Why you should use a ‘Standard’ user account in Windows

Every modern version of Microsoft Windows allows you to create two types of local user accounts.

In my opinion every PC should have one account of each type installed even if only one person will be using the computer.

A quick rundown of the differences between the two account types will make it easy to understand why I make this recommendation: 

1 – Administrator Account – An Administrator account on a Windows PC is very much like the Root account on a Unix/Linux machine.

In a nutshell, a user logged into an account with Administrator privileges can do pretty much anything on the computer. He/she can view every file on the system, change system-wide system settings, run all installed programs, add new programs, install new hardware and change the usernames and passwords of other users.

2 – Standard Account – A Standard user account cannot change most system-wide settings, run software that the account hasn’t been given permission to use, install new software or hardware that affects the entire system or change the usernames and passwords of other users.

What’s more, using a standard account will prevent most malware and other malicious programs and apps from making changes to your Windows system. And as you can imagine, that makes your system more secure.

As you can see, when you’re logged into an Administrator you have the ability to do most anything you wish to do with the PC.

Unfortunately, you also have the ability to do things that you never really intended to do, some of which can cause major problems with the computer. It’s quite easy for an Administrator to accidentally delete an important system file or change a setting that renders the PC unstable or unbootable.

This is why every computer owner need to have both an Administrator account and a Limited (Standard) account on his/her PC.

The Administrator account should only be used when a task absolutely has to be done that a Standard user account is prohibited from doing.

During normal use it is always best to log in to a Standard account. And if more than one person will be using the same PC each user should have their own Standard account.

Here is the procedure for creating user accounts in Windows 7:

1 – Log in to a user account that has Administrator privileges.

2 – Click the Start button.

3 – Click Control Panel.

4 – Click Add or remove user accounts.

5 – Click Create a new account.

6 – Type a name for the new account into the text box (the user’s first name typically works fine).

7 – Select the radio button beside Standard user.

8 – Click the Create Account button.

Note: Steps 9 – 12 are optional.

9 – If you wish to assign a password to the new account, click on the icon for the account you just created.

10 – Click Create password.

11 – Type the new password into both password fields and enter your password hint (in case you ever forget your password).

12 – Click the Create password button.

Here is the procedure for creating user accounts in Windows 8/8.1:

1 – Log in to a user account that has Administrator privileges.

2 – While on the Start Screen, type Add User.

3 – Click Give other users access to this computer.

4 – Scroll down and click on Add a user.

5 – Click Sign in without a Microsoft account.

6 – Click on the Local account button.

7 – Type a name for the new account into the text box (the user’s first name typically works fine).

8 – If desired, enter a password for the account along with a password hint.

9 – Click the Next button.

Here is the procedure for creating user accounts in Windows 10:

1 – Log in to a user account that has Administrator privileges.

2 – Press the Windows+S key combination to open a Search box.

3 – Type user into the Search box and select Add, edit or remove other people from the list of search results.

4 – Click Add someone else to this PC.

5 – Ignore the text box and click the link stating I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.

6 – Ignore the form on the current screen and click the link stating Add a user without a Microsoft account.

7 – Fill out the form on this page, then click the Next button to create the account.

That’s all there is to it. Your computer will be safer from viruses and drive-by software installations now that you’ll be using it with a limited user account.

Bonus tip #1: Are you new to Windows 10? Do you want to learn all its ins-and-outs? If so, a fantastic book called Windows 10 for Dummies can help!

Bonus tip #2: Want to make sure you never miss one of my tips? Click here to join my Rick’s Tech Tips Facebook group!

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