Enable your Guest Account for your kids and grandkids

This tip is for Windows XP through Windows 8.

After all the computers we’ve worked on since February one thing we noticed was how many of you have kids or grandkids that use your computer. How many times have we heard, “I don’t know how that got there! It must have been my — son, grandson, grandkids, daughter, granddaughter — who installed that! Get it off my computer!

There’s a way you can allow your kids and grandkids to use your computer but not make any changes to it — and it’s as simple as activating the Guest account in Control Panel/Users — and securing your account with a password (a strong password).

Those using a Guest account cannot make changes to your computer, but they can access the Internet — Facebook and the like.

A guest account is an account for users who don’t have a permanent account on your computer. It allows people to use your computer without having access to your personal files. People using the guest account can’t install software or hardware, change settings, or create a password.

You have to turn on the guest account before it can be used. And here’s how you do that.

1. Open User Accounts in Control Panel.
2. Click Guest.
3. Click Turn On the Guest Account. The guest account will be activated. Now, a user without a user account can use your computer but not make any changes to it.

In Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 — you may have to click “Manage another account” before you see the “Guest” account. To turn it on, click on Turn On the Guest Account

It’s a great way to allow others to use your computer while protecting the integrity of your computer and the confidentiality of your personal files and folders.

When your kids use your computer or your grandkids come over and use your computer – log out of your password-protected account and have them click on the Guest account icon to start using you computer.

Try it!