--- title: "Adding a Windows 10 Local Account : Step by Step Guide" description: "Learn how to add Windows 10 local account via just about any way possible in this step-by-step tutorial covering both GUI and command-line methods." canonical: "https://adamtheautomator.com/add-windows-10-local-account/" --- # Adding a Windows 10 Local Account : Step by Step Guide > Learn how to add Windows 10 local account via just about any way possible in this step-by-step tutorial covering both GUI and command-line methods. Source: https://adamtheautomator.com/add-windows-10-local-account/ --- ATA Learning Tap to hide [ ATA Learning ](/) * [Home](/) * [Tutorials](/tutorials/) * [Instructors](/author/) * [Advertising](/advertising/) * [Recommended Resources](/resources/) * [About Adam](/about-adam/) Search for: * [](https://twitter.com/adbertram) * [](https://github.com/Adam-the-Automator) * [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/adam-the-automator-llc) * [](/feed/) ![Adding a Windows 10 Local Account : Step by Step Guide](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Step-by-Step-How-to-Add-a-Local-Windows-10-Account.jpg) # Adding a Windows 10 Local Account : Step by Step Guide [![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c14b031fe4a12b0e3f4d1e112e37261df83921ddc370cdafbad2a614e36f0cf4?s=192&d=mm&r=g)Chaitanya](https://adamtheautomator.com/author/chaitanya-g/)8 July 20215 min. read Categories: [IT Ops](/category/it-ops/) Tags:[Windows 10](/tag/windows-10/) Table of Contents * [Prerequisites](#h-prerequisites) * [Creating Windows 10 Local Account User While Installing Windows 10](#h-creating-a-local-user-while-installing-windows-10) * [Creating a Local User Account From the Settings App](#h-creating-a-local-user-account-from-the-settings-app) * [Creating a Local User Account with Computer Management](#h-creating-a-local-user-account-with-computer-management) * [Creating Local User Account with the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel](#h-creating-local-user-account-with-the-advanced-user-accounts-control-panel) * [Creating a Local User Account with the Net User Command](#h-creating-a-local-user-account-with-the-net-user-command) * [Creating a Local User Account with PowerShell](#h-creating-a-local-user-account-with-powershell) * [Conclusion](#h-conclusion) Did you know you can add a Windows 10 local account and log in to the PC without using a Microsoft account or an email address? If you’re looking for a way to do it, then this tutorial is for you. With Windows 10, you have the option of creating a local user or using your existing Microsoft account to log in to the PC. Let’s look at different options in creating a local user account. In this tutorial, you will learn all the different ways to create a local user account on Windows 10. Let’s jump right in. ## Prerequisites * Windows 10 PC with administrator account. This tutorial will use Windows 10 21H1 Enterprise version. ## Creating Windows 10 Local Account User While Installing Windows 10 One of the first ways you’ll find to create a local user account in Windows 10 is via Windows Setup. Once installation is complete, you’ll be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account. Even though it seems you must use a Microsoft account, you can create a local account instead. The option to do so is just hidden. 1. When prompted to login with a Microsoft account, click **Domain join instead** option in **Sign in with Microsoft work or school account** step. ![Displaying Domain Join option](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-76.png) Displaying Domain Join option 2\. Enter a username for the local user account and click **Next**. ![Displaying user name column](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-77.png) Displaying user name column 3\. Type a password and confirm the password in the next step. Click **Next**. ![Displaying password column](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-78.png) Displaying password column 4\. Provide answers to the security questions and click **Next.** > _When you forget your login password, you will be prompted to enter answers for all these three questions to reset your password._ ![Answering Security Questions](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-80.png) Answering Security Questions 5\. Accept the defaults through the next few steps. Once complete, you will be logged in with your local account. ## Creating a Local User Account From the Settings App Now that you’ve learned how to create a local user account at the time of OS installation, let’s now dig into creating a local user account post-installation. 1\. Access the Windows settings by right-clicking on the start menu, then select **Settings**. ![Settings option on start menu, right click](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-81.png) Settings option on start menu, right click 2\. Get access to Account settings by clicking on **Accounts** in the **Windows Settings** box. ![Selecting Accounts option](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-82.png) Selecting Accounts option 3\. To add a local account, click on **Family & other users** option at the left panel. Click **Add someone else to this PC** option to the right and Microsoft’s sign-in screen will appear. ![Selecting Add someone else to this PC option](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-83.png) Selecting Add someone else to this PC option 4\. In the sign-in window below, an email address is not needed. Since you’re creating a local account, click on **I don’t have this person’s sign-in information** and click **Next**. ![Microsoft sign in screen](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-84.png) Microsoft sign-in screen 5\. Next click on **Add a user without a Microsoft account** option. ![Displaying Add a user without a Microsoft account option](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-85.png) Displaying Add a user without a Microsoft account option 6\. Enter a username and password. The moment you start typing, password security questions will be displayed automatically. Once they do, select each security question and provide your answers and click **Next** when complete. ![Filling the local user details](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-86.png) Filling the local user account details 7\. Finally, log off from your PC and log in with the new user account! ![windows 10 Local account user account creation complete](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-87.png) windows 10 Local account user account creation complete ## Creating a Local User Account with Computer Management Up to this point, you’ve seen how to create a local user account in Windows 10 post-installation and via the Settings app. Let’s continue on the journey and now dig into creating a local user account via the Computer Management console. 