What deleting an account means on your Mac

Deleting an account on your Mac removes that user profile and all the files stored in its home folder — documents, photos, downloads, everything. Once you delete an account, you cannot get those files back unless you have a backup. The Mac will ask you to choose what happens to the account's files before deletion completes.

You need administrator access to delete any account, including your own. If you are the only administrator on the Mac, you will need to create a second administrator account first, then use that account to delete the original one. This is a safety feature to prevent you from accidentally locking yourself out of the Mac entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting an account removes the user profile and all files in that account's home folder permanently.
  • You must have administrator access to delete an account, and you cannot delete the account you are currently logged into.
  • If you are the only administrator, create a second administrator account before attempting to delete the first one.
  • The Mac will ask whether to keep or delete the account's files before the deletion is final.

Check your administrator status before you start

Open System Settings and go to General, then Users & Groups (or Users & Groups in System Preferences on older Macs). Look at the account you want to delete. If it says "Admin" next to the account name, that account has administrator rights. If it says "Standard," it does not.

If the account you want to delete is an administrator account and it is the only administrator on the Mac, you must create a second administrator account first. You cannot delete the last administrator account on the machine. If you are trying to delete a standard account, you can proceed directly to the deletion steps.

Create a second administrator account if needed

Open System Settings and navigate to General, then Users & Groups. Click the lock icon in the bottom left and enter your password to unlock the settings. Click the plus sign (+) to add a new account.

Choose "Administrator" from the account type dropdown. Enter a name for the new account and a password you will remember. Click "Create User." The new administrator account is now active on your Mac. Log out of your current account and log into this new administrator account before proceeding with the deletion.

Delete the account through System Settings

Log into an administrator account that is not the one you want to delete. Open System Settings and go to General, then Users & Groups. Click the lock icon and enter your administrator password. Select the account you want to delete from the list on the left side.

Click the minus sign (−) button below the account list. A dialog box will appear asking what you want to do with the account's home folder. You have two choices: "Delete the home folder" removes all files associated with that account permanently, or "Keep the home folder" saves those files in a folder called "Deleted Users" on your Mac for later recovery if needed.

Choose the option that matches what you want to do with the files. Click "Delete User" to confirm. The account will be removed from your Mac immediately.

Recover files from a deleted account

If you chose "Keep the home folder" during deletion, the account's files are saved in /Users/Deleted Users/ on your Mac. You can access these files from any administrator account. Open Finder, click "Go" in the menu bar, then "Go to Folder." Type /Users/Deleted Users and press Enter.

You can copy any files you need from this folder to another location on your Mac. Once you have recovered what you need, you can delete the Deleted Users folder to free up space. If you chose "Delete the home folder" during the deletion process, those files cannot be recovered unless you have a Time Machine backup or other backup of your Mac.

What to do if you cannot delete the account

If you see a message saying the account cannot be deleted, the most common reason is that you are not logged into an administrator account. Log out and log into an account that has administrator rights, then try again. Another reason deletion might fail is if the account you are trying to delete is currently in use — make sure no one is logged into that account on your Mac.

If the account is a managed account (set up through your workplace or school), you may not have permission to delete it. Contact your IT department or system administrator for help. If you are still unable to delete the account after checking these things, restart your Mac and try again from an administrator account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my own account if I am the only administrator?

No. You cannot delete the account you are currently logged into, and you cannot delete the last administrator account on your Mac. Create a second administrator account first, log into it, then delete your original account from that new administrator account.

What happens to files if I delete an account?

That depends on which option you choose during deletion. If you select "Delete the home folder," all files are removed permanently. If you select "Keep the home folder," the files are saved in a Deleted Users folder that you can access later to recover what you need.

Can I recover files after I delete an account?

Only if you chose "Keep the home folder" during deletion — those files stay in the Deleted Users folder. If you chose "Delete the home folder," recovery is only possible if you have a Time Machine backup or other backup of your Mac made before the deletion.

Why does my Mac say I cannot delete this account?

The most common reasons are that you are not logged into an administrator account, the account you want to delete is currently in use, or it is a managed account controlled by your workplace or school. Make sure you are in an administrator account and that no one is logged into the account you want to delete.