Turn the guest account on or off
If you want someone to have temporary access to your computer, you can create a guest account. People using the guest account can't install software or hardware, change settings, or create a password.
Because the guest account allows a user to log on to a network, browse the Internet, and shut down the computer, you should disable the guest account when it isn't being used.
Note
The guest account is not available on Windows 7 Starter.
The steps that you should follow will vary, depending on whether your computer is on a domain or a workgroup. To find out, see "To check if your computer is on a workgroup or domain" in What is the difference between a domain, a workgroup, and a homegroup?
Show all
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Open User Accounts by clicking the
Start button
, clicking
Control Panel, clicking
User Accounts, and then clicking
User Accounts again.
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Click Manage User Accounts.
If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
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Click the Advanced tab, click Advanced, and then click Users.
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Double-click Guest.
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In the Guest Properties dialog box, select or clear the Account is disabled check box.
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Click OK.
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Open User Accounts by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking User Accounts and Family Safety (or clicking User Accounts, if you are connected to a network domain), and then clicking User Accounts.
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Click Manage another account.
If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
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Do one of the following:
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If the guest account is off, click Guest, and then click Turn On.
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If the guest account is on, click Guest, and then click Turn off the guest account.
