How to Enable the Hidden “Guest User” Account on a Mac

We have all been there: a friend comes over and asks to borrow your laptop for “just a minute” to check an email or look up a recipe. Handing over an unlocked Mac is incredibly risky. Even if you trust them implicitly, one accidental click could delete a critical work document, mess up your carefully curated Safari tabs, or worse, expose them to your private iMessages popping up on the screen.

You do not need to hover over their shoulder nervously. macOS includes a built-in, highly secure “Guest User” account designed specifically for this scenario. When activated, a Guest can browse the web and use basic apps, but they have zero access to your personal files, emails, or system settings. Best of all, the moment they log out, the Mac instantly and permanently deletes any files they downloaded or history they generated.

This guide explains how to enable and manage the Guest User account on your Mac.

Step 1: Enable the Guest Account

The Guest User account exists on every Mac, but it is disabled by default to keep the login screen clean.

1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings.
3. In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down and click on Users & Groups.
4. Under the “Other Users” section, you will see a profile named Guest User.
5. Click the small Information icon (i) located to the right of the Guest User name.
6. Toggle the switch labeled Allow guests to log in to this Mac to the On position.

Step 2: Restrict Guest Access (Optional)

By default, a Guest can open Safari, download files (temporarily), and use basic apps like Pages or Calculator. They absolutely cannot access the files in your Admin account.

However, if you want to further restrict what the Guest can do—for example, if you are letting a child use the laptop to do homework—you can limit their access.

1. While still in the Guest User settings menu, look below the main toggle switch.
2. Turn on the toggle labeled Limit Adult Websites to automatically block inappropriate content in Safari.
3. If you are sharing the Mac on a network, ensure Allow guest users to connect to shared folders is turned Off to prevent them from accessing files stored on other computers in your house.

How to Use the Guest Account

The next time someone asks to borrow your computer, do not hand it to them while you are logged in.

1. Click the Apple Menu () and select Lock Screen (or press Control + Command + Q).
2. At the login screen, your friend will now see two icons: Your personal account, and a new icon labeled Guest User.
3. Tell them to click the Guest User icon. It does not require a password.
4. The Mac will instantly load a fresh, clean desktop. They can use Safari, sign into their own webmail, and browse normally.
5. When they are finished, tell them to click the Apple Menu and select Log Out Guest User.

A warning will appear confirming that logging out will permanently delete all information and files in the Guest account. Once they confirm, the Mac wipes the slate clean, ensuring zero trace of their activity remains on your machine.