Standard accounts versus administrator accounts

Administrator accounts provide the most control over a PC. You probably created this type of account when you first started using your PC, whether you sign in with a Microsoft account (an email address and password) or a local account (a user name and password.

But if you set up accounts for other people on your PC, you might want to make them standard accounts instead of administrator accounts. A standard account can help prevent people from making critical changes, such as deleting files that are required for the PC to work. You can create a standard account for each person who uses your PC.

Someone signed in with a standard account can do almost anything that you can do with an administrator account. But if you want to do something that affects other people using the PC, such as installing software or changing security settings, you might be asked to enter a password for an administrator account. For more info about account types and creating new accounts, see Create a user account.

If you're signed in as an administrator, you can make changes to other people's accounts on your PC.

To edit account types on your PC

You must be signed in as an administrator to follow these steps.

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
    (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

  2. Tap or click Accounts, and then tap or click Other accounts. (If your account is the only one on the PC, you won't see the Other accounts option.)

    All the accounts on your PC are listed:

    • Administrator accounts are labeled.

    • Microsoft accounts display the person's email address.

    • Local accounts are labeled.

    • Tap or click the account you want to change, and then tap or click Edit. Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

  3. Tap or click the Account type box, choose an account type, and then tap or click OK.

To remove accounts from your PC

You must be signed in as an administrator to follow these steps.

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
    (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

  2. Tap or click Accounts, and then tap or click Other accounts. (If your account is the only one on the PC, you won't see the Other accounts option.)

  3. Tap or click the account you want to delete, and then tap or click Remove. Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

  4. Tap or click Delete account and data.

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