Managing Local Users and Passwords with NET USER

net user                            # Lists user accounts
net user username                   # Lists info for username
net user username /add              # Adds a user username
net user username /delete           # Deletes a user username
net user username *                 # Prompts for password for username
net user username <new_password>    # Changes the password directly

net user username * /add                            # Prompts for password
net user username /add /comment:"User Comment"      # Add comment for user
net user username /active:{yes|no}
net user username /homedir:<Path>                   # Does not auto create until you log on
net user username /expires:jan,9,2017               # Set account expiry for username
  • Note that when remove username, the user directory is not deleted.
  • Need to manually delete with rd or rmdir; /s option removes recursively.

  • If delete an account and then recreate a new account with the same name, by default a new folder is created (Windows treats them as new and separate accounts).

  • For managing local user accounts with Powershell, see: Managing Local User Accounts with PowerShell

Managing Local Groups using NET LOCALGROUP

net localgroup      # Local groups on individual device.
net groups          # Not available unless Active Directory set up (Windows Domain Controller)
net localgroup /?
net localgroup groupname                        # Creates a group named "groupname"
net localgroup groupname username /add          # Adds "username" to the group "groupname"
net localgroup groupname user1,user2 /delete    # Deletes user1 and user2 from "groupname"