Windows shared computer

You can add two types of family accounts, including a "Child" and "Adult," and each account type provides different features. On Windows 10, a Child account provides a controlled environment with features to keep young members safe while using apps, playing games, and browsing the internet. When using this account type, the person will be able to use the computer, personalize the desktop, launch applications, create and store files, and safely browse the internet using Microsoft Edge.

Also, you'll be able to control their activities, enforce limits on apps and games, control screen time, and more using the Microsoft family dashboard online. Quick note: If the young person already has an account, you can enter it in the email field to continue with the setup.

Once you complete the steps, the account with limited access will be configured on Windows 10, and the user will be able to sign in immediately. If you have to configure a kid-friendly account in Windows 10, this guide walks you through everything you need to know. An adult account is very similar to a traditional profile. However, adding someone as part of your family allows them to manage child accounts. After you complete the steps, the new family member will receive an email invitation that they must accept to use the computer and manage parental control settings using the online dashboard.

Similar to a traditional account, this account is a Standard type, which allows the user to complete most tasks. However, they can't change security settings, install apps, or modify anything that could affect other users.

If you want to change the account type, you can learn more about this process in this guide. Typically, these are the settings you would use to add anyone to your computer. When you need to create a Windows 10 account, using a Microsoft account is the recommended method because it's easier to set up, settings will sync across devices, and users can recover their passwords quickly. Once you complete the steps, the user can start using the device immediately as a standard user.

If you want to change the account type to administrator, you need to select the account, click the Change account type button, select the Administrator option, and click the OK button usually not recommended. If you prefer to use a more traditional account approach, you can still create a local account without the benefits of cloud integration available with a Microsoft account. After you complete the steps, the local account will be created as a Standard account type without the benefits of a cloud-connected account.

In addition, from this page, you can also set up a kiosk account , which allows network administrators to configure a computer as a kiosk device to serve a specific purpose in the organization. When you need to delete an account, the steps will be slightly different depending on the type of account. Under the "Your family" section, click the Manage family settings online option.

Under the "Your family" section, click the menu three-dotted menu button in the right corner of the user account and select the Remove from family group option.

If you use a Microsoft account, you can use the "Sync your settings" page to enable, disable, or specify which settings should sync to the cloud and across your laptops, desktops, and tablets. If you can't manage these settings, likely, you haven't verified your account from the "Your info" page, or you have one or multiple work or school accounts connected in the "Access work or school" settings page.

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:. Mauro Huculak 3 days ago. Jason Walker: North Carolina judge rules police body camera video in the shooting case can be released. Goodbye 'godsend': Expiration of child tax credits hits home. How to view account details on Windows 10 How to add more email and app accounts on Windows 10 How to manage account sign-in options on Windows 10 How to connect to an organization on Windows 10 How to create multiple accounts on Windows 10 How to remove an account and data on Windows 10 How to manage account sync settings on Windows 10 How to view account details on Windows 10 In the Settings app, the Your Info page includes your account information and the option to connect your local account to a Microsoft account.

View account information To view your Windows 10 account details, use these steps: Open Settings. Click on Accounts. Click on Your info. Optional Click the Manage my Microsoft account option to adjust billing details, family and security settings, and other settings online.

Once you complete the steps, you'll better understand the account information on Windows Switch to local or Microsoft account To switch from a local account to a Microsoft account, use these steps: Open Settings. If you have a Microsoft account, click the Sign in with a local account instead option to switch to a local account. Continue with the on-screen directions.

Change account picture To change your Windows 10 account picture, use these steps: Open Settings. Under the "Create your picture" section, click the Browse for one button. Select a new image for the account. Click the Choose Picture button. How to add more email and app accounts on Windows 10 Windows 10 also allows you to add multiple accounts, so you don't have to re-enter the same information to access an app or service.

Add accounts for apps To set up additional email and app accounts on Windows 10, use these steps: Open Settings. Select the service provider — for example, Outlook, Google, or iCloud.

This doesn't mean that all of your files are shared—just that you have access to all your own files. If you open File Explorer, go to Network , and see an error message "Network discovery is turned off….

To turn it on, select the Network discovery is turned off banner, then select Turn on network discovery and file sharing. To troubleshoot problems with sharing files or folders, follow the steps below on all computers from which you're trying to share. Update Windows Open Windows Update. Make sure the computers are on the same network. For example, if your computers connect to the internet through a wireless router, make sure they all connect through the same wireless router.

If you're on a Wi-Fi network, set it to Private. To find out how, read Make a Wi-Fi network public or private in Windows Under Private , select Turn on Network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing. Under All Networks , select Turn off password protected sharing. Click your account name and log into your account with your Microsoft account password. You can click your account name and log in with your Microsoft account password.

The account will have its own separate OneDrive storage. Then at the bottom of the next screen, click Add a user without a Microsoft account. Now you can add a user name and a password. So an administrator will have to be nearby to type in the password in order for them to install desktop applications.

You can, of course, also log in from the lock screen, which displays all of the user accounts on the machine. One thing to keep in mind when several people use a PC with separate accounts: Even when someone is not using the PC, they still remain signed into the account unless they sign out or the PC is restarted. So several people might be signed into accounts, even though only one person is actively using the PC. There can be only one active account at a time; an individual user will still need to re-enter the password to see their account.

Look underneath each account. This is useful, but it can be problematic as well, because it can lead to lost work. When a PC is restarted or shut down, all users on it are automatically logged off. The upshot? It only takes a moment: Click your account name at the top of the Start menu and then click Sign out. Choose Administrator and click OK. Download and run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant.

This is required to change the activation method from subscription mode to shared mode. Microsoft Apps for business doesn't support the use of Group Policy, so you'll need to use another method to enable shared computer activation. If a user already activated the Microsoft Apps before shared computer activation was enabled, you have to reset the activation to allow shared computer activation to work.

After Microsoft Apps is installed, you can verify that shared computer activation is enabled on that computer. Here's what happens after Microsoft Apps is installed on a computer that has shared computer activation enabled.

Microsoft Apps contacts the Office Licensing Service on the internet to obtain a licensing token for the user. To determine whether the user is licensed to use Microsoft Apps, the Office Licensing Service has to know the user's account for Office In some cases, Microsoft Apps prompts the user to provide the information. For example, the user might see the Activate Office dialog box. If your environment is configured to synchronize Office Azure Active Directory and local Active Directory AD accounts, then the user most likely won't see any prompts.

Microsoft Apps should automatically be able to get the necessary information about the user's account in Office If the user is licensed for Microsoft Apps, a licensing token is stored on the computer in the user's profile folder, and Microsoft Apps is activated. The user can now use Microsoft Apps. These steps are repeated for each user who logs on to the shared computer. Each user gets a unique licensing token. Just because one user activates Microsoft Apps on the computer doesn't mean Microsoft Apps is activated for all other users who log on to the computer.

If a user goes to another computer that also is enabled for shared computer activation, the same steps occur.

There is a different licensing token for each computer that the user logs on to. If a user logs on to a shared computer again, Microsoft Apps uses the same licensing token, if it is still valid.

Licensing token renewal The licensing token that is stored on the shared computer is valid only for 30 days.