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How to Add a Guest Account Windows 10

  • You can create a guest account on your Windows 10 computer by using the Command Prompt feature.
  • Windows 10's Command Prompt program allows you to move accounts into the "Guests" list, which prevents guests from changing any administrative info on your computer.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Most versions of Windows in the past allowed you to make "guest accounts." These accounts would let whoever used them open files and programs, but not change any of the computer's settings or preferences.

Unlike its predecessors, Windows 10 doesn't allow you to create a guest account normally. You can still add accounts for local users, but those local accounts won't stop guests from changing your computer's settings.

However, there's a way to bypass this: you can use the Command Prompt to create a guest account manually.

The Command Prompt lets you manipulate Windows' code to create a new account, remove it from your list of Users, and add it to your list of Guests, essentially creating a guest account.

Here's how to do it.

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How to create a guest account on a Windows 10 PC using Command Prompt

For the purposes of this guide, our guest account will be called "Friend," since even with this method, Windows 10 won't let you create a user account called "Guest."

But other than that, you can choose just about any name you want for the guest account.

1. While signed into your administrative account, click on the Start button and search for "Command Prompt."

2. Right-click on the Command Prompt app when it appears in the search results and click on "Run as administrator," and then click "Yes" in the pop-up window.

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

3. The Command Prompt will then open on your computer screen. It appears as a large black box partially filled with code. Type the following code, exactly as it is (with "Friend" being replaced by the name you want to use for your new guest account), then press Enter:

net user Friend /add /active:yes

Add your guest user to the system.
Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

4. The next step is to create a password for the guest account. Since it's meant to be for guests using your computer, there's no need for an actual password. To bypass the password creation, type the following code and then press Enter twice:

net user Friend *

Guest accounts work best without a password.
Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

5. Your next step is to remove your guest account from the "Users" list and add it to the "Guests" list. To remove the account from "Users," type the following code and press Enter:

net localgroup users Friend /delete

6. Next, add your guest account to "Guests" by typing the following code and pressing Enter:

net localgroup guests Friend /add

This will designate your new account as a "Guest."
Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

At this point, you can close the Command Prompt window.

To test if you were successful, sign out of your Windows account. Your new guest account should appear alongside your user account on the Windows sign-in screen.

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  • How to add websites to your favorites bar on a Windows 10 PC's Microsoft Edge browser

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  • How to copy your screen on a Windows computer in 2 ways, to take a full or partial screenshot

Chrissy Montelli is a writer and content creator originally from Long Island, NY. She is the author of two poetry chapbooks, Heart Float (Bottlecap Press) and Going to Ithaca (Ghost City Press), as well as various online publications. Read more from her at chrissymontelli.wordpress.com.

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How to Add a Guest Account Windows 10

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-create-a-guest-account-on-windows-10