Ask Dave Taylor
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • YouTube Videos
  • Top Categories
  • Subscribe via Email
  • Ask A Question
  • Meet Dave
  • Home
  • Android Help
  • How to Set Up Multiple Users Accounts on Android Devices?

How to Set Up Multiple Users Accounts on Android Devices?

June 17, 2021 / Dave Taylor / Android Help / 1 Comment

My young son really wants to be able to use my Android tablet for his games, but since I use it for work, I’m leery of letting him have access to my files and data. Is there a way on Android to set up multiple user accounts so I can let him play in a different workspace than my account?

Most tech companies seem to be populated by people who believe that every member of the family should have their own devices. In particular, both smartphones and tablets seem to be designed for a single-user environment. But it doesn’t have to be that way and it turns out that Android has very good support built-in for multiple user accounts on a phone or tablet. You’re not as likely to set it up on your smartphone, but for tablets? It’s great. If you’re on an iPad, however, you are completely out of luck: iOS has no multiuser support, and indeed, when asked, Apple people suggest that each child have their own iPad. Good for sales, not necessarily realistic for most families, however.

It is a bit involved to set up Android user accounts, however, and the first step seems to be setting up a Google account for each member. Before we start, then, you’ll want to create a new Google account (e.g., usually a Gmail account but it’s not required) for your son. Once you’ve done that, here are the steps you’ll need to take…

HOW TO CREATE A NEW USER ON AN ANDROID DEVICE

If you only have one user set up on an Android device, your login screen will look like this:

android login - no user accounts

How can you tell that there aren’t multiple users set up? By the absence of a user icon on the top left corner of the screen. You’ll see what I mean when we get to the end of this process. For now, however, enter your PIN, swipe sequence, fingerprint, whatever you have set up so you can log in.

Then go to Settings and look for “Users & accounts“, as highlighted:

android add new user - settings menu

Tap on “Users & accounts” within the Android Settings app. There are just a few options, which is probably why most people never go to this area of the Android configuration app. The key option is the very first, however:

android add new user - multiple users

By default, Android disables multiple user support, so the first step is to enable it. That’s done by, you guessed it, tapping on “Multiple users“.

It’s easy, just a setting to tap on so it’s ON rather than OFF:

android add new user - enable multiple users

Once you’ve enabled it, a number of additional options magically appear underneath that setting, no new page required.

You’ll be shown a list of existing users, with you as Owner and Admin:

android add new user - enable multiple users - add new user

From this point, just tap on “Add user or profile“. A small window pops up so you can specify if you want a regular user or restricted user profile created:

android add new user - sure you want to add new user

As it specifies, regular Users “have their own apps and content”, while Restricted profiles “restrict access to apps and content from your account”.

You might want to set up a Restricted profile for your son, but I’m going to proceed with a regular user account for this demo. A tap on “User” and we can proceed…

android add new user - add new user account confirmation

This says: “You can share this device with other people by creating additional users. Each user has their own space, which they can customize with apps, wallpaper, and so on. Users can also adjust device settings like WLAN that affect everyone. When you add a new user, that person needs to set up their space. Any user can update apps for all other users. Accessibility settings and services may not transfer to the new user.”

All good. Tap on “OK” to proceed.

Now if you’re setting up an account for your partner or an older child (e.g., a regular user account), you’ll want to hand the phone or tablet to them because it’s time for them to set up their preferences. Or perhaps you want to do it yourself. Either way, it’s time to…

SET UP A NEW USER ON AN ANDROID DEVICE

Ready? This is going to take a while. The first prompt is thus:

android add new user - set up new user

You’re now thinking “okay, this should be pretty smooth” but for reasons I cannot explain, I kept encountering this status update:

android add new user - checking for updates

It would grind along, then back up to the previous screen, on which I would tap “Continue” just to have it whir along, checking for updates again. Perhaps a bug in the new user setup process, but tedious, for sure. Eventually, though, I did succeed in getting to the next step:

android add new user - who is going to use this device?

So this is another way you can choose between a restricted or full user account setup. Why they don’t have synchronized naming I can’t say, but as is undoubtedly obvious, choose “An adult or a teen” for a regular account or “A child” for a restricted account. Again, I’ll choose “An adult or a teen” on this Android new user setup process.

Now, remember when I said you should start by setting up a Google account for the new user? Here’s where you’ll want to sign in to that account:

android add new user - google account signin sign in

Once you’re logged in (and I hope you had to use two-factor authentication on the new account for security! If you don’t know how to set that up, please check Enable 2-Factor Authentication on Google Accounts and get it set up soonest).

