Add & Remove Multiple User Accounts in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to add and remove multiple user accounts in Windows 10, whether you’re setting up separate profiles for family members, creating a guest account, or cleaning up old profiles. You’ll learn the quickest methods using Settings, Control Panel, and Command Prompt, plus how to avoid common pitfalls like accidentally deleting files.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with administrator access (you must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove other accounts).
• For Microsoft account sign-in: an email address and password (or create a new one during setup).
• For local accounts: just a username and password (optional).

Step-by-Step

Adding a User Account via Settings

1. Click the Start button and select the Settings gear icon (or press Windows + I).
2. Click Accounts (your account picture may be shown).
3. In the left sidebar, click Family & other users.
4. Under “Other users,” click Add someone else to this PC.
5. If you want to add a Microsoft account, enter the person’s email address and click Next, then Finish. If they don’t have a Microsoft account, click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information and then Add a user without a Microsoft account.
6. Enter a username, password (optional), and password hint (if you set a password), then click Next.
7. The new account appears under “Other users.” By default it’s a Standard user. To make it an administrator, click the account, click Change account type, select Administrator from the dropdown, and click OK.

Adding a User Account via Control Panel (Local Accounts Only)

1. Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter.
2. Click User Accounts, then User Accounts again.
3. Click Manage another account.
4. Click Add a new user in PC settings – this will redirect you to the Settings method above.
5. Alternatively, you can use the legacy net user command (see Command Prompt method below).

Adding a User Account via Command Prompt (Fastest for Multiple Accounts)

1. Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Type the following and press Enter (replace username and password with your own):

   net user username password /add

3. To make the new user an administrator, type:

   net localgroup administrators username /add

4. To create a standard user (default), skip the previous step.

Removing a User Account via Settings

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Family & other users.
2. Click the account you want to remove.
3. Click Remove.
4. Read the warning: Windows will delete the user’s files, desktop, documents, downloads, and other personal data. If you want to keep them, back them up first.
5. Click Delete account and data to confirm.

Removing a User Account via Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin) as above.
2. Type the following and press Enter (replace username):

   net user username /delete

3. This removes the account but may leave the user profile folder (C:\Users\username). To delete that folder, you can manually delete it, but be careful – only delete it if you are sure you don’t need the files.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting the last administrator account – Windows requires at least one administrator. If you try to remove the only admin, you’ll get an error or be forced to create another first.
• Not backing up user files – Removing an account via Settings deletes all their files permanently. Always copy important data to an external drive or another account first.
• Using a Microsoft account when you meant a local account – Microsoft accounts require internet and an email; local accounts are offline-only. Choose the right type for your needs.
• Mixing up “Family” and “Other users” – Family accounts are for Microsoft family members, while “Other users” is for anyone else. Both work, but family accounts have extra parental controls.

Tips

• Use the Command Prompt method if you need to add or remove many accounts quickly – it’s much faster than clicking through Settings each time.
• Set a strong password for each account, especially if the PC is shared or on a network.
• If you’re creating a guest account, consider using a local standard account – it has limited permissions and won’t be able to install software or change system settings.
• You can rename an account without deleting it: go to Settings → Accounts → Family & other users, click the account, and choose “Rename” (only works for local accounts).
• To see all accounts on the PC, type net user in Command Prompt (Admin).

Troubleshooting

“This user is already signed in” error when removing

If the user is currently signed in, you can’t remove them. Log off that account first, or sign in as administrator and use Task Manager to sign them out (Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Users tab → right-click the user → Sign off).

“Access denied” when using Command Prompt

Make sure you opened Command Prompt as Administrator. Right-click Start and choose “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”. If you’re not an admin, you can’t add or remove accounts.

New account doesn’t appear in the login screen

Sometimes Windows needs a restart. Also, if you created a Microsoft account, the user must sign in online the first time to sync settings. For local accounts, they should appear immediately.

Can’t add a Microsoft account because of internet issues

You can still create a local account and later link it to a Microsoft account in Settings → Accounts → Your info → “Sign in with a Microsoft account instead”.

Removed account’s files still in C:\Users

This happens with Command Prompt deletion. If you’re sure you don’t need the files, you can delete the folder manually (right-click → Delete) – but you need admin rights and may need to take ownership first.

“The user name could not be found” when using net user

Check the exact username with net user (list all accounts). Usernames are case-insensitive but must match exactly. Also, if the account is a Microsoft account, the local username may be the first part of the email (e.g., “john” for john@outlook.com).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple accounts at once?

Yes, but not through the GUI. Use Command Prompt with multiple net user commands, one per account, or a batch script.

What’s the difference between a Microsoft account and a local account?

A Microsoft account syncs settings, files, and apps across devices and requires an email. A local account is offline-only and stores everything on that PC only.

Will removing an account delete all its files?

Yes, if you use Settings → Remove, it deletes the user’s profile, including desktop, documents, downloads, and pictures. Using Command Prompt deletes the account but leaves the folder behind.

Can I remove an administrator account if I’m a standard user?

No. You must be signed in as an administrator to remove any account, including standard ones.

How do I know if an account is administrator or standard?

Go to Settings → Accounts → Family & other users. Click the account – it shows “Administrator” or “Standard user” below the name.

Is there a limit to how many accounts I can have?

No hard limit in Windows 10, but performance may degrade with dozens of accounts. Practically, you won’t need more than a handful.

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