional tutorial you wrote for Windows 10
Change to Admin account type - TenForumsTutorials
If you are not committed to writing one yet, you might consider just adding the procedure as a few additional steps here & in your MSAccount tutorial.

All the best,
Denis

Hello Denis, :)

It's on the list to get done, but there's so many to do. I've added it to this tutorial for now since it's basically the same steps.

EDIT: Done

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Spiffing.

Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296

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