If many people use a computer, it may have multiple user accounts. Sometimes, you need to clean up the user accounts and delete those that are unused or unwanted. To learn how to delete a user account on a Mac or Windows-based PC, select your operating system from the following list for instructions.

Windows 8 and 10

  • Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and then press Enter.

  • Under the User Accounts section, click User Accounts.

  • Windows 8 and 10

  • Windows Vista and 7

  • Windows XP

  • macOS

  • Click the Remove user accounts link.

  • Select the user account you want to delete.

  • On the Change an Account screen, click Delete the account.

  • If you want to keep any files associated with the user account, click Keep Files. If you want to remove all files associated with the user account, click Delete Files.

  • Click Delete Account to confirm user account deletion.

Windows Vista and 7

  • Open the Control Panel.
  • Click the User Accounts option.
  • Click User Accounts again, then the Manage User Accounts option.
  • On the Users tab, find the user account you want to delete under the Users for this computer section. Click that user account name.
  • Click the Delete this account option on the left side of the window.
  • If you want to keep any files associated with the user account, click Keep Files. If you want to remove all files associated with the user account, click Delete Files.
  • Click Delete Account to confirm user account deletion.

Windows XP

  • Open the Control Panel.
  • Double-click the User Accounts option.
  • Click the user account name you want to delete.
  • Click the Delete the account option.
  • If you want to keep any files associated with the user account, click Keep Files. If you want to remove all files associated with the user account, click Delete Files.

macOS

  • In the menu bar, click the Apple icon to open the Apple menu.

  • In the Apple menu, click System Preferences.

  • Click the Users & Groups shortcut icon.

  • Click the lock symbol in the lower-left corner of the Users & Groups window.

  • When prompted, enter your password and click the Unlock button.

  • On the left side of the window, select the account you want to delete.

  • Below the list of users, click the remove button, which looks like a minus sign.

  • If you want to keep files associated with the user account on the computer, select the Save the home folder in a disk image or Don’t change the home folder option. If you want to remove all files associated with the user account, select the Delete the home folder option.

  • Click Delete User to confirm user account deletion.

  • How to create a new user in Windows.
  • How to add a new user account on a Mac.
  • How to manage user accounts.
  • How to change a username or password.
  • How to change a user account to an administrator account.
  • Microsoft Windows help and support.
  • Apple help and support.