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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWindows 10 Shared PC mode is a device-management configuration for computers used by many people. It can restrict which account types sign in, remove profiles automatically, and—if you select the OneDrive-enabled policy—keep users’ files synchronized. Microsoft supports three deployment routes: an Intune or other MDM policy, a Windows Configuration Designer provisioning package, or PowerShell through the WMI Bridge Provider.
For a tightly controlled lab, classroom, library, reception desk, or temporary-workstation pool, deploy EnableSharedPCMode. Select EnableSharedPCModeWithOneDriveSync only when synchronized files are worth retaining local profile data. Then choose the account model, configure profile-deletion rules, and leave devices asleep during maintenance windows so cleanup can run.
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What Shared PC mode changes
Shared PC mode is not a separate Windows application. It is a set of Windows management policies collected under the SharedPC configuration service provider (CSP). The policies control how users are admitted and how Windows manages profiles left behind by previous users.
With account management enabled, Windows can remove profiles at sign-out or during a maintenance pass. Cleanup protects the system disk from filling with abandoned profiles, which is the principal reason to use Shared PC mode on computers that have many different users.
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The feature is intended for shared devices rather than a personal Windows installation. A personal computer normally keeps a user profile indefinitely; a Shared PC can deliberately trade that persistence for predictable storage use and faster turnover between users.
Check Windows 10 support before deploying
The SharedPC CSP supports Windows 10 version 1607 and later. Supported editions are Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise. Home edition is outside the documented scope.
| Requirement | Supported scope or implication |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10, version 1607 or later |
| Editions | Pro, Enterprise, Education, or IoT Enterprise |
| Management choices | Intune/MDM, a provisioning package, or PowerShell through the WMI Bridge Provider |
| Account population | Guest accounts, domain accounts, or both, selected with AccountModel |
Inventory the Windows edition and build on every target device before applying a policy. Also decide whether the machines are domain joined, Microsoft Entra joined, or intended for guest use; that decision determines the useful AccountModel setting and whether users can actually sign in.
Choose the correct Shared PC policy
Microsoft documents two enablement policies. Their only functional difference is OneDrive synchronization:
| Policy | OneDrive synchronization | When it fits | Storage consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| EnableSharedPCMode | Disabled | Shared stations where local storage must be reclaimed aggressively or users do not need synchronized files | Less profile data is retained locally |
| EnableSharedPCModeWithOneDriveSync | Enabled | Users need synchronized work or school files on a rotating device | OneDrive data and profile activity can consume local disk space; cleanup rules become especially important |
Choose the OneDriveSync variant only after confirming that the device has enough storage and that your sign-in and OneDrive policies are compatible. Shared PC mode does not make a profile permanent: it still permits Windows to remove profiles according to the selected deletion policy. If synchronized files are the priority, test sign-out, profile removal, and subsequent OneDrive rehydration with a representative account before broad deployment.
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Decide who may sign in with AccountModel
The AccountModel setting defines the account population. Its documented values are:
| Value | Permitted population | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Guest only | Public-access or walk-up computers where users should not use domain credentials |
| 1 | Domain-joined users only | Organizations that require authenticated staff, students, or contractors |
| 2 | Domain-joined users and guests | Sites that need both organizational sign-in and a fallback guest experience |
Select the value before deployment rather than treating account cleanup as a substitute for access control. A cleanup policy removes profiles; it does not change whether a device accepts guest or domain credentials. Verify that the selected model matches the join state and the identity policies already applied to the device.
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Deployment route 1: Intune or another MDM
Intune is the most manageable route when devices are already enrolled. Microsoft’s supported approach is a Settings catalog policy in the Shared PC category, assigned to the target devices or users.
- Open the Microsoft Intune admin center and start a new device configuration profile.
- Choose the Windows 10 and later platform and the Settings catalog profile type.
- In the settings picker, search for Shared PC and add the Shared PC settings you intend to manage.
- Enable either EnableSharedPCMode or EnableSharedPCModeWithOneDriveSync; do not select the OneDriveSync policy casually, because it changes local storage behavior.
- Set AccountModel to 0, 1, or 2 according to the account population you approved.
- Configure account-management and deletion settings, including the deletion policy and disk thresholds, rather than relying on an unreviewed default.
- Assign the profile to the device group or user group that owns the shared computers. Avoid assigning a broad user group if personal devices are included.
- Sync a test device, confirm the policy reports as applied, and validate sign-in, sign-out, profile cleanup, and maintenance behavior before expanding the assignment.
Keep Shared PC settings in a clearly named profile. If another configuration profile writes conflicting values, Intune status may show success while the effective device setting differs from your design. Use a pilot group to identify conflicts before production rollout.
Deployment route 2: Windows Configuration Designer provisioning package
A provisioning package is useful for devices that are not yet enrolled in MDM or must be configured during staging. Build it with Windows Configuration Designer, apply it during imaging or first-run preparation, and protect the package because it can contain device-configuration data.
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- Install and open Windows Configuration Designer on an administrative workstation.
- Create a provisioning project for Windows 10 and select the options for a shared-device deployment.
- Add the Shared PC configuration settings, selecting the standard enablement policy or the OneDriveSync variant.
- Set AccountModel and the account-management, deletion, and disk-threshold values required by your operating procedure.
- Build the project into a provisioning package and review the generated settings before applying it.
- Apply the package to a test computer, restart when requested, and verify the effective configuration with a real guest or domain test account.
