How to Create Windows 10 Local Account—4 Methods

The Windows 10 Pro version can have a local account. In version 1903, this facility was not possible. Creation of a Microsoft account is the first preference, even after the 2004 version. This update is also referred to as the May 2020 update.

The sad part is that most of the Windows Store apps and services require a Microsoft account. You are without your arsenal. But with a local account you are at peace with privacy and security. Fewer chances of online fraud.

In Windows 10, you can switch to a local account at the login screen after its creation.

During the OOBE (out-of-the-box experience) setup, there was an option to create a local account in earlier versions of Windows 10. You are required to choose a normal local account or Microsoft account during the installation.

Do I need a Microsoft account for Windows 10? This question arises for old users of Windows, who didn’t require any specific account.

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Method #1 – Change to Windows 10 Local Account after Installation

1. Press the Win + I keys to open Windows Settings.
2. Open Accounts > Your Info
3. Signing in with a local account instead is visible on the right-hand side.

4. 

5. Are you sure you want to switch to a local account? A pop-up dialog box appears.

6. 

7. Click on Next
8. Enter your PIN or verify your identity on your Microsoft account.

9. 

10. Enter your local account info

11. 

12. This includes username, new password, confirm password, and password hint.
13. Click on Next
14. Then, sign out and finish.

15. 

Method #2 – Create Local Admin Account Windows 10 CMD

There are different ways to create a local account in Windows 10. Initially, you can add with “standard user” privileges and then convert to an administrator account. This procedure can be done using the Settings app.

What if it’s not working on your computer or laptop?

Don’t worry, you can still build a local admin account in Windows 10 using the command prompt app.

Just 2 commands are sufficient to add your username and password to the local administrator group.

1. Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
2. Type the following command:

net user USER_NAME PASSWORD / add

A typical example, will include like this: net user “John Peter” 4675 /add

Here you have to change the USER_NAME and PASSWORD to your requirements.

1. Type the next command

net localgroup administrators USER_ACCOUNT / add

Make sure the USER_ACCOUNT is already created.

Sign out of your Microsoft account if you have already created one. On reboot you can see your “local account” sitting at the bottom of the screen. You can also check the created account in your Settings > Accounts > Family & other users. This method works even after the latest 2004 update in Oct, 2020.

Other CMD commands

There are other options for the above commands.

net user username password /ADD /DOMAIN

This will add the local account to a DOMAIN. It is useful in a network or office environment. Replace DOMAIN with your network domain name.

Rename Local Account Name from Command Line

wmic useraccount where name='presentname' rename changename

• presentname = name of the current local user
• changename = new name you want to give to the local user

Apply the above command in an elevated prompt.

Rename the administrator name to a custom name using CMD

wmic useraccount where name='administrator' rename admin

This will replace the administrator name with the given new name you give. I was expecting the label “Administrator – Local Account” to change after this command execution. But it was the same.

Set Full Name with CMD

net user username password /ADD /FULLNAME:"User_Fullname"

Allow User to Change Password

net user username password /ADD /PASSWORDCHG: Yes

Restrict Change of Password

net user username userpasswd /ADD /PASSWORDCHG:NO

Method #3 – Create Local Account on Windows 10 for Non-Family Users

Family & other users is an option in the Accounts section of the Settings app. You can add a friend or relative to your Windows 10 computer or laptop using the “Other users” option. For this purpose, you can create a local account with standard privileges.

Later, you can change to an “Administrator” account. This user can still have his personalized themes, settings, and apps without access to your Microsoft account. In this way, you are protected from misuse of your account.

1. Press Start > Settings > Accounts.
2. Click on “Family & other users” on the left-hand side.
3. Click on “Add someone else to this PC.” ”.

4. 

5. A Microsoft pop-up will come up. Click the “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” link at the bottom.

6. 

7. On the next screen, click on “Add a user without a Microsoft account.” ”.

8. 

