If you are a Mac user, there may be times when you need to delete a user account from your computer. This could be because the user no longer needs access to the computer, or because you want to free up space on your hard drive. Whatever the reason, it is a relatively simple process to delete a user account on Mac. In this article, we will show you how to do it step-by-step.
Step 1: Backup Your Data
Before you delete a user account on Mac, it is important to backup any data that you want to keep. This could include documents, photos, music, and videos. You can backup your data using Time Machine, iCloud, or an external hard drive.
Step 2: Log Out of the Account
Before you can delete a user account on Mac, you need to log out of the account that you want to delete. To do this, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, and then click on "Log Out".
Step 3: Log in as an Administrator
To delete a user account on Mac, you need to be logged in as an administrator. If you are not already logged in as an administrator, log out of the current account and log in as an administrator.
Step 4: Open System Preferences
Once you are logged in as an administrator, open "System Preferences" from the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
Step 5: Click on Users & Groups
In the System Preferences window, click on "Users & Groups". This will show you a list of all the user accounts on your computer.
Step 6: Unlock the Settings
To make changes to the user accounts on your computer, you need to unlock the settings. Click on the lock icon in the bottom-left corner of the window, and then enter your administrator password when prompted.
Step 7: Select the User Account to Delete
In the Users & Groups window, select the user account that you want to delete by clicking on it once.
Step 8: Click on the Minus Sign
Once you have selected the user account that you want to delete, click on the minus sign (-) button at the bottom of the window.
Step 9: Choose What to Do with the User's Data
When you click on the minus sign, a dialog box will appear asking you what you want to do with the user's data. You can choose to save the user's data to a disk image, transfer the user's data to another user account, or delete the user's data.
Step 10: Click on Delete User
After you have chosen what to do with the user's data, click on "Delete User". This will delete the user account from your computer.
Step 11: Log Out of the Administrator Account
Once you have deleted the user account, log out of the administrator account and log back in as the user or another administrator account.
Step 12: Check for Any Leftover Files
After you have deleted a user account on Mac, it is a good idea to check for any leftover files or folders that may have been associated with the account. You can do this by using the Finder search function to search for files that were created or modified by the user.
Step 13: Empty the Trash
If you find any leftover files, delete them and then empty the Trash to permanently remove them from your computer.
Step 14: Update Any Apps or Services
If the user account that you deleted was associated with any apps or services, you may need to update those apps or services with a new login or account information.
Step 15: Remove the User from Shared Folders
If the user account that you deleted had access to any shared folders on your computer, you may need to remove the user from those shared folders to prevent unauthorized access.
Step 16: Restart Your Computer
After you have completed all the steps to delete a user account on Mac, it is a good idea to restart your computer to ensure that all changes have been applied.
Step 17: Create a New User Account (Optional)
If you deleted a user account on Mac because you wanted to free up space on your hard drive, you may want to consider creating a new user account for future use. To do this, go back to the Users & Groups window in System Preferences and click on the plus sign (+) button.
Step 18: Choose Account Type
When you click on the plus sign, a dialog box will appear asking you to choose the type of account that you want to create. You can choose between an administrator account, a standard account, and a sharing-only account.
Step 19: Enter Account Information
Once you have chosen the account type, enter the account information, including the full name, account name, and password. You can also add a password hint to help you remember the password.
Step 20: Finish Creating the Account
After you have entered the account information, click on "Create User" to finish creating the account. The new user account will now be added to your computer.