How to Add a Guest Account in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up a Guest Profile on Windows 11: The Honest Way

Thinking of creating a guest account on your Windows 11 PC? It’s a smart move if you want to keep nosy visitors from poking around your personal stuff. Unlike earlier Windows versions, this one makes it a bit trickier, but it’s still totally doable. Basically, you just need to create a local user account that doesn’t have access to your personal files or settings. The path to do this is via the Settings > Accounts menu. Not too complicated, right?

Getting to the Settings

Start by hitting the Windows button and clicking on Settings. You’ll probably find it on the taskbar or just search for it. Quick tip: press Windows + I and it’ll open straight away. Once you’re in, you’re ready to manage accounts. The navigation is pretty straightforward this time around.

Accessing Accounts

In the Settings menu, click on Accounts. This is where all the user management magic happens — details, family settings, and more. From here, you can tweak user profiles easily.

Finding Family & Other Users

Next, click on Family & other users in the sidebar. This is your go-to spot for adding new users or managing existing ones. For a guest account, avoid using a Microsoft account, as that can add unnecessary hassle. On some devices, if options seem limited, you can switch to Computer Management. Right-click the Start button, select Computer Management > Local Users and Groups > Users, and you can set permissions there if needed.

Adding a New User

Under Other users, click on Add account. The process is quite straightforward. Make sure you’re setting up a separate profile, not linked to your main account. That’s the whole point of a guest account.

Setting Up a Local Profile

When prompted to add a Microsoft account, select “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”, then click “Add a user without a Microsoft account”. (Alternatively, you can spin up a local account directly through Computer Management > Local Users and Groups > Users > New User.) Essentially, you’re creating an account that’s not tied to email or cloud services. Name it something like “Guest”, and for simplicity, you can leave the password blank — makes it easier for visitors to log in.

If you prefer using the Command Prompt, here’s how: run

net user Guest /add /active:yes

and, if you want no password, run

net user Guest ""

. Remember, you’ll need administrator rights to do this, so right-click the Start button and choose Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).

Once done, congratulations—you’ve set up a guest profile! No more worries about guests browsing through your personal files.

Managing Guest Accounts Responsibly

A few tips: give the guest account a clear name so you know who’s who. If it’s a kid or someone less tech-savvy, consider enabling parental controls via Settings > Privacy & Security > Family & other users > Family safety. For more control, you can also use the Local Group Policy Editor: run gpedit.msc and navigate to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment to set restrictions.

It’s a good idea to periodically review and tidy up guest sessions. Use Storage Sense in Settings > System > Storage or run cleanmgr via Command Prompt to clear out temporary files. Better safe than sorry, right?

Frequently Asked Questions About Guest Accounts

Can I limit what guests can access?

Absolutely. By default, guest accounts have pretty limited access, but you can tighten things further using privacy settings. Just head to Settings > Privacy & Security and customise app and device access restrictions.

Is a guest account secure?

Yes, as long as it’s not an admin and you keep an eye on it. Less access means less risk, especially on shared PCs.

Can I delete the guest account anytime?

Of course. Just go back to Family & other users and remove it. Or, via Command Prompt, run:

net user Guest /delete

Will removing it affect my files?

Nope. The guest account is separate, so your personal files won’t be affected. It’s a nice little safeguard.

Can I set up multiple guest accounts?

Definitely. Just repeat the process for each new guest account you want. Each can be customised based on how much access you prefer.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a guest profile in Windows 11 is a clever way to share your computer while keeping your data under wraps. Sure, it’s a bit more involved than older versions, but no big drama. Perfect if family or friends need to use your PC for a bit without messing with your stuff.

Knowing how to create and manage these accounts keeps your privacy in check while still being generous with shareability. Just remember, keep guest profiles limited—no admin privileges needed—and make sure your main account has a strong password and is kept up to date. Happy sharing, and may your guest users be respectful!