Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10

You can create a local user account (an offline account) for anyone who will frequently use your PC. The best option in most cases, though, is for everyone who uses your PC to have a Microsoft account.

If needed, the local user account can have administrator permissions; however, it’s better to just create a local user account whenever possible.

Caution: A user with an administrator account can access anything on the system, and any malware they encounter can use the administrator permissions to potentially infect or damage any files on the system. Only grant that level of access when absolutely necessary and to people you trust.

As you create an account, remember that choosing a password and keeping it safe are essential steps. Because we don’t know your password, if you forget it or lose it, we can’t recover it for you.

If you’re using Windows 10, version 1803 and later, you can add security questions as you’ll see in step 4 under Create a local user account. With answers to your security questions, you can reset your Windows 10 local account password. Not sure which version you have? You can check your version.

Create a local user account

Select Start > Settings > Accounts and then select Family & other users. (In some versions of Windows you’ll see Other users.)

Select Add someone else to this PC.

Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information, and on the next page, select Add a user without a Microsoft account.

Enter a user name, password, or password hint—or choose security questions—and then select Next.

Change a local user account to an administrator account

Select Start > Settings > Accounts .

Under Family & other users, select the account owner name (you should see «Local Account» below the name), then select Change account type.

Note: If you choose an account that shows an email address or doesn’t say «Local account», then you’re giving administrator permissions to a Microsoft account, not a local account.

Under Account type, select Administrator, and then select OK.

Sign in with the new administrator account.

Sign in, sign up, sign out and add a new account

To sign up for Teams for your personal life, all you need is a Microsoft account. If you are using Skype, OneDrive, Outlook.com, or Xbox Live, then you already have one. If not, it’s easy to create a new Microsoft account.

If you have any issues signing up for Teams, please go to our guide to Troubleshoot problems signing up or signing in to Teams.

Open the Teams app.

Enter your email address or phone number and select Sign in.

Note: If you don’t have a phone number associated with your Microsoft account already, you will be asked to enter one. Learn more about why you’re being asked for your phone number.

Enter your password or verification code and select Sign in again.

Note: You may be prompted to add a password if you didn’t set one up previously.

Open the Teams app.

Tap Sign up for free.

Follow the instructions to create your personal Microsoft account.

Open the Teams app.

Tap your profile picture or the More icon.

Tap Add account. From here you can add a work account or school account. Just enter your sign in information and follow the instructions.

Open the Teams app.

Tap your profile picture or the More icon.

Tap Add account. From here you can add a personal account. Just enter your sign in information and follow the instructions.

Open the Teams app.

Tap your profile picture or the More icon.

Under Accounts and Orgs, select the account you would like to switch to.

Open the Teams app.

Tap your profile picture or the More icon.

Under Accounts and Orgs, Tap on your personal account.

Tap the Settings icon.

Tap Sign out , then tap Sign out again to confirm.

Note: If you’ve added a work or school account, you will still be signed in there.

Note: Teams for your personal life on desktop is rolling out gradually over the coming weeks. If you don’t have it yet, you can still use your personal account in Teams on the web.

Open the Teams app.

Click Get started.

Enter your email address or phone number and select Next.

Note: If you don’t have a phone number associated with your Microsoft account already, you will be asked to enter one. Learn more about why you’re being asked for your phone number.

Enter your password or verification code and select Sign in.

Note: You may be prompted to add a password if you didn’t set one up previously.

Open the Teams app.

Click Get started.

Click No account? Create one!.

Follow the instructions to create your personal Microsoft account.

Open the Teams app.

Click your profile picture.

Click Accounts & orgs, then click Add account. From here you can add a work account or school account. Just enter your sign in information and follow the instructions.

Open the Teams app.

Click your profile picture.

Click Accounts & orgs, then click Add account. From here you can add a personal account. Just enter your sign in information and follow the instructions.

Open the Teams app.

Click your profile picture.

Click Accounts & orgs, then select the account you would like to switch to.

Open the Teams app.

Click your profile picture.

Note: If you’ve added a work or school account, you will still be signed in there.

Enter your email address or phone number and select Next.

Note: If you don’t have a phone number associated with your Microsoft account already, you will be asked to enter one. Learn more about why you’re being asked for your phone number.

Enter your password or verification code and select Sign in.

Note: You may be prompted to add a password if you didn’t set one up previously.

