Create a separate Windows 11 account for routine use at Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account, then make sure its account type is Standard User. You can sign in with a Microsoft account or create a local account; the privilege level, not the sign-in choice, is what separates everyday use from administrator access.
Why use a standard account every day?
Windows supports multiple accounts on one device, each with its own settings, documents, and applications. Microsoft recommends fewer administrators and standard accounts for day-to-day activities. An administrator can change system settings, install software, and access all files; a standard account is intended for routine use with fewer system-wide privileges. See Microsoft’s account-management guidance.
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Keep access to an administrator account for system changes. Using a standard account does not remove the administrator account; it gives you a separate profile to use for ordinary tasks.
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Open Settings > Accounts > Other users.
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Under Add other user, select Add account.
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For a Microsoft account, enter the person’s Microsoft account email and follow the prompts. To create a local account, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account, and complete the prompts.
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Under Other users, open the new account’s menu and select Change account type. Choose Standard User, then select OK. If the account is already a standard user, no change is needed.
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Sign in to the new account and set up its apps and files. Windows creates a separate user profile; creating the account does not automatically move the old profile’s documents or settings.
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These steps follow the current Windows 11 guidance from Microsoft Support. Interface wording can vary across Windows releases.
Choose a Microsoft account or a local account
Either type can be used as a standard account. Choose based on how you want the profile to connect to Microsoft services, not on whether it should have administrator privileges.
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| Account type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Microsoft account | Connects the Windows sign-in to Microsoft services and may sync settings and files across devices. |
| Local account | Is specific to that device, can be used to sign in without an internet connection, and is not connected to Microsoft cloud services. |
Microsoft recommends Microsoft-account sign-in while documenting both options. See Microsoft’s explanation of local and Microsoft accounts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sign in to the new account and switch users
Open Start, select the user picture or account icon, then select the new account. Switching users does not close the previous account’s session or its open applications, so save your work before switching. Microsoft’s instructions are on its Windows user-account access page.
Keep administrator access available for recovery
Retain the credentials for an administrator account. Microsoft warns that if there is no administrator account available to change a local user’s password, resetting the Windows device may be necessary. A forgotten local-account password is not guaranteed to be recoverable. Review Microsoft’s local-account password guidance.
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