Chromebooks are inexpensive and accessible, which means they’re often shared among families or even between friends. You can have up to five different user profiles on a Chromebook and switch between those accounts without logging out or back in. You can also give access to others using the Chromebook guest feature.

Create Multiple Users on One Chromebook

If more than one person is using a Chromebook, it’s easy to have multiple users. All you have to do is create an account for each additional user, up to five user accounts total. Here are the steps to create a new user account:

  • Assuming another user has already been set up on your Chromebook, the first thing you need to do is sign out of your account.
  • If this is a brand new Chromebook, you can create new user accounts following the instructions below Step 1.
  • On the account screen, click Add Person at the bottom of the page.
  • Enter the Google Account email address and password for the new user.
  • If the person you’re adding doesn’t have an existing account, they need to create a Google Account before moving forward.
  • You’re presented with a confirmation screen that also contains information about what is synced and how Google personalization services work. If you want, you can check the box next to Review sync options following setup, then click Accept and continue.
  • Review the Google Play Terms of Service and then click More.
  • On this screen you also have the option to select or deselect the option to Back up to Google Drive. Be sure to make your selection before you move forward.
  • Information regarding Location services is displayed. Review that information and decide whether you want to select or deselect the option, then click Accept.
  • Additional information is displayed about how Google Partners have access to your data. Review the information and then tap Continue.
  • Decide if you want to use the Voice Assistant (you can always come back to this later if you choose to). If you select I agree, you’re prompted to set up the Google Voice Assistant. If you tap No thanks, you move forward in the setup process.
  • On the next screen, review the information about how the Google Assistant can help you and then tap Done.
  • Decide if you want to connect your phone to your Chromebook account or not. The options are Accept & continue or No thanks. After this final selection, you’re taken to your new Chromebook user account.

How to Switch Between Users on a Chromebook

Once multiple accounts are created, switching between them doesn’t require any user to sign out of their account. Instead, you can switch from one user account to another in a few simple steps.

Assuming another user has already been set up on your Chromebook, the first thing you need to do is sign out of your account.

If this is a brand new Chromebook, you can create new user accounts following the instructions below Step 1.

On the account screen, click Add Person at the bottom of the page.

Enter the Google Account email address and password for the new user.

If the person you’re adding doesn’t have an existing account, they need to create a Google Account before moving forward.

You’re presented with a confirmation screen that also contains information about what is synced and how Google personalization services work. If you want, you can check the box next to Review sync options following setup, then click Accept and continue.

Review the Google Play Terms of Service and then click More.

On this screen you also have the option to select or deselect the option to Back up to Google Drive. Be sure to make your selection before you move forward.

Information regarding Location services is displayed. Review that information and decide whether you want to select or deselect the option, then click Accept.

Additional information is displayed about how Google Partners have access to your data. Review the information and then tap Continue.

Decide if you want to use the Voice Assistant (you can always come back to this later if you choose to). If you select I agree, you’re prompted to set up the Google Voice Assistant. If you tap No thanks, you move forward in the setup process.

On the next screen, review the information about how the Google Assistant can help you and then tap Done.

Decide if you want to connect your phone to your Chromebook account or not. The options are Accept & continue or No thanks. After this final selection, you’re taken to your new Chromebook user account.

  • Open the Quick Settings panel by clicking the clock at the bottom right of the page.
  • Select the profile photo for the account that’s signed in.
  • Click Sign in another user.
  • Select the profile of the user you want to switch to and enter that person’s password when prompted.
  • To ensure that other users cannot access your account when you’re finished using the Chromebook, you should select the Quick Settings panel, then click the lock icon to lock your account. Then, only users with a password can access the account.

How to Remove a User Account on Chromebook

If one of the people using your Chromebook no longer needs access to their account through your device, you can easily remove the account to make room for others if needed.

Although signing out of an account isn’t necessary to switch users, some people may prefer to do so when not using a Chromebook account for security purposes. To sign out, click the clock in the taskbar at the bottom of the page and select Sign out.

Open the Quick Settings panel by clicking the clock at the bottom right of the page.

Select the profile photo for the account that’s signed in.

Click Sign in another user.

Select the profile of the user you want to switch to and enter that person’s password when prompted.

To ensure that other users cannot access your account when you’re finished using the Chromebook, you should select the Quick Settings panel, then click the lock icon to lock your account. Then, only users with a password can access the account.

  • Open the Quick Settings panel by clicking the clock at the bottom right of the page.
  • Select the Settings gear icon.
  • In the People section of the Settings page, select Google Accounts.
  • Select the three-dot menu icon next to the account name you want to remove.
  • Choose Remove this account.

How to Add a Chromebook Guest

Not everyone who accesses your Chromebook may need an account. For example, if you have a friend over and they just want to take a quick peek at Gmail, you don’t have to create a whole new account for that person. Instead, you can let them browse your Chromebook as a guest.

Select the Settings gear icon.

In the People section of the Settings page, select Google Accounts.

Select the three-dot menu icon next to the account name you want to remove.

Choose Remove this account.

Before you can switch to a guest account, you first need to make sure you have guest account capabilities enabled.

  • Open the Quick Settings panel by clicking the clock at the bottom right of the page.
  • Select the Settings gear icon.
  • In the People section, select Manage other people.
  • Make sure the option to Enable Guest browsing is toggled on.

How to Use Guest Browsing

Once the Guest Browsing feature is enabled, you can only switch to a guest account by logging out of a user account. Go to the Quick Settings panel by clicking the clock in the bottom right corner, then click Sign out. The main account page is displayed. You can select Browse as Guest to allow another person access to your Chromebook without adding their user account.

In the People section, select Manage other people.

Make sure the option to Enable Guest browsing is toggled on.

When a guest is finished browsing on your Chromebook and signs out, all the information regarding their activities while online is erased, including cookies, files, website data, and browser activity.

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