Multiple user accounts on a Windows computer? If this sounds strange to you, read on. Below we will see why adding multiple accounts to an operating system (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux or even Android tablets) is very helpful.
Why not use a single account?
On a computer with only one user account on your computer, everyone shares the same settings, the same applications, the same files, and of course the same permissions.
Application settings: When you use a single user account, all users who use the computer can use the same browser. This allows others to use your online accounts (if you don't log out), see your browsing history, passwords you may have saved in your browser, see your bookmarks, and more.
With different user accounts, everyone will have their own browser, which they can log in from without worrying. The same goes for other applications, such as email clients. Most programs can use different settings for each user account.
Files: With a user account, there are no private files. Anyone using the same user account can see your files. With different user accounts, other users won't be able to see the files stored in the user folder at C:\Users\your_name. You also won’t be able to see their files. It’s an added security measure if the other users are standard user accounts. It’s worth mentioning that administrators have full access to the system and all files on the computer.
System permissions: Other user accounts can be either standard user accounts or administrator accounts. If they’re standard accounts, you can use Windows’ built-in parental controls to set the limits you want on computer usage.
Also important in Windows 10, if you sign in with a Microsoft account by default, you also stay signed in to the Mail app while using the computer. So anyone using your account can open the “Mail” app and read your messages, even if you’re signed out of Microsoft’s Hotmail or Outlook.com in your browser.
[su_note note_color=”#ebebeb” text_color=”#271e45″ radius=”2″]With multiple user accounts, you have more control, since you can see when a user last logged on to your computer.[/su_note]
If you have created additional user accounts, you will see them on the Windows logon screen. System administrators have full access to the system, as mentioned above, while standard user accounts have limited access and need administrator privileges to install software, change certain system settings, view files that they do not have access to, and so on.
Each user account has its own separate folder with its name in the path C:\Users. An account’s personal files such as the “My Documents”, “Downloads” and “Desktop” folders are located in the folder with its name. Most applications store their data and settings in a specific user application data folder, so each user can have their own settings for each program they use.
Windows Guest Accounts
Guest accounts are a special type of user account designed for people who use your computer temporarily. If you have a guest who wants to use your computer to browse the web or check their email, you can give them access to a guest account instead of letting them use your own account or creating a new one.
That way, they won't see your personal data, even if they try.
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