Table of contents

If you know how to use multiple local user accounts on windows 10, you can create as many local user accounts as you need. The challenge lies in how to manage Windows 10 user accounts if there are too many. So, can I disable a Windows 10 account?

Here’s what happens when you disable an account and how to do it.

What Does Disabling a User Account Mean?

Disabling a Windows account is different from deleting it. Deleting an account will remove everything within it. That includes personalized settings, apps, and files. On the other hand, disabling an account merely removes the account’s icon.

Disabling accounts can be an excellent extra security measure to safeguard your computer if you don’t want other users trying to access accounts which they shouldn’t. Combine such security measures with robust antimalware software like Auslogics Anti-Malware, in case some users create security threats.

Disabling User Accounts

Using Command Prompt (Windows 10 Home and Pro)

Home, Enterprise and Pro versions of Windows 10 offer Command Prompt functionality for enabling and disabling local user accounts. This method is easy, since the Command Prompt can be accessed quickly.

Follow this process:

  1. Click on the Windows Start button.
  2. In the search box, type cmd
  3. Locate Command Prompt within the options you get.
  4. Right-click on Command Prompt. Select Run as Administrator.
  5. When Command Prompt opens, you’ll see a prompt for typing.
  6. Type this command (replace <username> with the name of the account you’re disabling): net user <username> /active:no
  7. Wait for the command to be completed, then close Command Prompt.

Now, the user account is disabled. When signing in to Windows, you won’t see it as an active account.

If you don’t remember the name of the account you want to disable, you can find it in Command Prompt too. To do that, type: net user.

Command Prompt will display a list of user accounts.

Using Computer Management Tool (Windows 10 Pro)

Window 10 Pro users have the added option of using the Computer Management Tool to disable user accounts.

The Computer Management Tool provides access to multiple administrative tools, including Performance Monitor, Disk Manager, Device Manager, Task Scheduler, among others. It also features the Local Users and Groups section, which you can use to restrict user access on your device.

Follow this process:

  1. Go to Windows Start Menu.
  2. Search for Computer Management
  3. An alternative to step 2: press Windows + X and select Computer Management in the Power Users menu.
  4. The Computer Management window opens up. Navigate to System Tools, then to Local Users and Groups, and finally to Users.
  5. The right part will show all user accounts.
  6. Identify the user account you want to disable and right-click on it.
  7. Then click on Properties.
  8. The Properties window opens up. Select the checkbox labeled Account is Disabled.
  9. Save the changes by clicking OK.

Once you close Computer Management, the user account will be disabled.

Enabling User Accounts

When you want to re-enable the disabled user accounts, you’ll follow much of the same process as you did when disabling the accounts.

For the Home, Enterprise and Pro versions of Windows 10, use the Command Prompt:

  1. Click on the Windows Start button.
  2. In the search box, type cmd
  3. Locate Command Prompt within the options you get.
  4. Right-click on Command Prompt. Select Run as Administrator.
  5. When Command Prompt opens, you’ll see a prompt for typing.
  6. Type this command (replace <username> with the name of the account you’re enabling): net user <username> /active:yes
  7. Wait for the command to be completed, and then close Command Prompt.

For Window 10 Pro, use the Computer Management Tool:

  1. Go to Windows Start Menu.
  2. Search for Computer Management.
  3. An alternative to step 2: press Windows + X and select Computer Management in the Power Users menu.
  4. The Computer Management window opens up. Navigate to System Tools, then to Local Users and Groups, and finally to Users.
  5. The right part will show all user accounts.
  6. Identify the user account you want to enable and right-click on it.
  7. Then click on Properties.
  8. The Properties window opens up. Uncheck the checkbox labeled Account is Disabled.
  9. Save the changes by clicking OK.