How To Disable Guest Access In Windows XP

This description and procedure applies only to users of Windows XP Home Edition and to users of Windows XP Professional configured to link the computer to a workgroup. If your version of Windows XP Professional links the computer to a domain, see your network administrator or visit Help and Support Center and search for “user accounts”.

If you're a party of one—sole owner and user of a computer—you might still want to set up your computer with user accounts, naming you as computer administrator and protecting the account with a password. Doing so prevents casual access to the system by others if you leave your computer unattended while logged onto Windows XP, provided you log off from your account. For added security, disable guest access.

To disable guest access:

- Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

- Click User Accounts.

- Under or pick an account to change, click Guest.

- On the What do you want to change about the guest account page, click Turn off the guest account.