User Accounts in Windows 10

When you sign in to your computer, you're either using a local account or a Microsoft account. With a local account, your information is stored on the computer you're currently using. A Microsoft account accesses your preferences and information from the internet. When you use a Microsoft account, changing your desktop background image and color scheme on one computer will update any other computers you use with that account.

Add a PIN

A Personal Identification Number, or PIN, gives you quick sign-in access to your account without typing your regular password. Your other computers won't be affected by these changes.

1. Click Add under PIN.
   
2. Type a short PIN.
3. Type your account password, if prompted.
4. Type your PIN again to confirm.
5. Click OK.
   

Add or Manage Other Accounts

You can add a family or non-family member account. Family member accounts allow you to manage usage, block websites, and get activity reports. Once added, the new user can log in with his/her email address once connected to the internet.

1. Choose Family & other people.
2. Click Add someone else to this PC under Other people to add a non-family member account.
   
3. Type the user's email address, and then click Next.
   
4. Click Finish.
   

Synchronize Settings Between Devices

If you own a Windows PC, Windows tablet, or a Windows phone, you can use the same Microsoft account on each device and synchronize data. You can sync your background, theme, system settings, Edge data, app settings, and more.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click the Settings button.
   

   Settings categories appear.

3. Click Accounts.
   

   General information about your account appears.

4. Choose Sync your settings.
5. Toggle Sync settings to On under Sync your settings.

   Windows settings on other devices with your email address will be synced.

6. Toggle on or off individual settings under Individual sync settings to sync between devices.
   

Settings toggled off are not included when Windows syncs your data.

Switch User Accounts

Once multiple accounts are set up, you can easily switch user accounts without logging out or restarting your computer. The best part is that once logged in, each user's personalization settings, OneDrive files, and purchased apps will be available and downloaded as needed.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click your user profile photo button.

   The new user account appears in the menu.

3. Choose the other user's account.
   
4. Type the password, and then click the Sign In button.
   

At the first log in, it will take a minute to download his/her settings.