This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable an account 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.
If you have an account on your PC that you want to make unavailable without deleting it, you can disable the account and enable the account again later when wanted.
When an account is disabled, it can no longer be signed in to until enabled again. The account's name will no longer appear on the sign-in screen or user menu on the Start menu until enabled again.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable an account.
- Option One: Enable or Disable Account using "net user" command
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Account in PowerShell
- Option Three: Enable or Disable Account in Local Users and Groups
1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter to see a list of all accounts Name and their current Enabled status (True or False). (see screenshot below)
powershell Get-LocalUser
3 Do step 4 (disable) or step 5 (enable) below for what you want.
Net user "<username>" /active:no
Net user "<username>" /active:no /domain
Substitute <username> in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") of the account from step 2 you want to disable.
For example: Net user "Brink2" /active:no
Net user "<username>" /active:yes
Net user "<username>" /active:yes /domain
Substitute <username> in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") of the account from step 2 you want to enable.
For example: Net user "Brink2" /active:yes
6 You can now close Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.
1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell.
2 Copy and paste the command below into PowerShell, and press Enter to see a list of all accounts Name and their current Enabled status (True or False). (see screenshot below)
Get-LocalUser
3 Do step 4 (disable) or step 5 (enable) below for what you want.
Disable-LocalUser -Name "<username>"
Substitute <username> in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") of the account from step 2 you want to disable.
For example: Disable-LocalUser -Name "Brink2"
Enable-LocalUser -Name "<username>"
Substitute <username> in the command above with the actual user name (ex: "Brink2") of the account from step 2 you want to enable.
For example: Enable-LocalUser -Name "Brink2"
6 You can now close Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.
Local Users and Groups is only available in the Windows 10/11 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 double click/tap on the account Name (ex: "Brink2") in the middle pane you want to enable or disable. (see screenshot below)
3 In the General tab, check (disable) or uncheck (enable) Account is disabled for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Local Users and Groups if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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