A Mac can have more than one user. If it does, the main user (the administrator) can, and should, set up an account for each person so each can personalize settings and options without affecting other users. Let’s look at how to do this in macOS Sequoia.
To add a user:
° On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings.
° Click Users & Groups in the sidebar.
° Click the Add User button below the list of users. (You may have to enter your password.)
° Click the pop-up menu next to New User, then choose a type of user. Your choices are:
- Administrator: An administrator can add and manage other users, install apps, and change settings. The new user you create when you first set up your Mac is an administrator. Your Mac can have multiple administrators. You can create new ones, and convert standard users to administrators. Don’t set up automatic login for an administrator. If you do, someone could simply restart your Mac and gain access with administrator privileges. To keep your Mac secure, don’t share administrator names and passwords. However, I wouldn’t recommend setting up someone as an administrator unless you REALLY trust them.
- Standard: Standard users are set up by an administrator. Standard users can install apps and change their own settings, but can’t add other users or change other users’ settings.
- Sharing Only: Sharing-only users can access shared files remotely, but can’t log in to the computer or change settings. To give the user permission to access your shared files or screen, you may need to change options in File Sharing, Screen Sharing, or Remote Management settings.
- Enter a name for the new user. An account name is generated automatically. To use a different account name, enter it now—you can’t change it later.
- Enter a password for the user. Enter it again to verify it. And enter a password hint to help the user remember their password.
- Click Create User.
- Click Create User
Create a group
You can also create groups and choose automatic login options. A group allows multiple users to have the same access privileges. To add a group:
° On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings.
° Click Users & Groups in the sidebar.
° Click the Add Group button
° Give the group a name, then click Create Group.
Graphic: Name your group
° Click next to a group, then enable users in the list that appears.
As before, for new users to share your files and share your screen, you may need to change options in File Sharing, Screen Sharing, or Remote Management settings.
How to add a guest user
In addition to setting up multiple users on a Mac, you can let occasional users log in as guests without access to other users’ files or settings. Guests don’t have access to any of the data stored in other user accounts and can’t change anything. What’s more, any files and folders created by a guest user are deleted when they log out.
To set up a guest account:
° On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings.
° Click Users & Groups in the sidebar.
° Click the i icon next to Guest User > enable Allow guests to log in to this computer.
° If you want to restrict access to adult websites, switch it on.
° If you want to allow guests to access shared folders, switch on Allow guest users to connect to shared folders.
Now quit System Settings, and the guest account is set up.
