MacBook user accounts options and settings


There are a few types of user accounts that are available to you. Each type of account has its own set of privileges, allowing you to set restrictions on what other users can and cannot do. This is particularly helpful if you want to limit what your children are doing while using the computer, as you'll see in a moment.

Administrator Accounts

When you were setting up your MacBook for the first time, you automatically created an Administrator account for yourself. This account has the maximum permissions, which is what allowed you to install new software, make changes to the computer, and even create these new user accounts. As the owner of the MacBook, you'll probably want to limit the Administrator account to just yourself to prevent other users from making any system-wide changes or accidentally causing any computer-related chaos.

You might consider setting up a Standard account for yourself as well. You can log into the Administrator account when you need to install software or make system changes but use your other account for day-to-day computer activities.

Standard Accounts

Standard accounts still have permission to install software for their own use and to personalize their workspace, but they don't have the ability to work with user accounts or to make any system-wide changes. Unless someone else in your household needs to install software or make big changes to your computer, you are probably safe setting everyone else up with a Standard account.

Managed with Parental Controls

As a parent, you can regulate what your kids can and can't do when on the computer. You can restrict certain websites, limit the kids to using specific applications, and even set limits for how much time they spend on the computer.

Sharing Only Accounts

A Sharing Only account is for allowing someone to remotely access certain areas of your computer, such as browsing shared documents or folders. Once active, this account can only be logged into remotely.

Activate the Guest Account

Once you have the Guest account active on your MacBook, friends and family will be able to use your computer without having access to your personal documents.

If you want to set limits on what guest users can do on your MacBook, select the Enable Parental Controls check box.

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