How to Add and Manage Secondary User Accounts in Ubuntu Desktop

When sharing a home desktop computer, setting up a workstation for family members, or delegating computing tasks to coworkers in Ubuntu, allowing others to use your personal administrator login poses severe security and privacy risks. Sharing an account allows guests to accidentally alter system packages, browse your private browser history, or delete personal documents. In Ubuntu desktop, setting up isolated secondary user accounts ensures everyone enjoys their own private Home directory, personalized desktop wallpaper, and custom preferences.

Standard Accounts vs. Administrator Accounts

When creating accounts in Ubuntu, you must assign one of two privilege roles:

• Standard User: Ideal for daily use, children, and guests. Standard users can browse the web, create personal files, and run installed software, but cannot install system-wide software, modify kernel settings, or run sudo administrative commands.
• Administrator (sudo): Has full root privileges to install packages, modify firewall configurations, add additional users, and manage system hardware.

How to Add a New User in Ubuntu Settings

You can create a new user profile graphically without using terminal commands:

1. Open the Settings app from the Ubuntu dock or application menu.
2. In the left sidebar, click on System (or scroll down to Users on earlier releases).
3. Click on Users.
4. Click the Unlock… button in the top-right corner of the window.
5. Enter your administrator account password to authenticate administrative changes.
6. Click the green Add User… button.
7. In the popup dialogue box:
   • Select Standard or Administrator.
   • Enter the user’s Full Name (e.g., “Sarah Jenkins”).
   • Ubuntu suggests a lowercase username automatically (e.g., “sjenkins”). Edit this username if desired.
8. Under Password, select Set a password now, enter a secure password, and confirm it (or choose Allow user to set password at first login).
9. Click Add.

Customising Profile Avatars and Language Preferences

Once created, click on the new user’s profile card in the Users list to configure personalized details:

• Click on the profile image icon to assign a fun animal graphic, avatar symbol, or personal photo.
• Set custom display languages or international keyboard layouts specific to that user.

Switching Between Users and Logging In

Transitioning between user profiles takes seconds:

1. Click on the top-right system status area of the Ubuntu top panel.
2. Click on the Power/User icon and select Switch User… (or Log Out).
3. Ubuntu displays the graphical GDM login screen with visual tiles for each configured account.
4. Click the target user profile, enter their password, and log in.

How to Safely Delete a User Account

When an account is no longer needed:

1. In Settings > Users, unlock the panel with your admin password.
2. Select the user you wish to remove and click Remove User…
3. Ubuntu will ask whether to Keep Files (preserves their /home/username documents) or Delete Files (completely purges their home directory to reclaim disk space).