Windows 8

Adding users

It's easy to add new user accounts to your computer. Connecting users to a Microsoft account will help them get the most out of Windows 8, but you can also add a local user account that exists only on your computer if a user prefers not to create a Microsoft account. 

You must be signed in as an Administrator (the first user account created on your computer) to add a new user.

To add a new user (with a Microsoft account):

1. From the Start screen, hover the mouse in the lower-right corner to access the Charms bar, then select Settings.
   
   Accessing Settings from the Charms Bar
2. Locate and select Change PC Settings.
   
   Clicking Change PC settings
3. PC Settings will appear. Select Users on the left.
   
   Clicking Users
4. The Users pane will appear on the right. Locate and select Add a user.
   
   Adding a new user
5. Enter the user's Microsoft account username, then click Next to continue.
   
   Entering a Microsoft account username
6. Optional: If the user is a child, check the box to activate Family Safety, which will let you set parental controls. We'll talk more about parental controls later in this lesson.
7. Click Finish.
   
   Clicking Finish
8.  The user will be added.
   
   The added user
   

It may take several minutes to configure a user's settings when logging in with a Microsoft account for the first time.

To add a new local user (without a Microsoft account):

1. Navigate to the Users pane from PC Settings. Click Add a user.
2. Locate and select Sign in without a Microsoft account.
   
   Clicking Sign in without a Microsoft account
3. Click Local account to continue.
   
   Adding a Local user
4. Enter an account name, and type the desired password. It's important to choose a strong password—in other words, one that is easy to remember but difficult for someone else to guess. For more information, check out Password Tips in our Tech Savvy tutorial.
5. Re-enter the password and include a hint, then click Next to continue.
   
   Choosing a password and adding account details
6. Optional: Check the box to activate Family Safety.
7. Click Finish.
   
   Clicking Finish
8. The user will be added.
   
   The added local user