How to Add a New User in Windows 8

So you want to add a new user in Windows 8? I’m sad to say that the process isn’t quite the same as it was in Windows 7, though it might actually be a little easier. Creating an account and deleting one are done very differently in Windows 8, where it would have been handled entirely in a single Control Panel menu in previous versions.

Adding a new user in Windows 8 is different because Microsoft wants everyone to have a Microsoft ID. This enables you to sync settings and apps across multiple computers, even if you’re just logging in at a buddy’s house once in a while.

Thankfully, you don’t have to have a Microsoft ID to have an account on a Windows 8 PC. Local accounts are created, stored, and managed locally on the host system.

Adding an Account

Here’s how to add an account using Windows 8.

• From the desktop or Start screen, hit Windows+i.
• Select Change PC Settings at the bottom of the Settings panel.
• Select Users from the Menu list on the left side of the screen.
• Click Add a User near the bottom of the screen.

Here, you’ll have two options available to you. You can create a user based on their email address associated with their Microsoft account or opt to create a local user so that no “cloud” account is required. To create a local account, do the following:

• Select Sign in Without a Microsoft Account just above the Next button.
• Fill in the form including: user name, password, and a hint for the password.
• If this account is for a child and you wish to have protective features enabled, indicate so in the checkbox before proceeding.
• Click to continue, and the account will have been created.

If you opt to add an account with a Microsoft ID, it just takes the email address and password to build a user account from there.

Removing an Account

Let’s say you added a user and that person will no longer be using your Windows 8 PC. You can delete the account (and associated files) through the Control Panel. Here’s how to do it.

• Move your mouse cursor to the very bottom-left corner of your screen and right-click (Windows+x also works).
• Select Control Panel from the resulting list.
• Choose User Accounts and Safety.
• Click Remove User Accounts.
• Select the account you wish to remove.
• Select Delete User Account.
• If you want to delete files that the user had on the system, select that option.

This should remove the user account from your Windows 8 PC and free up any space that user was taking up on your hard drive.

If you have any questions about Windows 8 that you would like to have answered in a future article, please leave a comment below and let us know.