How to Create a New User on Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

If you’re sharing a PC with family members, setting up a work laptop, or just want a clean profile for yourself, you’ll need to create a new user on Windows 11. You can do this through the Settings app with either a Microsoft account or a local account. The exact screens and labels can vary slightly between Windows 11 versions, but the overall process stays the same.

Quick steps

1. Open Settings and go to Accounts.
2. Look for the option to add another user. Depending on your version of Windows 11, this may appear under a page called Family & other users, or as separate Family and Other users pages.
3. Choose the option to add an account.
4. Enter the person’s email address to set up a Microsoft account, or choose the link for someone without sign-in information if you want to create a local account instead.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to set a name and, for local accounts, a password.

Before you start

A few things to check before you dive in:

• In general, adding or changing user accounts on a Windows 11 PC requires signing in with an account that has administrator permissions.
• A Microsoft account gives the new user access to services such as OneDrive and the Microsoft Store, along with the ability to sync settings across devices. A local account stays on that one PC and doesn’t need an internet connection to sign in.
• If the PC is managed by a workplace or school, for example through Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), some account options may be restricted or handled centrally by an IT administrator instead of through the Settings app.
• You’ll usually be able to choose whether the new account is a standard user or an administrator. A standard account is the safer default for everyday use.

Create a new user with a Microsoft account

This is the most common method and works well if the new user wants their own email, Store apps, and settings that follow them across devices.

1. Select Start, then open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts, then find the option for adding another user on this PC.
3. Choose to add an account, then enter the Microsoft account email address the person will use to sign in.
4. Follow the on-screen steps to finish setting up the account. Once it’s added, the new user will be able to sign in with that Microsoft account and its password.

By default, a new account added this way is typically set up as a standard user. If you need to make it an administrator, return to the accounts area in Settings, select the account, and look for an option to change the account type to administrator.

Create a local account on Windows 11 (no Microsoft account needed)

Use this method if you want an account that doesn’t need an email address or an internet connection to sign in. This can be useful for a kiosk PC, a child’s account, or anyone who just wants a simple local profile.

1. Open Settings, then go to Accounts and find the option for adding another user.
2. Choose to add an account.
3. On the sign-in screen, look for an option indicating you don’t have this person’s sign-in information, which leads to the option to add a user without a Microsoft account.
4. Enter a username for the new account. You can also set a password to help protect the account.
5. Follow the remaining prompts to finish creating the local account.

Once it’s created, you can usually set the account type (standard or administrator) from the same accounts area in Settings.

Add a user account using Command Prompt or PowerShell

Windows 11 also includes command-line tools that more advanced users can use to create local accounts without opening the Settings app. If you’re comfortable working in Command Prompt or PowerShell, it’s worth checking Microsoft’s current documentation for the exact commands and syntax that apply to your version of Windows 11 before you run anything, since command options and behavior can change between releases.

Set up a new user for a work or school PC

If the PC is joined to a work or school network, for example through Microsoft Entra ID, adding users often works differently than on a personal device. In many of these environments, accounts are created and managed centrally by an IT administrator rather than through the local accounts settings on the device itself. If you’re on a managed PC and don’t see an option to add a user, or the option appears greyed out, check with your IT department rather than trying to force it through Settings.

If it doesn’t work

The option to add a user is missing or greyed out

This usually means the PC is managed by an organization, or you’re not signed in with an account that has administrator rights. Try signing in with an administrator account, or check with your workplace IT team if the device is company managed.

You can’t remember if you added a local account or a Microsoft account

Go to the accounts area in Settings and select the account. If it shows an email address, it’s a Microsoft account. If it only shows a username with no email, it’s local.

The new user can’t sign in after setup

Double-check that the username and password were typed correctly when you created the account. For Microsoft accounts, make sure the device has an internet connection the first time that user signs in, since it needs to verify the account.

You want to switch an existing account between local and Microsoft

You can usually convert an account in either direction from the account settings, but this generally needs to be done while signed in as that specific user, not from a separate administrator account that’s managing other users.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be an administrator to add a new user on Windows 11?

In general, yes. Adding, removing, or changing the type of other user accounts on a Windows 11 PC typically requires administrator permissions on that device.

What’s the difference between a local account and a Microsoft account?

A local account only works on that specific PC and doesn’t require internet access to sign in. A Microsoft account ties the user’s settings and services to their Microsoft identity, so some of that information can follow them to other devices they sign into.

Can I create more than one new user account on the same PC?

Yes, Windows 11 supports multiple user accounts on a single PC, and each one gets its own desktop, files, and settings. Practical limits come down to things like available storage rather than a fixed number of accounts.

How do I make a new user an administrator?

After creating the account, go to the accounts area in Settings, select the account, and look for an option to change the account type to administrator.

Can I add a new user without connecting to the internet?

Yes, as long as you choose the local account option instead of signing in with a Microsoft account email address. A local account doesn’t need an internet connection to be created or to sign in.

Related guides

• How To Stop Teams Loading Up After Logging In
• How to Disable OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11
• How to Remove OneDrive from Your PC
• How to Activate OneDrive AutoSave

Sources

• Windows Documentation
• Windows client documentation
• Windows Terminal installation
• Getting Started with PowerShell