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Welcome to the world of Windows 10! In this era of technology, having a personal computer at home or in the office has become a necessity. Be it for work or leisure, a PC has become an integral part of our lives. Windows 10, being the latest version, comes with a lot of features that make our day to day computer usage much easier. One such feature is the ability to add multiple users to a single PC. This feature enables each user to have their own customized settings, files, and applications. However, at times, there might be a need to switch between users on a Windows 10 PC. In this article, we will guide you on how to change user on Windows 10.
Steps to change user on Windows 10
Step 1: Click on the Windows icon
Firstly, click on the Windows icon located at the left bottom corner of the screen. This will open up a menu that displays various options.
Step 2: Click on the User icon
Next, you need to click on the User icon which is located above the power icon on the left side of the menu.
Step 3: Select the user you want to switch to
Once the user icon is clicked, a menu will appear displaying all the users existing on the PC. Select the user you want to switch to.
Step 4: Enter the password (if required)
Some accounts might be password protected. If the account you want to switch to is password protected, enter the password when prompted.
Step 5: Hit Enter or click on the arrow icon
After entering the password, hit enter or click on the arrow icon to switch to the selected user.
Step 6: Switching users via Lock Screen
Another way to switch users on Windows 10 is via the Lock Screen. If the Lock Screen displays multiple users, click on the user you want to switch to.
Step 7: Use Task Manager for switching users
If a user account is logged in but is locked or switched off, you can switch to another user using Task Manager. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del on your keyboard and select Task Manager. Then, go to the Users tab, right-click on the user you want to switch to and select “Connect”.
Step 8: The Fast User Switching feature
The Fast User Switching feature is a quick way to switch between user accounts. To enable this feature, go to the Settings app, select Accounts and then click on Sign-in options. Here, turn on the “Use Fast User Switching” option.
Step 9: The Command Prompt method
If you are familiar with using Command Prompt, you can switch users using this method. Open Command Prompt, type the command “query user” and press enter. Note the session ID of the user you want to switch to. Type the command “tscon {session ID} /dest:console” and hit enter. This will switch the user you want to.
Step 10: Switch users via Run command
To switch users via the Run command, press Win+R on your keyboard. In the box that appears, type “tsdiscon” and press enter. This will display all the available logged in user accounts. Select the user account you want to switch to and enter the password (if required).
Step 11: Switch users via Taskbar
If the taskbar displays multiple users, you can switch users by clicking on the user icon located on the right side of the taskbar.
Step 12: Logging off to switch users
The final way to switch users on Windows 10 is simply by logging off. Click on the Start menu, click on your username, and then select “Sign out”. This will log you out of your current user account and present you with the login screen where you can select the user account you want to switch to.
Explanation
Switching between users on a Windows 10 PC is easy and can be done in several ways. The built-in features such as the Fast User Switching and Switching via Taskbar make the process quick and simple. Using Task Manager and Command Prompt might require some technical knowledge, but it is equally effective. Finally, if none of the above methods work, logging out is always an option.
Tips and Tricks
Tip 1: Use Fast User Switching
Enabling the Fast User Switching option makes switching between user accounts much quicker.
Tip 2: Use Windows Key + L to lock the screen
Lock the screen when switching users to protect your files and accounts from unauthorized access.
Tip 3: Use Windows Hello
Windows Hello allows you to log in to your PC using facial recognition, fingerprint, or a PIN, thus saving you time when switching users.
Tip 4: Set up a Guest account
Setting up a Guest account can be helpful when you don’t want to give complete access to your PC to a temporary user.
Tip 5: Use the built-in Parental Controls
The built-in Parental Controls feature allows you to restrict access to certain websites, files, and applications for younger users or anyone you want to limit access to.
Tip 6: Use the “Slide to Shutdown” feature
The “Slide to Shutdown” feature allows you to switch users quickly while also shutting down the PC. Press the Alt key and click on the Start menu to enable this feature.
Tip 7: Customize your Start menu
Customizing the Start menu can make switching between users a smoother experience. Pin your frequently used applications and folders for quicker access.
Tip 8: Use virtual desktops
Virtual desktops provide a clean and organized workspace, allowing you to switch between different users or workspaces easily.
Tip 9: Use Windows Sandbox
The Windows Sandbox feature allows you to test and run potentially harmful applications in a separate environment, thus keeping your personal files safe.
Tip 10: Keep your PC updated
Keeping your PC updated ensures that it is running efficiently and also provides you with the latest security features, protecting your data and user accounts.
In conclusion, switching between users on a Windows 10 PC is essential for multi-user PC usage. Using the built-in features and the tips and tricks mentioned above make the process quick and simple. Try them out and choose the method that works best for you!
Advantages and Disadvantages of Changing Users on Windows 10
Advantages
1. Improved Security: Changing users on Windows 10 allows you to secure your personal files and data. You can avoid unauthorized access and protect your sensitive information by creating different user accounts.
2. Enhanced Privacy: Having different user accounts means you can keep your personal files and settings separate from others. This way, others cannot accidentally or intentionally access your data such as browsing history, emails, or financial information.