9. Then, the Create a user for this PC screen shows up.
10. Enter the username and password two times.
11. After the 1809 version, you are also given the choice to enter the hint questions.

12. 

Note: There are generally 3 hint questions.

1. Click on Next
2. A local account is created.

You can sign out of your Microsoft account to test your new local account.

Change the local account type to administrator.

1. Click the username created earlier.
2. The “change account type” option appears.
3. Click on it.
4. There are two roles—administrator and standard user.
5. Select “Administrator” from the drop-down.
6. This will make it an admin account.

Method #4 – How to Create Local Admin Account in Windows 10 if Locked – Using CMD

This requires a Windows 10 installation disc and utilman.exe and cmd.exe files. There can be several reasons why you can’t sign in to your account. You forgot your password due to some virus, malware, and permissions preventing you from logging in. 

In that case, you can apply these commands.

1. Insert your Windows 10 install media and boot from it.
2. Press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt. 
3. Change the location of utilman.exe to the root of your system drive. 

move c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\

1. Then replace utilman.exe in the system32 folder with cmd.exe.

copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe

where C: is the OS or system drive. 

1. Remove the Windows 10 Installation CD/DVD or USB. 
2. Type the following command to reboot from the hard drive. 

wpeutil reboot

These are generally applied at X:\Sources of the installation disk. 

1. On booting, click the Utility Manager icon. This action will open the Command Prompt, as we have changed the related system files. 
2. Now apply the same commands as above to create a local administrator account in Windows 10. 
3. Restore the Utility Manager. 
4. Reboot Windows 10 using the installation disc. Press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt. 
5. Then enter the following command. 

copy c:\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe" to restore utilman.exe

Note: It is always better to restore Windows 10 to its normal settings after this process is over. 

1. Restart Windows 10 and sign in with your new local admin account. 
2. Then, you can change to your normal Microsoft or local account.

Pros and Cons of Local Account

Microsoft account is the parent for many services. These include OneDrive, Skype, Office, Meetings, Microsoft Store, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Defender, Personalization, and many other things. You can sync settings, files, documents, and photos using this online service. The cloud drive is useful if you are using multiple devices.

The advantage with a local account? You don’t require an internet connection. It is totally offline. So, the time delay of syncing files and connecting to the net can be totally skipped. A hard drive or SSD will be the primary source to store your files.

Also, you need to install software for your office and home requirements. This includes Adobe, CCleaner, photo and video-editing software, and Office 2013 or earlier versions. The computer speed will increase.

You can directly download installation media of Windows 10 using this link here.

Windows 10 Home

This version does not have the facility to create a local account. After the end of the setup, you need to register or log in with a Microsoft account to use Windows 10.

During installation, Windows 10 automatically detects the Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or other types of network. But, the option of a local account does not appear

You need to remove the Microsoft account from the Settings app and then proceed to the creation of a local account. But there is a workaround.

In the Home version, you need to check the label “I don’t have Internet” and skip the step to log in to your Wi-Fi. For some users, the option of “Continue with Limited Setup” is visible. Unplug the Ethernet cable and reverse back to the first page.

Then the option to create a local account is visible. This is a little crooked.

You may end up pulling and inserting the cable several times. You can also use “Airplane mode” if you are using a laptop. This setting will prevent internet access.

Windows 10 Pro

But in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions, you can always go to Settings to create a local account. This is possible even after the installation and using a Microsoft account.

During installation, the option of “Offline account” is visible at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. But this will force you to create or log in with a Microsoft account. You have to click the small “Limited Experience” button to create a local account.

Some users had a different experience with this process. If you are in a network, then a related term called “Domain Join” may be mentioned.

Which One—Microsoft or Local Account

The final conclusion is the speed of your computer vs cloud services. In the case of a local account, you don’t have access to cloud services. You have to manually open a browser and upload files. For other services also, like Microsoft Office 365, you need to rely on apps.

It is for you to decide which one you would prefer!