Setting up a Guest or secondary account on Windows 11 is a smart way to ensure your personal information and settings stay protected. It’s especially useful when sharing your laptop with school friends or colleagues. This ensures that your account and files remain protected, providing a separate, personalized space for others to use. When a user is done, you can easily Delete Guest Account on Windows 11 and data without any impact on your configuration and files. A Guest account on Windows 11 is designed for basic tasks like web browsing, and users are restricted from installing software or making system changes. Well Microsoft deprecated this feature starting with Windows 10, Nevertheless, it’s still possible to create and Use Guest account on Windows 11 without a password.
Create a Guest Account on Windows 11
A “Guest Account” on Windows is a limited-access user account designed for temporary use, often with restricted privileges and no password requirement. It’s ideal for providing quick, secure access to shared devices without granting full access to the system.
If you need to share a Windows 11 PC with someone, you can add a guest account under their name through the Windows 11 settings app.
Windows 11 Guest account restrictions
The Windows 11 Guest Account comes with several restrictions to ensure limited access:
- No Administrative Privileges: Guests can’t make system-wide changes or install software.
- No Personalization: They can’t customize system settings or personalize the desktop.
- Limited File Access: Guests can only access their own files and public folders.
- No Password Changes: Guests can’t change passwords for other accounts.
- No App Installations: They can’t install or uninstall applications.
- No System Changes: Guests can’t modify system settings or configurations.
These restrictions maintain security and prevent guests from making unintended changes to the system.
Create an Account on Windows 11 settings
Here are the steps to set up a guest account on Windows 11 that doesn’t require a password:
- Access the Settings menu by either searching for ‘settings’ in the Start menu search bar or using the Windows key + I shortcut.
- Navigate to the ‘Accounts’ section and then select ‘Other users.’
- Click on the ‘Add account’ button found in the ‘Other users’ section.
- In the Microsoft sign-in prompt, choose the option ‘I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.’
- Next, select ‘Add a user without a Microsoft account.’
- Provide a name for the new guest account. You have the flexibility to choose almost any name, except for “Guest.”
- After setting the account name, Leave the password fields empty and click the Next button to create a Guest account on Windows 11 without a password.
Note: While the built-in “Guest” account is no longer available in Windows, the name remains reserved. This means you can’t use “Guest” as the name when creating a new account. This is an important consideration when setting up accounts on Windows 11.
Add the user account to Guest Group
The default setup provides a secure standard privileges account for shared use. For added restriction, consider adding the account to the “Guest” group.
- Press the Windows key and type “Computer Management” in the search bar. Select the best match.
- In the Computer Management window, expand the “System Tools” folder, then expand the “Local Users and Groups” folder.
- Click on the “Groups” folder to display the list of groups on the right side.
- Double-click on the “Guests” group to open its properties.
- Click the “Add” button.
- In the “Select Users or Groups” window, type the name of the account you want to add to the “Guests” group and click “Check Names” to ensure it’s correct.
- Click “OK” to close the window.
- The account will now be part of the “Guests” group, which has more restricted privileges.
Keep in mind that you might need administrative privileges to perform these actions.
This password-free guest account is useful for temporary users who don’t need access to your personal files or settings.
Create a guest account on Windows 11 using CMD
Also, you can create a guest account on Windows 11 through Command Prompt.
Press the Windows key + S, type cmd and select run as administrator
When the command prompt opens, run the command net user HomeGuest /add /active:yes
This will create a standard user account on Windows 11, And you need to run the following command to add the user account to the Guest group.
net localgroup guests HomeGuest /add
Delete Guest Account Windows 11
When you’re finished, you can remove the Guest user account on Windows 11 by following the steps below.”
- Press the Windows key + X and select settings
- Go to Accounts then Other Users,
- Click the Remove button next to Account and Data.
- Click the Delete Account and Data button when the confirmation screen comes up.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Guest Account in Windows 11?
- A Guest Account is a limited user account in Windows 11 that provides temporary access to the system without allowing changes to system settings or access to personal files.
Why would I want to create a Guest Account on Windows 11?
- A Guest Account is useful for allowing temporary users, like friends or family, to use your computer without giving them access to your personal files or settings.
How do I create a standard user account with limited privileges?
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add account. Follow the prompts to create a new account, making sure to set it as a Standard User.
How do I switch between accounts on Windows 11?
- Click on the Start menu, then your user icon at the top, and select the account you want to switch to.
Is it possible to password-protect a Guest user account on Windows 11?
- Yes, when you create or modify a Guest user account, you have the option to set a password for it.
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