Windows 11 setup: Which user account type should you choose? (2024)

FAQs

Should you use a local or a Microsoft account in Windows 11? ›

In Windows 11 Home, a Microsoft account is required, and with Windows 11 version 22H2, Windows 11 Pro also requires an internet connection and Microsoft account if you want to set it up for personal use.

A Standard User Account is more secure and recommended for everyday tasks like launching and using apps, browsing the web. An Administrator account is best as a backup account for Administrative task like installing applications, updating the system.

A local account exists on the computer that created it, and can only be used on that computer. A cloud account - like a Microsoft account - exists on the internet, and can be used from any device (PC, tablet, phone, watch, etc.) that can access the internet.

Standard User accounts are for everyday computing. Administrator accounts provide the most control over a computer, and should only be used when necessary. Guest accounts are intended primarily for people who need temporary use of a computer.

The administrator account on a Windows PC gives you a safe user environment to perform maintenance tasks on your PC. For example, if you want to allow someone to fix a problem on your PC, you could enable the administrator account on Windows 11.

On Windows 11, you can create a local account to avoid using the Microsoft account, meaning that your settings and files will only be available locally on the device for a more private and secure experience.

Allowing a systems administrator, especially one with Domain Administrator privileges, to access his/her e-mail and the Internet via their administrative account makes it easier for attackers to introduce malware via a phishing attack or gain those credentials by using impersonation, which is a very common attack in ...

In addition to being vulnerable to brute force attacks, admin usernames are also very susceptible to social engineering scams. Social engineering scams are when hackers try to get unsuspecting users to give away personal information like passwords or log-in credentials by posing as someone that the user trusts.

If they are able to access additional files and data, it will only be those that the administrator allows. Using a regular user account when you are on your computer helps keep your system more secure.

On Windows 11, Microsoft wants you to set up your device with a Microsoft account since it offers some additional benefits, including better integration with the company's cloud services (such as OneDrive and Office), content synchronization between computers, and better security.

What does it mean to set up Windows with a local account? ›

A local account is about as old school as Windows gets. You don't need a network connection or an email address; instead, you create a username (up to 20 characters) and a password, both of which are stored on the PC where you create them and grant access only to that device.

If you just want to try out Windows 11 using a local account, just head to Settings > Accounts > Other users and click 'Add other user', then 'I don't have this person's sign-in information'. This method is officially supported by Microsoft, so no workarounds are required.

An administrator account is similar to a standard account but with some additional privileges. These privileges allow you to manage system files or do anything without requiring confirmation. With an administrator account, you can also access all those files that other users own on the same computer.

If you have multiple user accounts on your computer, it's easy to switch between users without signing out or closing your current apps. Switching users will lock the current user, so you won't need to worry about someone else accessing your account.

The normal user account for a person is also called an interactive account or a standard user account. Such users can usually be used to log in using a password and can be used for running programs on the computer.

Just about everyone uses an administrator account for the primary computer account. But there are security risks associated with that. If a malicious program or attackers are able to get control of your user account, they can do a lot more damage with an administrator account than with a standard account.

You can have two administrator users, you can even have 3, or more if you want. You don't need to be internet connected for a Microsoft account login to function. I always make second local admin user with a simple password that I wont forget. Visitor with admin privileges .

The second distinction is between an Administrators account and a Users account. This distinction is all about 'privileges' - meaning the ability to make changes to the computer. An Administrators account has more privileges than a Users account. A Windows PC only needs to have one Administrators account.

Administrator: The Administrator account is the most powerful local user account possible.

Was this reply helpful? Yes, you can use the same Microsoft Account on up to 10 computers and keep your files and apps and settings synced between them.

Which type of user account is created automatically? ›

Administrator account. An Administrator account is a default account that's used in all versions of the Windows operating system on every computer and device.

It is best practice that the local Administrator account is disabled due to several known vulnerabilities: The built-in administrator account cannot be locked out no matter how many failed logons it accrues, making it a prime target for brute-force attacks that attempt to guess passwords.

Rule #1: Backup Everything ( and validate the backup regularly ) Experienced sysadmin knows that production system will crash someday, no matter how proactive we are.

Answers. Built-in administrator account deals with the local machine while domain admin is with Domain. Most of the time local administrative account is required when there is network logon problem or some issue with domain admin account. so that atleast u can logon to the local server/PC and configure it.

Administrator accounts are used by users to carry out tasks that require special permissions, such as installing software or renaming a computer. These Administrator accounts should be regularly audited – this should include a password change, and confirmation of who has access to these accounts.

