Got more than one person using your Mac? I do. My Mac is shared with a 18 year old. She’s constantly listening to terrible (pop) music and downloading junk to my desktop - and I’m sick of it.

I think it’s time to give Jade her own desktop to clutter with files AND to keep my files organized and save.

*IMPORTANT* Does your default account require a password? If so, please write it down before going any further because you’ll be at risk of never having access to the Admin account if you follow this tutorial. Please write down the password now!

Here’s an easy way to create a second user account on your Mac using OSX 10.5 - AKA Leopard.

Open System Preferences

In the Dock, click on System Preferences

Open Accounts

Now click on the Accounts icon

Unlock Accounts

The Accounts area is locked by default. To unlock the accounts and make changes, click on the Lock

Enter Password

1. If your main account requires a password, you’ll have to enter it now.

2. Click OK when done.

Ready To Make Changes

Now you should see your main account (Admin) at the top of the window on the left and a guest account below.

We could use the guest account, but I want another user account that’s password protected so we’ll create a totally new account in the next couple steps.

Login Options

Click on Login Options to get started.

Automatic Login Setting

My Mac is set up to automatically login as the admin when the computer is turned on. To change that, we need to change the automatic login setting.

Click the drop down menu and select Disabled.

This will give us the option to choose our Account the next time the computer is shut down - or if we decide to logout.

Create The New User Account

Click the + icon under the Login Options

New User Account Options

This screen is where you’ll enter the name, password and password hint for the new account.

Enter all of the required information and click Create Account when you’re finished.

*NOTE: If you’re creating this account for a child, you can set Parental Controls by using the drop down menu next to New Account at the top. For this tutorial, we’re going to leave it on Standard.

New Account Created!

To personalize the account, you can select a click on the image in the center to select a new icon.

Test The New User Account

Quit System Preferences to test the new Account.

1. Now click on the Apple Menu

2. Click Log Out at the bottom

Confirm Log Out

Are you sure you know the password for the Admin account? If you don’t know the password for the Admin account - Click Cancel immediately! If you Log Out and can’t remember the Admin password, you’ll never be able to login to that account again! PLEASE write down the password and keep it in a safe place - before you Log Out.

Click Log Out to… log out!

You’re Done!

After you log out, you’ll be shown a screen where you can select a user account to login to… Make sure you know the password for the Admin account before you Log Out! Otherwise, you’ll be making a trip to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store.

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