Windows: Separate Admin/User Accounts, Installed Programs Troubles

Questions
1

Hello all, please bear with me as I am new to the world of privacy and am fumbling through with some basic knowledge. I got a new Windows PC (if you’re gonna say “use Linux,” please don’t), and I followed all the tagged Windows guides for setup, including separate User and Admin profiles.

What is confusing me is that it seems like the programs I installed will only work with one profile or the other. I understand User not being able to access Admin-installed programs but I’m totally lost on why Admin will get errors on User-installed programs.

Is this normal, or a result of a different configuration that was also set during setup from one of the Windows guides? Should I install everything on the User profile instead? I had thought I needed to install on the Admin profile but that doesn’t seem accurate…

2

Yep, that’s normal on Windows. Some apps install only for the account you’re on, and others install for all users. A lot of installers even ask you which one you want during setup (“just me” vs “all users”). The easiest way is to stay on your regular User account, and when you install something, enter your Admin password if it asks, that usually puts it in the right place so it works no matter which account you’re on.