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How to manage user accounts, email accounts, user groups and other account-related settings. How to work with your accounts on all computers and devices, and all operating systems.

tutorial How to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account

How to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account

Do you have a Windows 11 Home license key and want to install it without using a Microsoft account? Or maybe you’re trying to install Windows 11 Pro with a local account? Microsoft pushes you to use a Microsoft account and doesn’t give you the option to create a local account during the Windows 11 setup, whether it’s the Home or Pro version. But
tutorial Presence Sensing: Why the screen turns off when you walk away

Presence Sensing: Why the screen turns off when you walk away

If you have a Windows 11 laptop or mini PC with a modern AI-powered processor, your computer knows when you walk away, automatically turns off the display, and locks your Windows 11 account. This is made possible by a feature called Presence Sensing, which uses sensors to detect when you leave, look away from the screen, and return. In this guide, I explain what
tutorial 7 ways to switch the user in Windows 11

7 ways to switch the user in Windows 11

Having multiple users on a Windows 11 computer is a great way to ensure each person who uses it has a pleasant experience and keeps their files, settings, and apps separate from others. However, this leads to a problem: not everyone knows how to switch the user when it’s their turn to sign in to Windows 11, which can cause data loss and, sometimes,
tutorial 8 ways to switch the user in Windows 10

8 ways to switch the user in Windows 10

People often share their computers and devices with others. Whether your little brother or sister or one of your grandparents wants to experience the world of technology, they could cause problems with your PC or your important data because they are unfamiliar with using Windows. That is why Windows 10 allows you to create separate accounts for every user, each with their own files,
tutorial How to enable and use fingerprint authentication in Windows 10

How to enable and use fingerprint authentication in Windows 10

Biometric authentication is available in Windows 10 if you have a laptop or desktop computer with a fingerprint reader or a webcam that can be used for face recognition. Of the two authentication methods, the fingerprint reader is the fastest, and I like using it because it allows Windows 10 to boot faster than other sign-in methods. If you want to try it out
tutorial How to shut down a Windows 10 laptop, tablet or desktop PC

How to shut down a Windows 10 laptop, tablet or desktop PC

When you finish working on your Windows 10 computer, you will probably want to turn it off. Windows 10 gives you a lot of choices for how to do that. While this isn’t hard at all, it’s good to know the different ways you can shut down your Windows 10 laptop, desktop PC, or tablet. Here are nine methods that you to use to
tutorial How to enable and use fingerprint authentication in Windows 11

How to enable and use fingerprint authentication in Windows 11

Some of our readers have asked us if Windows 11 supports biometrics. Yes, it does, but in order for biometric authentication to work, you also need laptops or desktop computers with hardware that’s compatible with things like fingerprint authentication or face recognition. Both types of biometric authentication allow for fast and secure logins, and I personally like using them over traditional sign-in methods. If
tutorial How to sign out (log off) from Windows 10

How to sign out (log off) from Windows 10

When you are no longer using your computer or Windows 10 laptop, albeit temporarily, it is a good idea not to stay logged on. Instead, you should either shut it down (to save power) or sign out (to keep your data and work private). If you prefer to sign out, your account is closed, and your current user session is ended. This means that
tutorial How to change your user account name in Windows 11

How to change your user account name in Windows 11

Did someone tell you that you can’t change your account name in Windows 11? If you’re here, you probably want to prove them otherwise. And you can, because yes, you can rename a user account in Windows 11, and it’s also quite easy. However, to change your user account name in Windows 11, you need to follow different steps depending on your account type
tutorial How to use Netplwiz to login to Windows without a password

How to use Netplwiz to login to Windows without a password

Experienced Windows users may miss the old days, when they could sign into their computers without entering a password and the operating system instantly logged them in. To do that, they used a tool named Netplwiz, which “typed” the user account password for them at each login. This old trick still works in Windows 10 and Windows 11, even though it’s not a great
article What is a Windows user account?

What is a Windows user account?

Just as with any other operating system, you need a user account to use a Windows computer or device. This is one of those concepts that a lot of us take for granted, and we believe we know what it is and what it does. But do you know everything there is to know? This guide includes a detailed definition of the user account,
tutorial How to manage local users and groups in Windows with lusrmgr.msc

How to manage local users and groups in Windows with lusrmgr.msc

Most people edit Windows user accounts from the Settings app or the User Accounts section in the Control Panel. However, there’s another way to perform Windows user management, one that gives you access to much more detailed information about the users and groups on your PC and the permissions they have. I’m talking about managing Local Users and Groups using the snap-in console that
tutorial How to list all the users on a Windows computer (7 ways)

How to list all the users on a Windows computer (7 ways)

Sometimes, you may need to extract a list of all the user accounts on a Windows computer. What if you want to see all the hidden user accounts that exist alongside your user account? Can you use graphical tools in Windows to learn all that? Can you list all users with Windows’ CMD? Moreover, which Windows PowerShell CLI command can be used to list
tutorial How to change the Administrator account on Windows 11 (6 ways)

How to change the Administrator account on Windows 11 (6 ways)

If you want to grant a Standard user complete control over the operating system, its apps, and its settings, there are several ways to set it as Administrator on Windows 11. An Administrator account can install software and hardware, access any files (including system-protected ones), and manage other user accounts. Furthermore, it’s recommended to have a backup Administrator account in case you forget your
tutorial Local account vs. Microsoft account: Which one should I use?

Local account vs. Microsoft account: Which one should I use?

Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 heavily promote the use of a Microsoft account that has an associated email address and password. If you want to take advantage of what these new operating systems offer, Microsoft accounts make your life easier. However, many people are concerned with sharing their personal information with Microsoft and want to use offline local accounts. Let’s explain the differences
tutorial 5 ways to create and add a new user in Windows 11

5 ways to create and add a new user in Windows 11

Do you have a new Windows 11 PC, or did you just install the operating system yourself? You may need to share your computer with others, so you must add a new user to Windows 11. If that’s the case, you are in the right place. In this guide, I’ll show you how to create and add a new user in Windows 11. It
tutorial 5 ways to sign in to Windows 11

5 ways to sign in to Windows 11

Most people sign into Windows 11 using a PIN code or a password. But there are other ways to log in to Windows 11, some faster than others, some more secure, and even some that even Microsoft doesn’t recommend. Windows 11 offers you many ways to log in with your user account, ranging from the traditional password to a PIN code, your face, or
tutorial How to use the Microsoft Store in Windows without a Microsoft account

How to use the Microsoft Store in Windows without a Microsoft account

Back when Windows 10 was released, Microsoft used to force users to sign into their Microsoft accounts before they could download and install apps and games from the Microsoft Store. Luckily, that is a thing of the past. Do you want to download apps from Microsoft Store without an account? Read this simple guide: NOTE: This guide applies to both Windows 11 and
tutorial 7 ways to lock a Windows 11 PC

7 ways to lock a Windows 11 PC

If you want to make sure others can’t access your data when you step away from your PC, it’s a good idea to learn how to lock the screen in Windows 11. This also saves battery while keeping your Windows session active in the background, so you can simply log in to get back to what you were doing. This guide illustrates how to