- Only after validation, apply the package during device staging or through your approved provisioning workflow.
A package is a deployment artifact, not a replacement for ongoing management. If you later need to change cleanup thresholds or switch the OneDrive decision, update the management policy or issue a new, controlled package and document which version each device received.
Deployment route 3: PowerShell with the WMI Bridge Provider
PowerShell can configure Shared PC through the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Bridge Provider. This route is intended for administrators who need scripting or an automation pipeline outside Intune and provisioning packages.
The script must write the SharedPC configuration object through the WMI Bridge Provider and set the same policy names used by MDM: EnableSharedPCMode or EnableSharedPCModeWithOneDriveSync, together with AccountModel and the cleanup settings. Run the process with administrative rights and test it on one supported Windows 10 build before automating at scale.
- Confirm that the target edition and Windows 10 version are supported.
- Run the script in an elevated PowerShell session.
- Write the Shared PC settings through the WMI Bridge Provider rather than changing unrelated local policies.
- Record the resulting values and restart or sign out as required by your deployment process.
- Validate the effective behavior with both an allowed account type and a profile that can be removed safely.
Because WMI Bridge scripts are sensitive to namespace, class, and property names, copy the implementation from Microsoft’s current SharedPC CSP and WMI Bridge documentation for your Windows build instead of improvising a class name. A script that completes without an error is not proof that the policy was accepted; always check the resulting configuration and user experience.
Configure automatic profile cleanup
Account management determines when Windows removes profiles. Microsoft describes cleanup at sign-out or during maintenance according to disk-space and inactivity rules. The default deletion behavior is disk-space based.
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DeletionPolicy
Choose the cleanup strategy that matches how quickly a device must be ready for the next user. A policy can remove profiles immediately at sign-out, wait for disk pressure, or combine disk pressure with inactivity. Immediate removal minimizes retained data but can make a returning user wait while files are recreated. Disk-based cleanup preserves profiles longer and can improve short-term convenience, but it requires enough free space.
DiskLevelDeletion
DiskLevelDeletion is the low-space trigger. When free space falls below this threshold, Windows starts deleting profiles according to the selected policy. Set it high enough to leave room for Windows operation, updates, and temporary files; setting it too low defeats the purpose of a shared-device policy.
DiskLevelCaching
DiskLevelCaching is the level at which deletion stops. The relationship matters: cleanup begins at DiskLevelDeletion and continues until free space reaches DiskLevelCaching. Keep the stop level below the trigger so Windows has a clear recovery band rather than repeatedly starting and stopping cleanup.
Inactivity rules
If your deletion policy includes inactivity, define what “inactive” means in your operating procedure and test it with a profile that has not signed in recently. Do not assume that signing out alone makes a profile eligible for inactivity cleanup; eligibility depends on the selected policy and Windows’ recorded activity state.
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Shared PC maintenance is designed to run while the device is not in use. Microsoft advises putting shared devices to sleep instead of shutting them down, because maintenance can wake a sleeping computer and perform profile cleanup. A fully powered-off computer cannot run that scheduled maintenance pass.
Windows Update is separate from Shared PC cleanup. Configure update installation and restart behavior to occur during the same maintenance hours, or another period when the device is guaranteed to be unattended. Do not assume that enabling Shared PC automatically schedules updates.
- Use an idle or overnight maintenance window.
- Set power policies so the computer sleeps rather than shutting down before that window.
- Keep the device connected to power and, where applicable, the network.
- Schedule Windows Update installation and restart independently.
- Check the next morning that cleanup and update status both completed.
Compare the three deployment methods
| Deployment method | Best fit | Strength | Operational caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intune/MDM Settings catalog | Enrolled organizational fleet | Central assignment, reporting, and later changes | Resolve conflicts with other configuration profiles |
| Provisioning package | Staging or offline setup | Applies a repeatable configuration before normal enrollment | Track package versions and protect the package |
| PowerShell/WMI Bridge | Scripted or specialized automation | Integrates with existing administrative workflows | Use the exact WMI Bridge schema for the Windows build and verify effective values |
Validate a Shared PC deployment
Validation should test behavior, not merely whether a policy reports as applied.
Quick Recap
- Sign in with every account type allowed by AccountModel.
- Sign out and confirm whether the selected deletion policy produces the expected profile result.
- Fill the test disk enough to cross the configured deletion threshold, using disposable data, and verify that cleanup begins and stops at the intended levels.
- If OneDriveSync is enabled, sign in with a test account, allow synchronization, sign out, and verify what remains locally after profile cleanup.
- Leave the device asleep through a maintenance window and check that maintenance ran.
- Confirm Windows Update installs and restarts according to its separately configured schedule.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Profiles never disappear: Check that account management and a deletion policy are enabled, then verify that the device has reached the relevant disk or inactivity condition.
- The disk still fills quickly: Reconsider OneDriveSync, raise the deletion trigger, and make sure maintenance is able to run. A shut-down device cannot perform scheduled cleanup.
- Users cannot sign in: Recheck AccountModel against the device’s join state and the account type being tested.
- OneDrive files are missing locally: Confirm that EnableSharedPCModeWithOneDriveSync—not the standard policy—is assigned and that OneDrive itself is allowed to synchronize.
- Intune shows conflicting results: Review all profiles assigned to the device and remove duplicate settings that write different Shared PC values.
- A provisioning package worked on one computer but not another: Compare Windows 10 version and edition; SharedPC support starts at version 1607 and is limited to the documented editions.
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