If you’re tired of your kids, roommates, spouse or significant-other messing up the desktop (or browser, or settings or…) – just create a separate account for them to use. Here’s how:
Note: although the steps and screenshots used in this guide are specific to macOS Catalina (10.15), they are nearly identical as far back as OSX Tiger 10.4 – so if you’re using an older version of macOS you should have absolutely no trouble following along.
- Click the ‘Apple button’ and select System Preferences… from the menu.
- Select Users & Groups
- Click the ‘lock’ icon in the bottom-left corner of the window.
- Enter your password and click Unlock
- Now click the ‘plug sign’ ( + ) button located directly above the lock.
- From the New Account pull-down menu select the type of user you want to add. An Administrator account can create other accounts, edit the settings for those other accounts and has complete control over the Mac. A Standard user can install Apps and change their own settings, but they can’t add other users or view/edit other users settings. A Sharing Only account allows you to share files and folders with others on your network, but that account can’t log in or change settings on your computer.
- Once you’ve filled out the other fields click the Create User button.
- You may want to take a quick look at the Login Options if this is the first time you’ve added an additional account for your Mac.
- In all likelihood you’ll want to make sure Automatic login: is turned Off. Review the other options and make changes as you see fit.
- That’s it – all done!