3. Multiple Users: Windows 10 allows you to create multiple user accounts on the same computer. This means different people can work on the same device without sharing files or disrupting each other’s settings and preferences.
4. Customization: Each user can personalize their account settings, background, and even password, according to their own preferences. Personalization can make the experience more enjoyable and easy to navigate.
5. Multiple Sessions: By logging in as a different user, you can switch between different sessions or virtual desktops and have different applications running on each.
Disadvantages
1. Increased Disk Space: If you create multiple user accounts, each account requires storage space for its settings, preferences, and files, which may fill up your hard drive and slow down your computer.
2. Maintenance: Creating several user accounts means more administrative tasks. This may require more time spent on maintenance tasks, such as updating software, managing user permissions, and resolving technical issues.
3. Security Risks: If one user account is compromised, it can potentially affect the entire system and possible data loss. Viruses and malware can also spread between accounts, making proper security measures necessary.
4. Conflicts between Users: Sharing a computer with multiple users may cause frustration due to conflicting settings, preferences, and software licenses. Disagreements may arise over shared resources such as printers, files, and internet access.
5. Limited Resources: If multiple users are running resource-intensive applications simultaneously, it may cause system slowdowns and performance issues. Limited resources such as memory and CPU access may negatively affect overall performance.
FAQ
1. How do I switch users on Windows 10?
To switch to another user account, click on the Start button and then click on the user icon located at the top left of the Start menu. From there, you can click on the user account you want to switch to.
2. How do I add a new user to Windows 10?
To add a new user, open the Settings app, click on the “Accounts” option, and then select “Family & other users.” Click on the “Add someone else to this PC” button and follow the prompts to create a new user account.
3. How do I delete a user account on Windows 10?
To delete a user account, open the Settings app, click on the “Accounts” option, and then select “Family & other users.” Click on the user account you want to delete, and then select “Remove” and confirm the action.
4. How do I change my username on Windows 10?
To change your username, open the Settings app, click on the “Accounts” option, and then click on “Your info.” Click on the “Manage my Microsoft account” link and sign in with your Microsoft account. From there, you can edit your profile to change your username.
5. How do I change my password on Windows 10?
To change your password, open the Settings app, click on the “Accounts” option, and then select “Sign-in options.” Click on the “Change” button under “Password” and follow the prompts to create a new password.
6. How do I set up a picture password on Windows 10?
To set up a picture password, open the Settings app, click on the “Accounts” option, and then select “Sign-in options.” Under “Picture password,” click on the “Add” button and follow the prompts to choose a picture and set up your password.
7. How do I switch from a local account to a Microsoft account?
To switch to a Microsoft account, open the Settings app, click on the “Accounts” option, and then select “Your info.” Click on the “Sign in with a Microsoft account instead” link and follow the prompts to sign in with your Microsoft account.
8. How do I create a local account on Windows 10?
To create a local account, open the Settings app, click on the “Accounts” option, and then select “Family & other users.” Click on the “Add someone else to this PC” button and then select “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.” From there, you can create a new local account.
9. How do I disable the lock screen on Windows 10?
To disable the lock screen, open the Settings app, click on the “Personalization” option, and then select “Lock screen.” Under “Screen timeout settings,” select “Don’t turn off the screen” and under “Background,” select “Picture” or “Slideshow” instead of “Windows spotlight.”
10. How do I disable password login on Windows 10?
To disable password login, open the Settings app, click on the “Accounts” option, and then select “Sign-in options.” Under “Password,” click on the “Change” button and then click on the “Require sign-in” dropdown menu and select “Never.”
11. How do I enable the guest account on Windows 10?
To enable the guest account, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type in “net user guest /active:yes” and press enter. The guest account should now be enabled.
12. How do I disable the guest account on Windows 10?
To disable the guest account, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type in “net user guest /active:no” and press enter. The guest account should now be disabled.
13. How do I enable or disable automatic login on Windows 10?
To enable automatic login, open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R, and enter “netplwiz” and press enter. Uncheck the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” option and follow the prompts to configure automatic login. To disable automatic login, just recheck this option.
Conclusion
In conclusion, changing your user on Windows 10 is a simple but important task to do. It helps you to personalize your computer and maintain security by ensuring that you are logged in as the right user. By following the simple steps above, you can easily change your user on Windows 10 and continue with your work seamlessly.
It is important to note that you should always keep your login details safe and avoid sharing them with other people. Ensure that you choose a strong password and keep changing it regularly to avoid unauthorized access to your computer. You should also create a backup of your important files to avoid losing them in case of a system crash.
Closing
As we conclude, we hope that this article has been helpful in guiding you on how to change user on Windows 10. Always remember that changing your user on Windows 10 is not a complicated procedure if you follow the right steps. It can help you to personalize your computer, maintain security, and manage your files conveniently.
Feel free to explore other tips and tricks on Windows 10 to help you improve your productivity and make your experience enjoyable. Thank you for reading this article, and we wish you happy computing. See you soon!