Mac OSX: Delete a user account
Contributed by Rex 
Tagged: Mac system administration Deleting a user account is neat and clean with Mac OS X. This recipe describes the procedure and consequences of deleting a user.
To delete a user, click System Preferences, then Accounts and select the user to delete. Click on the minus sign under the Login Options button, authenticating as the administrator if needed.
When a user is deleted in this manner, the contents of the user’s directories are stored in a disk image (/Users/Deleted Users/userid.dmg). This file can be deleted (by an administrator) or kept (just in case).
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d said on January 4, 2009
thanks!!
Nate Griffin said on January 21, 2009
Simple, and everything I needed to know. Thanks!
Anonymous said on February 19, 2009
Wow, that was certainly easy? My comment is I went looking for the “Deleted Users” directory before I tried this procedure. There was none to be found. It gets created once you perform the above actions.
My question is: Can you restore this deleted users account from the disk image it creates?
Pune Grimsley said on March 6, 2009
woot! thanks.
Anonymous said on August 12, 2009
when i switch my apple g4 on i dont get the option to select user (even though i set it all up to show them etc.). All that happens is that it shows a page to select a language and then once i select english it logs straight into system administrator. Does anyone know why this is happening and why once I am logged in as system administrator I can not log back out, switch user or even shut down the computer (nothing happens). I can use the internet and change some settings but that is all.
Im new to apples and do not know what to do.
Facts: Computer was bought second hand, I dont have any discs, also I had to reset passwords in command and then delete user account in system administrator account.
Help would be much appreciated. Thanks all :)
Anonymous Person said on September 12, 2009
can you delete an account from the account itself? like, if you’re logged on to the account, can you click the minus button, delete the saved files, and then log off and the account will be gone?
ABC said on September 25, 2009
Hi, no you can’t. But you can create another admin account and do it from there. Of course, one admin has to remain for the machine.
Girolazz said on January 3, 2010
100%
Anonymous said on February 3, 2010
My mac will not let me select the minus button what ahould i do?
Anonymous said on February 17, 2010
i need help i cant install limewire i download it but i cant install it in my mac
Anonymous said on February 17, 2010
i need help i cant install limewire in my mac i download it but i cant install it can someone help me.
Anonymous said on April 1, 2010
How can I delete my own admin account?
Glenn said on April 5, 2010
Create a new one. Log on as that user. Delete the old account.
Anonymous said on April 7, 2010
I have tried deleting accounts but it wont allow me to click on or select the account I want to deletet even after i put in the adminstrators password. Any advice????
Anonymous said on April 27, 2010
THX I tried for a long time to delete my admin. account before returning it back to the school.
Anonymous said on May 7, 2010
you must be logged out of any account that you wish to delete.
SACHIN said on May 25, 2010
This is very useful tip for beginner’s.
Thank You Very Much,
SACHIN
Roscro said on June 11, 2010
I bought a second hand Mac and cannot access to make changes because the previous owner did not erace his name as an administor. Can someone help me please
Anonymous said on June 12, 2010
If you bought a second hand mac, I would consider just booting to an OS X disk and reinstalling the whole system so you’ll start with a clean slate.
Otherwise you can recover your admin password through this method:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/712/mac-os-x-recover-lost-root-password/
Xieoe said on September 17, 2010
i like this too…very easy apple should have put delete not a stupid minus sign
mac said on October 6, 2010
Thank you. Quite nice, add a user to admin, log in and delete the first. Oh, MAC doesn’t do stupid things.
Talkasey said on October 22, 2010
The rogue user doesn’t show up here to be deleted! I see the user account every time I try to save or open a document under “places.” I can’t just ignore it, it’s my ex!
Shortncurly said on January 12, 2011
most likely, you need to click the lock and authenticate your identity before you can select the minus sign
Vika said on January 18, 2011
I hav moved user folder to trash – is there a way to copy it back to /users?
Lee said on January 22, 2011
simplessss :D
Macvirtus said on January 30, 2011
And how can I recover a deleted user that was accidentally deleted with the “Delete inmediately” option?
Lfettema said on February 3, 2011
I clicked the lock and authorized changes, and it still wont let me select the minus button for either of my accounts. I’m signed into my account, which says admin underneath it, and i’m trying to delete my guest account.
Vandal said on February 7, 2011
I also need to know how to recover/restore a deleted user – please help :) yikes.
turd ferguson said on February 19, 2011
I have two accounts on my mac mini (snow leopard) one account has some programs from app store but these dont show up on the othe raccount do I just delete and redownload when logged in as the other account?
Sir Phit said on March 11, 2011
use an external harddrive or a thumb drive to transfer them form one account to the other
the other option is u can click on something so u can share between user accounts(public folder drop box for example also works i think for transfering files between users)
i’m no expert tho as my question shall clearly state
Sir Phit said on March 11, 2011
ok well i had 2 admin user accounts and have been trying to remove the one.
i have taken away admin rights
however even after loggin in and out of the account i want to remove(as it told me i had to to make it set in that i had removed admin powers)
now thing is i can’t delete that account at all!
if i log into it and go to the preferences pain and unlock it i dont get the minus buton, adn if i’m in my main account i cant even highlight that specific user so there fore i cant click the minus and make it go away
i want it gone! it did it’s job and has finished it’s job now i want it to go away.
please help me!?!?!?!
Jpp4053 said on March 13, 2011
Answer to query never found. Standard (?) User Account grayed out-unable to delete. Went through all “Delete” steps without success. This Standard User Account remains grayed out along with the – (minus,delete) symbol. Extremely frustrating.
Sas said on March 15, 2011
Did you click on the lock below and now it shows a lock unlocked?
Ernie said on April 24, 2011
I deleted users on my Mac, but still say’s I only have 59 gigs available and i cannot find /Users/Deleted Users/userid.dmg file anywhere please help.
Chazsibo said on July 26, 2011
what happens if there is no – sign under login options
Radicaljacket1953 said on July 31, 2011
Having trouble deleting an old account with iTunes. Have software to download, but is attached to an old mac account. How can i cancel the old account, without compromising my new account. They inform me that I have multiple accounts. Such a blow on OS X Lion
Joe said on January 26, 2012
I did this but it’s taking ages to delete the account. It says “Deleting Account…” under the account I’m trying to delete, and has done for around 20 minutes. Any idea on how long this will take?
Joe said on January 26, 2012
Ultimate fail… Just as a posted that last comment it finished deleting. (LOL)
Mike said on January 31, 2012
Well, like Joe, I’ve been waiting over 30 minutes for a small (300Mb) account to be deleted. It’s terribly slow.
Waiting waiting waiting… Did Jim Morrison have a premonition of this process?