What is a Windows "user" or "user account"?

With Windows you can set up multiple user accounts for different members of the family or business employees. Each user account can be set up with unique settings such as desktop background image, desktop shortcuts, mouse speed, etc. User accounts can also be set up with restrictions so that the user has limited rights to access only certain folders, so that they cannot install or uninstall programs, etc.

If a computer is set up with more than one user account, then a screen like this one (below) appears when you turn on your computer. This screen may appear even if there is only one user account set up. It is possible to configure Windows to skip this login screen if only one user account is set up.