How to add a new user account to your Mac

If you’ve just bought a spanking new Mac and plan to share it with your beloved or another person you should seriously consider adding a separate profile for each person. Adding a new user account means that you’ve got your own desktop and folders which you can deface and manage to your heart’s content without affecting the other user. You can also surf the net and manage your own web browser without worrying what the other person will find or see meaning you’ve both got a greater degree of privacy.

Adding a new user profile is straightforward on a Mac although new users may be initially confused by the fact that they have to unlock their Mac to make changes and also overlook the discreet but all important “+” symbol which allows you to add a new profile. Here’s how to do it:

• Go to the Apple icon in the top left and select “System Preferences…”

• Select “Accounts”

• If the padlock at the bottom of the panel is locked, click on it to unlock it. You’ll be prompted for your Mac admin password.

• Click the “+” symbol near the bottom left corner of the panel.

• You can choose to select from 4 different grades of account – Administrator, Standard,  Managed with Parental Controls or Sharing Only.

• Fill in your details and you’re done. If at any point you want to remove an account, just select it in the accounts list on along the left hand side and click the “-” symbol.