How to Set Up a Child Account on Windows 11

Updated 21 October 2026 · 8 min read

Windows 11 gives you two paths: a local standard account, which needs no Microsoft account and no cloud profile, or a Microsoft child account, which unlocks Microsoft Family Safety. In both cases the child must be a standard user, not an administrator. The parent account stays the only administrator, and its password stays private.

The account setup is the foundation. Rules, filters and time limits are much easier to enforce when the child cannot install software, change the clock or create another account.

Option 1: A local child account (no Microsoft account)

This is the simplest path if you want a separate Windows profile without a Microsoft cloud account. It works on Windows 11 Home and Pro.

Sign in with the parent administrator account. Open Settings → Accounts → Other users (some builds call it Family & other users).
Add an account. Choose Add account → I don't have this person's sign-in information → Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Set a username and password. Use a password the child can remember. Do not reuse the parent password. A PIN can be added later.
Make it a standard user. Select the new account → Change account type → Standard user.
Sign in once. Sign in with the child account so Windows creates the profile, then sign back in as the parent.
Add the controls. Family Safety does not manage local accounts. Use a third-party time-limit app and, if needed, a DNS filter for content.

Trade-off: a local account avoids a Microsoft cloud profile, but some Microsoft Store apps and games may still ask for a Microsoft account. If the child needs the Store for school, a Microsoft child account may be simpler.

Option 2: A Microsoft child account (Family Safety)

This path is more work to set up, but it unlocks Microsoft Family Safety: screen time, app and game limits, web filtering in Edge and activity reports.

Create or choose a Microsoft account for the child. A new email address is fine. The child does not need to use it for personal mail.
Add the child to your family. Sign in at account.microsoft.com/family and choose Add a family member → Add a child. The child accepts the invitation.
Sign in on the child's PC. Use the child's Microsoft account in Windows. In Settings → Accounts, set the account type to Standard user.
Open Family Safety. At family.microsoft.com select the child and open Screen time and Content filters to set limits and browsing rules.
Test the setup. Sign in as the child and check that the limits apply. If they do not, see the Family Safety troubleshooting guide.

Important: Family Safety works with Microsoft accounts only. A local account is not covered, and a child with administrator rights can change the settings.

Local or Microsoft child account?

Your priority	Better choice	Why
No Microsoft cloud profile for the child	Local account	No email address or cloud sign-in required
Built-in screen time and Family Safety	Microsoft child account	Family Safety does not manage local accounts
Microsoft Store games and apps	Microsoft child account	Some Store content requires a Microsoft account
Simple setup with a third-party time limiter	Local account	Fewer accounts and less sync to troubleshoot
Web filtering in every browser	Either, plus a system-wide filter	Family Safety filters Edge; a DNS filter covers all browsers

What to do after the account is created

Keep the parent account as the only administrator. The child must not be able to change the account type.
Set a parent password the child does not know. Do not use a blank password or a PIN the child has seen you type.
Move the child's files. If the child used the parent account before, copy documents, saves and bookmarks into the new profile. Windows profiles are isolated.
Set up time limits. With a Microsoft account, use Family Safety. With a local account, use a third-party app such as ScreenRhythm's free plan.
Add a filter. A router-level DNS filter covers every device; a system-wide app filter covers the PC. Family Safety's filter is Edge-only.
Explain the rules. A visible schedule and a short written agreement reduce the “why is this blocked?” conversations. See the screen time agreement template.

Common problems

The child cannot sign in

Check the password, the account type and whether the account is local or Microsoft. A parent administrator can reset a local password in Settings → Accounts → Other users. For a Microsoft account, use the Microsoft account recovery page.

The child can still install apps

The account is probably an administrator. Change it to Standard user. If the child knows the parent password, change it and do not share it.

Family Safety does not apply

The child may be signed in with a local account or a different Microsoft account. Compare the email in Settings → Accounts → Your info with the email in the family group. See the troubleshooting guide.

The Store asks for a Microsoft account

This is normal for some Store content. If you want to keep the local account, use apps from outside the Store or accept the Microsoft account for the Store only. If the child needs the Store regularly, a Microsoft child account is easier.

Questions

Can I create a child account on Windows 11 without a Microsoft account?

Yes. Create a local account, then change its type to Standard user. The child can sign in without a Microsoft account. The trade-off is that Microsoft Family Safety does not manage local accounts, so time limits and filtering need a third-party app or Windows settings.

Should the child be an administrator?

No. A standard user cannot install software, change network settings or create accounts. An administrator can undo most parental controls. Keep the parent account as the only administrator and keep its password private.

Why can't my child sign in to the new account?

Check the password, the account type and whether the account was created as a local account or a Microsoft account. If the child forgets the password, a parent administrator can reset it in Settings, Accounts, Other users.

Do I need a Microsoft account for the Microsoft Store?

Some Store apps and games require a Microsoft account even on a local Windows account. If the child needs the Store for school apps, a Microsoft child account may be simpler. If not, a local account avoids the cloud profile.

How do I set time limits on a local child account?

Windows itself does not provide per-app time limits for local accounts. Use a third-party app that enforces a daily limit and schedule, and keep the child on a standard account so the app and the parent password cannot be removed.

A time limit for the local account

ScreenRhythm's free plan sets a daily limit, breaks, a schedule and a screen lock on Windows 10/11. No Microsoft account required.

Download for Windows

ScreenRhythm is our product. We describe Windows and Microsoft Family Safety honestly, including where a Microsoft account is the better fit. Windows settings and labels can change between builds.