1\. Right-click on start menu, and click **File Explorer** option. ![File Explorer option on start menu, right click](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-88.png) File Explorer option on start menu, right click 2\. Right-click on **This PC** and click **manage**. This will open **computer management** console. ![Displaying manage option ](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-89.png) Displaying manage option > _Need another way of opening the computer management console? Open run dialog box and enter compmgmt.msc. This will open computer management console._ 3\. In the Computer Management console, expand **Local Users and Groups** tab. Then right-click on the **Users** node and click **New User** to create an account under Users account type. ![Creating New user... ](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-90.png) Creating New user… > _Optionally open the Local Users and Groups console but running lusrmgr.msc._ 4\. In the new user dialog box, provide the **User name**, an optional **Full name,** and **Password**. When complete, click **Create** and then **Close.** ![Filling the local user details](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-91.png) Filling the local user details You’ll now notice that the local user account is added under the Users account type folder, in the **Local Users and Groups** section, as shown below. Now you have an active local account that is just like a Microsoft account in in Windows. ![Verifying local user account creation in computer management console](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-92.png) Verifying local user account creation in computer management console ## Creating Local User Account with the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel To finish off this tutorial’s whirlwind tour of creating local Windows 10 user accounts, let’s go through creating a local user account with the Advanced User Accounts Control Panel, sometimes referred to as netplwiz. 1\. Click on the Start menu, type **netplwiz**, and run it. 2\. In the **User Accounts** console, click **Add** you’ll be taken to the Microsoft account sign-in page. ![netplwiz console](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-93.png) netplwiz console 3\. On the Microsoft account sign-in page, click on **Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended)** option and click **Next**. ![Displaying Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended) option](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-94.png) Displaying _Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended)_ option 4\. On the **Add a user** page, click the **Local account** option. ![Displaying Local account option](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-95.png) Displaying Local account option 5\. Provide a **User name**, **Password** and a **Password hint** for use when resetting the password. ![Filling the local user details](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-96.png) Filling the local user details 6\. Click **Finish** on the final confirmation page. ![Local user account creation finish page](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-97.png) Local user account creation finish page When complete, you’ll then see a new user account displayed in the **User Accounts** dialog box shown below. ![Local user account creation confirmation.](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-98.png) Local user account creation confirmation. ## Creating a Local User Account with the Net User Command If creating a Windows 10 local user account via the GUI isn’t your thing, or you’re working on some automation scripts, the command line is your friend. Let’s now jump into creating local user accounts via _cmd.exe._ Open a [command prompt as administrator](https://www.howtogeek.com/194041/how-to-open-the-command-prompt-as-administrator-in-windows-8.1/) and run the below command. This command creates a new local user (`/add`) called `LocalUser4` with a password of `MyPassword!` > _This command will not enable any of the options like user must change password at next logon, user cannot change password, password never expires and account is disabled._ ```bash net user LocalUser4 MyPassword! /add ``` ![net user command output](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-99.png) net user command output ## Creating a Local User Account with PowerShell Continuing on with the list of ways to create a local Windows 10 user account, next up is PowerShell! Open [PowerShell](https://adamtheautomator.com/powershell-run-as-administrator/) console as administrator. Related:[How to Run PowerShell as Administrator](https://adamtheautomator.com/powershell-run-as-administrator/) Next, run the [`New-LocalUser`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.localaccounts/new-localuser?view=powershell-5.1) cmdlet, as shown below. The `New-LocalUser` cmdlet has a `Password` parameter but you cannot specify a simple string. To pass a password to the `Password` parameter, you must first convert your password into a secure string or encrypted string using the [`ConvertTo-SecureString` cmdlet](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/convertto-securestring?view=powershell-7.1). The below command first encrypts the password of `MyComplexPassword!`. Then using the `$password` variable sets the password for a user account called `LocalUser6`. ```powershell $password = ConvertTo-SecureString -String MyComplexPassword! -AsPlainText -Force New-LocalUser -Name LocalUser6 -FullName LocalUser6 -Password $password ``` ![New-LocalUser cmdlet output](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Untitled-100.png) New-LocalUser cmdlet output > _The `New-LocalUser` cmdlet also supports other parameters like `PasswordNeverExpires` or `AccountNeverExpires`._ ## Conclusion You’ve seen a lot of different ways to create Windows 10 local accounts. Although the GUI options have more steps than the command-line, some prefer the graphical interface walking you through the steps vs. the command line options when automating the process, perhaps. With what you’ve learned in this tutorial, which option would you choose to create user accounts, GUI way or command line? Let us know in the comments. 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