Click No account? Create one!.

Follow the instructions to create your personal Microsoft account.

In Teams on the web, click your profile picture.

Contact us

For more help, contact support or ask a question in the Microsoft Teams Community.

One account for all things Microsoft

One account. One place to manage it all. Welcome to your account dashboard.

New to Microsoft?

Get started with Microsoft products and more.

Security

Change a password, update security information, and keep vital account details up-to-date.

Privacy

Review your search history, browsing and location activity, and more.

Family

Keep your family safer online and stay connected even when you’re apart.

Payments & billing

Update your payment information, check your order history, redeem gift cards, and get billing help.

Subscriptions

Quickly renew and manage your favorite Microsoft subscriptions and services in one place.

Devices

Find, lock, or erase a lost or stolen Windows 10 device, schedule a repair, and get support.

Get expert answers and advice on Microsoft products and services.

Just sign in and go

Access your favorite Microsoft products and services with just one login. From Office and Windows to Xbox and Skype, one username and password connects you to the files, photos, people, and content you care about most.

Outlook

Email and calendar together. All you need to be your most productive and connected self—at home, on the go, and everywhere in between.

Skype

Skype’s text, voice and video make it simple to get closer to the people who matter most across all of your devices.

Microsoft Edge

The faster way to get things done on the web with built-in features for staying organized, researching, and discovering.

Microsoft Bing

Intelligent search features make it quick and easy to find what you need – answers, news, entertainment, and more.

Play your favorite games in more places than ever. Easily access your games, friends, and community across Xbox One, Windows 10 PC, and mobile.

Microsoft 365

Achieve what matters to you with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. What will you do with your next 365?

OneDrive

Safely store and access your files and photos on all your devices. Your Microsoft account comes with 5GB of storage and the option to add more when you need it.

Windows

Find, lock, or erase a lost or stolen Windows 10 device, schedule a repair, and get support.

Surface

Unleash your big ideas with the performance, innovative touchscreen designs, and premium materials of Surface devices.

Microsoft Store

Experience all that’s possible with Microsoft, from the best in productivity and creativity to gaming and entertainment.

Cortana

Save time and stay organized—Cortana helps handle day-to-day tasks so you can stay on top of what matters most.

With MSN, the information that enriches your life is accessible every moment of every day.

One account for all things Microsoft

One account. One place to manage it all. Welcome to your account dashboard.

New to Microsoft?

Get started with Microsoft products and more.

Security

Change a password, update security information and keep vital account details up to date.

Privacy

Review your search history, browsing/location activity, and more.

Family

Keep your family safer online and stay connected even when you’re apart.

Payments & billing

Update your payment information, check your order history, redeem gift cards and get billing help.

Subscriptions

Quickly renew and manage your favourite Microsoft subscriptions and services in one place.

Devices

Find, lock or erase a lost or stolen Windows 10 device, schedule a repair and get support.

Get expert answers and advice on Microsoft products and services.

Just sign in and go

Access your favourite Microsoft products and services with just one login. From Office and Windows to Xbox and Skype, one username and password connects you to the files, photos, people and content you care about most.

Outlook

Email and calendar together. All you need to be your most productive and connected self – at home, on the go and everywhere in between.

Skype

Skype’s text, voice and video make it simple to get closer to the people who matter most across all of your devices.

Microsoft Edge

The faster way to get things done on the web with built-in features for staying organised, researching and discovering.

Microsoft Bing

Intelligent search features make it quick and easy to find what you need – answers, news, entertainment, and more.

Play your favourite games in more places than ever. Easily access your games, friends and community across Xbox One, Windows 10 PC and mobile.

Microsoft 365

Achieve what matters to you with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. What will you do with your next 365?

OneDrive

Safely store and access your files and photos on all your devices. Your Microsoft account comes with 5 GB of storage and the option to add more when you need it.

Windows

Find, lock or erase a lost or stolen Windows 10 device, schedule a repair and get support.

Surface

Unleash your big ideas with the performance, innovative touchscreen designs, and premium materials of Surface devices.

Microsoft Store

Experience all that’s possible with Microsoft, from the best in productivity and creativity to gaming and entertainment.

Cortana

Save time and stay organised – Cortana helps handle day-to-day tasks so you can stay on top of what matters most.

With MSN, the information that enriches your life is accessible every moment of every day.