Windows 7: User Account - Enable or Disable

   Information

This will show you how to enable (unlock) or disable (lock) a local or domain user account in Windows 7.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

When a user account is disabled, the user account will no longer be listed in User Accounts in the Control Panel, Parental Controls, log on screens, and can no longer be logged in to.

An administrator account will still be able to navigate to and access the contents of the C:\Users\(user-name) folder of a disabled user account using Windows Explorer.

OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable a User Account in "Local Users and Groups"

1. Open Local Users and Groups, and click on the Users folder in the left pane to open it. (see screenshot below)

2. In the middle pane of Users, double click on the user account name (ex: Example-Account) that you want to enable or disable. (see screenshot above)

3. To Enable and Unlock a User Account
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) In the General tab, uncheck the Account is disabled box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Disable and Lock a User Account

A) In the General tab, check the Account is disabled box, and click on OK. (see screenshot above)

5. When finished, close the Local Users and Groups window.

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable a User Account in a "Elevated Command Prompt"

1. Open a elevated command prompt.

2. To See if a User Account is Disabled or Enabled in a Command Prompt

A) In the elevated command prompt, type either command below and press Enter.
NOTE: This will give you a list of all users accounts either on your local computer or on the domain.

(Accounts on your computer) - Net user

(Accounts on domain) - Net user /domain

B) In the elevated command prompt, type either command below for the user account (ex: Example Account) that you want to see is enabled or disable, and press Enter.
NOTE: This will allow you to see the Account active details and more of the user account. Yes = enabled and No = disabled. Substitute User Name in the command below with the user name (ex: Example Account) of the user account (ex: Example Account) within quotes.

(Account on your computer) - Net user "User Name"

(Account on domain) - Net user "User Name" /domain

3. Do either steps 4 or 5 below depending on if you would like to enable or disable a user account.

4. To Enable a Local or Domain User Account
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) In the elevated command prompt, type either command below for the user account (ex: Example Account) that you want to enable, and press Enter.
NOTE: Substitute User Name in the command below with the user name (ex: Example Account) of the user account (ex: Example Account) within quotes.

(Enable local account)
Net user "User Name" /active:yes

(Enable domain account)
Net user "User Name" /active:yes /domain

5. To Disable a Local or Domain User Account

A) In the elevated command prompt, type either command below for the user account (ex: Example Account) that you want to disable, and press Enter.
NOTE: Substitute User Name in the command below with the user name (ex: Example Account) of the user account (ex: Example Account) within quotes.

(Disable local account)
Net user "User Name" /active:no

(Disable domain account)
Net user "User Name" /active:no /domain

6. When finished, close the elevated command prompt.