How to Delete a User on a Mac (Updated for 2024)

How to Delete a User Account on a Mac Each Mac has a user account, and a Mac can have only one. You can still share the account with anyone, so you might end up with multiple user accounts.

The only administrator account on a Mac has access to all the Mac's settings. You can also create shared accounts that allow access to certain documents over a network. Users who can access the computer's settings can change the settings for standard accounts on your Mac.

There may come a time when you need to delete a user account from your computer, or even remove the user entirely. When that time comes, you'll want to know how to delete a user account on a Mac. This article will provide you with a simple, step-by-step guide. Read on!

How to Delete a User on macOS Ventura

You must be an administrator to delete a user on macOS Ventura. If you aren't, you'll need to ask an admin user for assistance. Don't worry if you're not sure whether you are an admin user — you can check by following these steps.

Step 1: Go to Apple menu > System Preferences.

Click the Apple menu and choose “System Preferences”:

Step 2: Click on "Users and Groups," and then search for your name.

Step 3: Look under your username to see if it says "Admin." If it does, you are an administrator user.

Once you've ensured your backups are in order, you can proceed to remove the user accounts you no longer need to free up space for macOS Ventura. Here's how!

Step 1: Click on “System Settings,” then choose “Users and Groups.”

Step 2: Find the user you want to delete and tap the "i" next to it.

Step 3: Click “Delete Account,” and enter the administrator password or name if prompted.

Step 4: Choose an option, then click “Delete Account” to confirm the deletion process.

How to Delete a User on macOS Monterey or Earlier

To remove a user from macOS Monterey, you must be an administrator user. So, first, follow these steps to check if you are an admin user:

Step 1: Click on “Apple menu” > “System Preferences.”

Step 2: Click on “Users and Groups,” and search for your name.

Step 3: Under your name, look for "admin." If it's there, you're a user administrator.

If you're an administrator user, you can delete a user account on macOS Monterey by following these steps:

Step 1: Click on “System Preferences” > “Users & Groups.”

Step 2: Click the “Lock” button at the bottom of the “Users & Groups” window.

Click the Lock button .

If prompted, type the administrator name/password, and click Unlock.

Step 4: Select the user account that you wish to delete from the list.

Step 5: Tap the “-” button and confirm your choice from the three options that appear.

Step 6: Click "Delete User" to confirm.

How to handle recurring user accounts

Sometimes, a deleted user account can come back. If that happens, use the Directory Utility to remove it. But be sure not to delete an administrator account from your Mac; otherwise, removing user accounts from your Mac can get tricky.

Here's a guide to removing the recurring user account using Directory Utility.

Step 1: Log in to the user account you want to keep, and press “Command+Space” to launch Spotlight search.

Step 2: Type Directory Utility, and press Return to select it.

Step 3: Click the “Lock” icon in the bottom left corner, and enter your administrator password.

Click the lock icon.

Step 4. Open the Directory Editor window and select Users.

Step 5: From the list on the left side of the window, select the user account you want to delete, and then click the “-” button.

Step 6: Click the "Delete" button.

How to Retrieve Deleted or Lost Files After an Account Has Been Removed

If you lost your data files after deleting the account, Tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can help you get them back. The software is reliable and secure, with multiple advanced features.

This Mac data recovery software makes it easy to recover lost files with just a few simple mouse clicks. You can easily recover deleted files from Mac no matter how you removed them or when you lost them, as long as the data is not overwritten. It is highly compatible with macOS 14.0 ~ OS X 10.9, so you don't have to worry if you're still using an older version of macOS.

Don't forget to share this guide with your followers so they can learn how to remove users on Mac as well.

Conclusions

How to delete a user on Mac? Removing a user account from macOS can help free up space. With the above guide, it's now easy to delete user accounts from older and earlier versions of macOS. Moreover, if you lose any files after deleting a user account, the Mac Data Recovery Wizard tool will help you retrieve them. The software comes with reliable and intuitive features.

Frequently Asked Questions about removing users on a Mac: 1. **How do I delete a user account on a Mac?** To delete a user account on your Mac, follow these steps: - Open "System Preferences." - Select "Users & Groups." - Ensure you are logged in as an administrator. - Unlock and enter your password to make changes. - Choose the user account you want to delete. - Click the minus (-) button to remove the account. - Confirm that you want to delete the account and all its files. 2. **What happens to a user's files after deletion?** By default, deleting a user account removes all their files and settings. If you wish to keep these files, move them elsewhere or back them up before deletion. 3. **Can I delete the currently logged-in user account?** No, you cannot delete the currently active user account. You must switch to another administrator account first. 4. **Does deleting a user affect other users?** Deleting a user typically doesn't impact other users, unless they rely on shared files or permissions from the deleted account. Make sure other users have all necessary files and information beforehand. 5. **How can I restore a deleted user account?** Once deleted, a user account is generally not directly recoverable. However, if you have a Time Machine backup, you can restore your entire system to a state before the account was deleted. 6. **Can I reuse the same user name after deletion?** Yes, but you'll need to recreate a new account with the same name after deletion. The old data and settings won't be restored; the new account will be a fresh start. 7. **Can I disable a user account instead of deleting it?** Yes, if you don't want to delete the account entirely, you can choose to disable it. This prevents the user from logging in while preserving their files and settings. Refer to this information as needed for your specific situation.

The following Q&A will help you understand more about deleting user accounts.

Why can't I delete a user on my Mac?

Only admin users can delete accounts. Here's how to check if you're an admin:

1. Click on “Apple menu” > “System Preferences.”

Step 2: Click on "Users and Groups," and then search for your name.

<Step 3> Below your name, see if it says "Admin." If it does, then you are an administrator.

How do I delete the current user on a Mac?

If you are an administrator user, you can easily delete the current user by following these steps:

Step 1: Click on “System Settings” and then choose “Users and Groups.”

Step 2: Find the user you want to delete and tap the "i" next to it.

Step 3: Click “Delete Account,” and enter the administrator's password or name if prompted.

Step 4: Confirm by selecting one of the options, and then click “Delete Account.”

How do I delete an administrator account on a Mac?

Use the following steps to delete an administrator account:

Step 1: Click on “System Preferences” > “Users & Groups.”

Step 2: Press the "Lock" button.

If prompted, type the administrator name/password, and click Unlock.

Step 4: Select the user account you wish to delete.

Step 5: Tap the “-” button, and then choose one of the three options that appear to confirm that you want to “Delete User.”