An administrator is someone who can make changes on a computer that will affect other users of the computer. Administrators can change security settings, install software and hardware, access all files on the computer, and make changes to other user accounts.

The risk of being a local administrator is that you can install programs on the computer without asking anyone's permission. The alternative is a standard user account, which can use programs and change settings that do not affect the security of the computer.

We don't recommend this in most circ*mstances, however. Using the Administrator account can open up several security risks on your system. Not only will malware have free reign if you run it under this account, but you also won't have a layer of protection from making mistakes.

What is a standard current account? Standard current accounts are bank accounts designed for everyday use, depositing pay, spending on card, withdrawing cash, making and receiving direct debits and transfers. You will need one to be paid a salary or make payments.

Deleting your account will lose you access to: Outlook, Office, Skype, Xbox/Xbox Live, OneDrive, Microsoft Store, and Minecraft. You'll have to create a new account if you want to use these again in the future, and your data won't carry over.

Can I have two Microsoft accounts on one computer? ›

You cannot have two Microsoft accounts open simultaneously on one computer, one of the reason is that the accounts can be linked to different features. However, if you have multiple Microsoft accounts, you can create new users according to the accounts and add the accounts in the new users.

Use the “Windows + I” keyboard shortcut to open Windows Settings. Here, move to “Accounts” in the left sidebar and select “Your Info” from the right panel. 2. Under the “Account settings” section, click on “Sign in with a local account instead“.

The LocalSystem account is a predefined local account used by the service control manager. This account is not recognized by the security subsystem, so you cannot specify its name in a call to the LookupAccountName function. It has extensive privileges on the local computer, and acts as the computer on the network.

A local system account controls access to a single, physical computer (workstation or server). The local account credentials (username, password, and SID/UID) are stored locally on the machine's hard drive, and the computer checks its own files to authenticate a user's login.

If you sign in to Windows with a local account, you can choose not to enter a password. However, we don't recommend this—it's the least secure way to sign in to your PC.

Manage super administrator accounts

Your organization should have more than one super administrator account, each managed by a separate individual (avoid sharing an admin account). If one account is lost or compromised, another super admin can perform critical tasks while the other account is recovered.

Windows 10 does come with a built-in administrator account that we could activate, but we're not going to do that. Most experts caution against using the built-in administrator account, because it has free rein on your PC in a way that other account types don't.

Should I install for all users or just me? ›

It is recommended that you install for Just Me, which will install Anaconda Distribution to just the current user account. Only select an install for All Users if you need to install for all users' accounts on the computer (which requires Windows Administrator privileges).

Having multiple users logged in will definitely slow down your computer, but only marginally. The reason for this is that your computer has to share its resources among all the users. This includes things like processing power, memory, and hard drive space.

A Standard User Account is more secure and recommended for everyday tasks like launching and using apps, browsing the web. An Administrator account is best as a backup account for Administrative task like installing applications, updating the system.

A local account exists on the computer that created it, and can only be used on that computer. A cloud account - like a Microsoft account - exists on the internet, and can be used from any device (PC, tablet, phone, watch, etc.) that can access the internet.

Why you need a Microsoft Account with some Microsoft 365 or Office products. Using a Microsoft account and linking it with your Microsoft 365 or Office for home product connects you to various Microsoft products and services, and is needed anytime you have to install or reinstall the apps.

Windows 10 lets you use a local account if you disconnect from the internet. The latest version of Windows 11, however, will not — if you try the same trick, you'll just get an error message. Even the Professional version of Windows 11 requires a Microsoft account now.

On Windows, your user account type determines what actions you're allowed to perform on your computer. A standard user account is designed for day-to-day computing. You can't do complicated system tweaks with it, but you can still perform everyday tasks without any issues.

Select Start , select and hold (or right-click) the account name icon (or picture), then select Switch user. Select the Start button on the taskbar. Then, on the left side of the Start menu, select the account name icon (or picture), then select a different user to switch to their account.

The answer to your question shall be yes, you may add your full name while billing or making payments and keep other name to your profile.

How do I remove a Microsoft account from Windows 11 and use a local account? ›

Select Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other users. Under Other users, select the flyout for the account you want to remove. Next to Account and data, select Remove. Note that this will not delete the person's Microsoft account, it will just remove their sign-in info from your PC.

A local account controls access to one single, physical computer. Your local account credentials (username, password, and SID/UID) are stored locally on the computer's hard drive, and the computer checks its own files to authenticate your login.