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Permanently delete user profiles on Windows
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As long as you're signed into your Windows PC with an administrator-level account, you will be able to remove any local or Microsoft user accounts on the computer. Removing a user account will delete all of that user's data from your PC. Here's how to delete user accounts in Windows 10.
Quick Steps
- Open Settings .
- Click Accounts .
- Click Family & other users .
- Click the account.
- Click Remove .
- Click Delete account and data .
Steps
-
Click Accounts . This icon looks like a silhouette of a person and says "Your accounts, email, sync, work, family."Advertisement
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Click Family & other users . You'll see this in the vertical menu on the left side of the window.
- If you're using a work or school PC, you may have to select Other users or Other people instead. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
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Click the person you want to delete. You'll see more options appear for that user.
- If you see "Local account" below the user name, this account only exists on the current PC.
- If you don't see Local account , it's a Microsoft account. This means that this user can still access other Microsoft services like Outlook.com and Office on other devices.
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Click Remove . A confirmation message will appear, letting you know that all of that user's data will be removed from the PC if you continue.
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Click Delete account and data . This removes all of the user's data from the PC.
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Open Settings . Click the Start menu, and then click the cog icon.
- Use this method to change a standard user into an administrator . You must have a new administrator user before you can delete the previous one.
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Click Accounts . This icon looks like a silhouette of a person and says "Your accounts, email, sync, work, family."
-
Click Family & other users . You'll see this in the vertical menu on the left side of the window.
- If you're using a work or school PC, you may have to select Other users or Other people instead.
-
Click the user you want to make administrator. You'll see more options appear for that user.
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Click Change account type . This is next to Remove .
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Select Administrator . Click the drop-down menu and set the new account type to Administrator .
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Click OK . This will save your settings.
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Log into the new administrator account. You'll need to provide the account's password.
- Once the new administrator account is set, you can use the above section to delete the old administrator account.
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About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Open Settings.
2. Click Accounts
.
3. Click Family & other users
.
4. Click the user you want to delete.
5. Click Remove
and Delete account and data
.
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