Create a Local Standard User Account and Safely Migrate from Admin

Create a Local Standard User Account and Safely Migrate from Admin​

Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 20 minutes
Using an administrator (admin) account for everyday work makes your PC more vulnerable to malware, accidental changes, and data loss. A safer approach is:

1. Use a local standard user account for daily activities.
2. Keep the admin account only for changes and installations.

This tutorial walks you through creating a local standard user account in Windows 10/11 and safely moving your daily work to it, step by step.

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Prerequisites​

Before you begin, make sure:

1. You have access to an administrator account
   • You must be logged in as an admin to create or change other user accounts.
2. You know your admin password
   • Important if you’re using a Microsoft account with a PIN or Windows Hello; you may be prompted for the actual password.
3. You’re on Windows 10 or Windows 11
   • Steps are very similar in both. Where they differ, both paths are shown.

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Part 1 – Create a Local Standard User Account​

Step 1: Open the Accounts settings​

Windows 10

1. Click Start.
2. Click the gear icon (⚙) to open Settings.
3. Go to Accounts.

Windows 11

1. Right-click Start and select Settings, or press Win + I.
2. In the left pane, click Accounts.

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Step 2: Open Family & other users / Other users​

Windows 10

1. In Accounts, click Family & other users in the left sidebar.

Windows 11

1. In Accounts, click Family & other users (sometimes just Other users, depending on build).

You should now see options to add new users.

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Step 3: Start adding a local account​

1. Under Other users (or Family & other users), click:
   • Add someone else to this PC
2. A Microsoft account sign-in window will appear.
3. Click the small link that says:
   • I don’t have this person’s sign-in information
     Then on the next screen:
   • Add a user without a Microsoft account

Note: This is the critical step that makes the account local (not tied to an online Microsoft account).

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Step 4: Choose a username and password​

1. In the Create a user for this PC window:
   • User name: Enter something like DailyUser, Work, or your name.
   • Password: Enter a strong password you can remember.
   • Confirm the password.
   • Fill the Security questions (Windows 10/11) – choose questions and answers you’ll remember.
2. Click Next.

You’ve now created a local account. By default, it should be a Standard user (not admin), but we’ll verify that next.

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Part 2 – Confirm the Account Is a Standard User​

To be safe, let’s check the account type.
Windows 10

1. Still in Settings > Accounts > Family & other users:
   • Under Other users, click the new account you just created.
   • Click Change account type.
2. In the popup:
   • Make sure Account type is set to Standard User, not Administrator.
   • If it’s Administrator, change it to Standard User.
3. Click OK.

Windows 11

1. In Settings > Accounts > Other users:
   • Click the down arrow or three dots (…) next to the new user.
   • Select Change account type.
2. Ensure Standard User is selected.
3. Click OK.

Warning: Do not remove admin rights from your only admin account. You must always keep at least one admin available on the system.

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Part 3 – Set Up and Customize the New Standard Account​

Now we’ll log into the new account and prepare it for daily use.

Step 1: Sign out and sign in to the new account​

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Sign out
   – or –
   Click Start > your profile icon > Sign out.
2. At the login screen, select the new account (e.g., DailyUser).
3. Enter the password and sign in.

Windows will set up your new desktop. This might take a minute the first time.

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Step 2: Set up your desktop and start menu​

In the new account:

1. Pin frequently used apps to the taskbar:
   • Open the app (e.g., browser, mail).
   • Right-click its icon on the taskbar and select Pin to taskbar.
2. Adjust basic settings:
   • Right-click the desktop and choose Personalize to adjust theme, wallpaper, etc.
   • Open Settings > System > Display / Sound / Notifications and tweak as needed.
3. Configure browser and bookmarks:
   • Open your browser.
   • Sign into your browser’s sync (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) if you use it.
   • Import or sync your bookmarks, extensions, and passwords.

Tip: If you used a browser sync (e.g., Chrome sign-in) on your old admin account, logging in with the same Google/Microsoft account in the new profile will usually bring your bookmarks and extensions over automatically.

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Part 4 – Move Your Personal Data Safely​

You’ll likely want documents, pictures, and downloads from your old admin profile.

