In the Windows operating system, managing account settings is essential for personalizing your user experience and ensuring the security of your system. This article will guide you through the process of configuring account settings, including creating new accounts, modifying existing ones, and managing permissions using both the graphical user interface (GUI) and command-line tools like Command Prompt (CMD) and PowerShell.

Creating a New User Account

Using the GUI

1. Open Settings: Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Accounts: Click on "Accounts" from the list of options.
3. Family & Other Users: Select "Family & other users" from the left sidebar.
4. Add Someone Else to This PC: Click on "Add someone else to this PC."
5. Create Account: Follow the prompts to create a new user account, either with a Microsoft account or a local account.

Using Command Prompt

To create a new user account via CMD, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for cmd in the Start menu, right-click on it, and select "Run as administrator."

2. Execute the Command: Type the following command and press Enter:

   net user NewUsername NewPassword /add

   Replace NewUsername with the desired username and NewPassword with a secure password.

Modifying User Accounts

Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides a robust way to modify user accounts. Here's how to change a user's password:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator: Search for PowerShell in the Start menu, right-click on it, and select "Run as administrator."

2. Execute the Command: Use the following command to change the password:

   Set-LocalUser -Name "ExistingUsername" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "NewPassword" -AsPlainText -Force)

   Replace ExistingUsername with the username of the account and NewPassword with the new password.

Managing User Permissions

Using Command Prompt

To add a user to a group, such as making them an administrator, use the following command:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

2. Execute the Command:

   net localgroup Administrators ExistingUsername /add

   Replace ExistingUsername with the username you wish to add to the Administrators group.

Examples

• Creating a User: net user JohnDoe P@ssw0rd /add
• Changing a Password: Set-LocalUser -Name "JohnDoe" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "NewP@ssw0rd" -AsPlainText -Force)
• Adding to Administrators: net localgroup Administrators JohnDoe /add