Almost done. One last step: Set up some sort of PIN or another type of login for the new account. For your child, it might be 1111 or similar, not great security for the tablet, but if they can’t remember the password, you’ll just endlessly have to assist them otherwise.

set up new android user - enter pin

And now you’re done. Huzzah! Add a few apps that your child loves or let the other user set up their account as desired. One tip: Give each account a different desktop wallpaper and you’ll always be able to tell at a glance if they’re using your account or their own.

ANDROID LOGIN SCREEN WITH MULTIPLE USER ACCOUNTS

Remember how we started with the login screen and I said that by omission I could tell that multiple users weren’t enabled and set up? Now you can see what I mean when you look at the top left of this login screen:

android user login screen - user profile info shown

Yes, on the top left is the (rather boring) “Owner”. What’s not obvious is that by tapping on that you will display a list of all user accounts on the device. In this instance, I set up an account for a rather famous Belgian reporter…

android user login screen - multiple user accounts shown

And that’s how it’s done. Once you have one new account set up, it’s easy to add even more, so have fun configuring your Android device to be perfect for your family!

Pro Tip: I’ve been writing about Android since the beginning of the operating system. While you’re visiting, please do check out my extensive Android help area for lots more tutorials and how-to guides. Thanks!

About the Author: Dave Taylor has been involved with the online world since the early days of the Internet. Author of over 20 technical books, he runs the popular AskDaveTaylor.com tech help site. You can also find his gadget reviews on YouTube and chat with him on Twitter as @DaveTaylor.

Let’s Stay In Touch!

Never miss a single article, review or tutorial here on AskDaveTaylor, sign up for my fun weekly newsletter!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please enter all required fields
Correct invalid entries
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz
Please choose a color:
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!
add new android user, add tablet user, android add user, android new user, new tablet user, tablet child account

One comment on “How to Set Up Multiple Users Accounts on Android Devices?”

  1. Giles says:
    September 22, 2021 at 2:34 pm

    Hi, can anyone help me. I have a Lenovo tablet with android. I’m trying to add my child’s account I follow the steps above, I get to the point where my child is logging in, it then asks me the parent to sign in, then it says it’s setting up family link, then it just says something went wrong and I have to start again. I’m stuck.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

  • How to Check Energy Recommendations on your Windows Laptop
  • How Do I Customize New Tab Windows in Safari for Mac?
  • Can AI-Generated ChatGPT Text Be Accurately Identified?
  • How to Perform a Microsoft Account Security Audit and Checkup
  • How Can I Customize My Linux Dock / Taskbar?

On Our YouTube Channel

How to: Replace a Switchbot Door Sensor Battery

EMEET Luna vs INNOTRIK Studio Bluetooth Speakerphones -- DEMOS & REVIEW

Categories

  • AdSense, AdWords, and PPC Help (106)
  • Amazon, eBay, and Online Shopping Help (163)
  • Android Help (226)
  • Apple iPad Help (147)
  • Apple Watch Help (53)
  • Articles, Tutorials, and Reviews (346)
  • Auto Tech Help (15)
  • Business Advice (200)
  • ChromeOS Help (31)
  • Computer & Internet Basics (778)
  • d) None of the Above (166)
  • Facebook Help (383)
  • Google, Chrome & Gmail Help (188)
  • HTML & Web Page Design (247)
  • Instagram Help (49)
  • iPhone & iOS Help (623)
  • iPod & MP3 Player Help (173)
  • Kindle & Nook Help (99)
  • LinkedIn Help (88)
  • Linux Help (173)
  • Linux Shell Script Programming (89)
  • Mac & MacOS Help (911)
  • Most Popular (16)
  • Outlook & Office 365 Help (33)
  • PayPal Help (68)
  • Pinterest Help (54)
  • Reddit Help (19)
  • SEO & Marketing (82)
  • Spam, Scams & Security (95)
  • Trade Show News & Updates (23)
  • Twitter Help (220)
  • Video Game Tips (66)
  • Web Site Traffic Tips (62)
  • Windows PC Help (947)
  • Wordpress Help (206)
  • Writing and Publishing (72)
  • YouTube Help (47)
  • YouTube Video Reviews (159)
  • Zoom, Skype & Video Chat Help (62)

Archives

Social Connections:

Ask Dave Taylor


Follow Me on Pinterest
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Instagram


AskDaveTaylor on Facebook



microsoft insider mvp


This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this site or on any linked site. Further, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to our terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site. Our lawyer says "Thanks for your cooperation."
© 2023 by Dave Taylor. "Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.
Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions - Accessibility Policy