How to temporarily disable an account on Windows 10

On Windows 10, you tin can add multiple accounts to share a device with other people — that way anybody can have a personal and custom space with their ain desktop, browser bookmarks, and divide files.

When an account is no longer needed, using the Settings app is also super-like shooting fish in a barrel to delete a user along with their settings and files, but if yous only need to block someone temporarily, you won't find an selection to but disable an account. However, information technology doesn't mean that you need to lock the door or delete the account just to temporarily foreclose someone from accessing the device, every bit information technology's yet possible to use Reckoner management and Command Prompt to disable an business relationship.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to disable a user account when you lot're sharing your PC with multiple users, and you're planning to recapitulate access in the future.

How to disable a Windows 10 business relationship using Computer Management
How to disable a Windows 10 business relationship using Command Prompt

How to disable a Windows 10 business relationship using Figurer Management

On Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, yous tin use Computer Management to manage various aspects of an account, including the ability to restrict admission to an business relationship.

Open Start.
Search for Computer Management and click the top result to open up the console.

Quick tip: You tin also use the Windows fundamental + X keyboard shortcut and selecting Computer Direction.
Browse the post-obit path:

System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users
Double-click the business relationship you want to disable. (If the user account is using a Microsoft account, notation that the name will only use the first five messages of the electronic mail accost. If you want the account to employ a custom name, you lot can refer to this guide.)
Under the "General" tab, cheque the Account is disabled option.
Click Apply.
Click OK.

In one case you've completed the steps, the account will no longer be accessible, nor it'll appear equally an available account on the sign-in screen.

If you want to revert the changes to enable the account again, simply follow the same instructions, simply on step No. 5, make sure to clear the Account is disabled selection.

How to disable a Windows 10 business relationship using Command Prompt

If you feel more comfortable using commands, or your device is running Windows 10 Home, you can use Command Prompt to disable or enable a Windows 10 account.

OpenStart.
Search forCommand Prompt.
Right-click the outcome and selectRun as ambassador.
Type the following command to list all the available accounts added on your computer and pressEnter:

net user
Type the following command to disable the business relationship and printing Enter:

internet user username /active:no

In the above command replace username with the proper name of the business relationship you want to restrict access.

Afterwards completing the steps, the business relationship you lot've disabled will no longer be accessible and information technology'll not be listed on the sign-in screen.

At any time you can enable the Windows 10 business relationship again using the same instructions, simply on footstep No. 5, use the cyberspace user username /activate:yes command.

While nosotros're focusing this guide on Windows x, y'all can likewise use the same instructions to disable or enable an account on Windows viii.1 and Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to mutual questions nigh Windows ten, visit the following resources:

Windows ten on Windows Central – All you need to know
Windows ten aid, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

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