How to Add an Extra Windows User on a Windows Server

Adding a second Windows account to your server is useful when several people manage the same machine, or when you want teammates to log in over Remote Desktop without sharing the Administrator password. This whole guide happens inside Windows on your server, so connect over Remote Desktop first.

1Open Local Users and Groups

• Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
• Type lusrmgr.msc and press Enter. The Local Users and Groups window opens.

2Create the User

• Open the Users folder, right-click in the empty space and choose New User.
• Enter a User name and a strong Password. The full name and description are optional.
• Untick User must change password at next logon. This prevents the "You must change your password before logging on the first time" error when connecting over Remote Desktop.
• We recommend ticking Password never expires for most users.
• Click Create, then Close.

3Allow Remote Desktop Access

• Open Settings from the Start menu and go to System, then Remote Desktop.
• Scroll down to User accounts and click Select users that can remotely access this PC.

4Add the User to the Remote Desktop Users

• Click Add.
• In the Enter the object names to select field, type the username you just created and click Check Names. The validated name appears underlined.

• Click OK to confirm the selection.

• Click OK again to close the Remote Desktop Users window.

Finished

The new user can now log in over Remote Desktop with the same server IP address and their own username and password. The connection steps are identical to connecting as Administrator, just with the new credentials.