How to Delete a User Profile on a Mac

Managing Accounts and Reclaiming Storage Space

One of the best features of macOS is its ability to support multiple independent user profiles on a single computer. This allows families to share an iMac, or a small business to share a MacBook, while ensuring every person has their own private desktop, documents folder, Safari history, and Apple ID.

However, when someone stops using the Mac—perhaps a child goes away to university, an employee leaves the company, or you simply do not need a secondary “Guest” account anymore—their profile continues to occupy valuable storage space on your hard drive.

Deleting an old user profile is an excellent way to reclaim gigabytes of storage and keep your Mac’s login screen tidy. The process is straightforward, but macOS forces you to make a critical decision before the profile is deleted: what do you want to do with all the files that person left behind?

How to Delete a User Profile (macOS Ventura and Later)

To delete an account, you must be logged in as an Administrator. (The first account created when the Mac was taken out of its box is always an Administrator).

1. Click the Apple Logo in the extreme top left corner of the screen.
2. Select System Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down the left-hand sidebar menu and click on Users & Groups.
4. You will see a list of every account currently existing on the Mac. Find the specific user you want to delete.
5. Click the small “i” icon (information button) directly to the right of their name.
6. A new window will appear. At the bottom left, click the red Delete User… button.
7. Your Mac will immediately prompt you for your Administrator password (or Touch ID) to prove you have the authority to make this change.

The Crucial Choice: What to Do with the Data?

Once you enter your password, the Mac will not instantly delete the account. Instead, a warning box will appear asking you what you want to do with the user’s “Home folder” (the folder containing all their personal documents, photos, and downloads).

You must choose one of three options:

• Save the home folder in a disk image: This is the safest option if you think you might need the files later. The Mac will compress all their data into a single, secure file (.dmg) and place it inside the “Deleted Users” folder on your hard drive. The profile is gone, but the data is archived safely.
• Do not change the home folder: The profile will be removed from the login screen, but their entire folder structure will remain exactly as it is, moved into a folder called “Users.” This reclaims no storage space at all.
• Delete the home folder: This is the nuclear option. The profile is deleted, and every single file associated with that user is permanently and securely wiped from the hard drive. Choose this option to reclaim storage space, but only if you are absolutely certain nothing important is inside.

Select your preferred option and click Delete User.

How to Delete a User Profile (macOS Monterey and Earlier)

If you are using an older Mac that has not been updated to the new System Settings design, the process looks slightly different.

1. Click the Apple Logo and select System Preferences.
2. Click on the Users & Groups icon.
3. Look at the bottom left corner of the window and click the Padlock icon. Enter your Administrator password to unlock the settings.
4. Select the user you want to delete from the list on the left.
5. Click the Minus (-) button located directly beneath the list of names.
6. You will be presented with the exact same three options regarding what to do with the Home folder data (Save, Keep, or Delete).
7. Make your choice and click Delete User.