Step 1: Open both user folders​

1. Log in to your new standard account.
2. Open File Explorer (Win + E).
3. In the address bar, type:
   C:\Users and press Enter.
4. You should see folders for each user:
   • Your old admin user folder (e.g., AdminName)
   • Your new standard user folder (e.g., DailyUser)

Note: You may be prompted for an administrator password to access another user’s folders. This is normal. Enter the admin credentials when asked.

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Step 2: Copy key folders​

Inside C:\Users\OldAdminName\ you’ll see common folders:

• Documents
• Pictures
• Desktop
• Downloads
• Music
• Videos

1. Open the old folder, for example:
   C:\Users\OldAdminName\Documents
2. Press Ctrl + A to select all contents.
3. Press Ctrl + C to copy.
4. Navigate to your new user’s folder, e.g.:
   C:\Users\DailyUser\Documents
5. Press Ctrl + V to paste.

Repeat for Pictures, Desktop, and any other folders you use.

Warning:

• Avoid copying AppData or entire profile folders wholesale.
• Copy only your personal files (documents, photos, etc..
• Copying the whole profile can bring over bugs, corrupted settings, or old junk.

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Part 5 – Manage Apps and Elevation (Using Admin When Needed)​

Your standard account won’t be able to install software or change system settings without admin approval. That’s the point—it keeps you safe.

How to run a program as admin when necessary​

1. In your standard account, right-click the app or installer.
2. Choose Run as administrator.
3. When prompted by User Account Control (UAC):
   • Enter the admin username and password.
   • Click Yes.

This lets you keep your daily account restricted while still being able to adjust the system when needed.

Tip: If you see frequent UAC prompts from programs you don’t fully trust or recognize, stop and double-check what you’re running before entering admin credentials.

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Part 6 – (Optional) Reduce Daily Use of the Admin Account​

Once the new standard account is set up and you’ve confirmed everything works, you can minimize your time spent in the admin account.

Step 1: Stop using the admin account for daily tasks​

• Use the standard account for browsing, email, documents, and games.
• Only log into the admin account when:
  • Installing/uninstalling software
  • Changing system settings
  • Managing other user accounts

Step 2: Confirm there is always at least one admin​

You must keep at least one admin account:

1. Sign in with the admin account.
2. Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users / Other users.
3. Ensure your original admin account is still Administrator.
4. Do not downgrade your last admin account to Standard—if you do, you’ll lock yourself out of admin tasks.

Advanced note: If you want a separate “MaintenanceAdmin” account and demote your original one later, create the new admin first, confirm it works, then adjust the other account’s type. Always keep one admin.

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Troubleshooting & Tips​

Problem: I can’t access my old user folder from the new account.
Fix:

• Make sure you’re entering the correct admin password when prompted.
• If you’re using a Microsoft account, this is the account password, not the PIN.

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Problem: Apps I installed on my admin account don’t show up in my standard account.
Fix:

• Many apps are installed per user, not system-wide.
• Reinstall them in the standard account by:
  • Downloading the installer, then
  • Right-click > Run as administrator and approve with admin credentials.

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Problem: I keep getting UAC prompts; it’s annoying.
Fix:

• That’s the security feature working.
• If UAC prompts appear constantly from the same app:
  • Consider if that app really needs admin rights.
  • Look for an alternative that doesn’t require them.
• Do not disable UAC; it’s a key protection layer.

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Tip: Use a password manager

• Since you now have at least two important accounts (admin + standard), using a password manager helps you keep strong, unique passwords without forgetting them.

Tip: Consider backing up your new profile

• After you’ve finished the migration, create a system restore point or a full backup so you can easily recover your setup if needed.

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Conclusion​

Using a local standard user account for everyday work and keeping an administrator account only for system changes is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve your PC’s security.
You’ve now:

• Created a local standard user account in Windows 10/11.
• Customized it for daily use.
• Safely moved your personal data from your admin account.
• Learned how to install apps and change settings by elevating to admin only when needed.

This setup reduces the risk of malware doing serious damage, prevents accidental system changes, and keeps your Windows environment cleaner over time.

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Key Takeaways:

• Use a standard user account for everyday tasks to reduce security risks.
• Keep at least one administrator account for software installs and system changes.
• Move only personal data, not entire profile folders, to avoid copying problems.
• Use Run as administrator and UAC prompts to perform admin tasks from your standard account.
• This setup works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 and can be done in around 20 minutes.

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This tutorial was generated to help WindowsForum.com users get the most out of their Windows experience.