How to Delete a User Account in Windows 11

Do you share your Windows 11 computer with other people? Each person can have their own user account. This keeps everyone’s files, settings, and apps separate and private.

Sometimes you might have a user account that you no longer need. When this happens, you can delete that account. Why would you do this? Deleting old accounts helps free up space and keeps your computer organized and clean.

Important: You must be signed in as an administrator to delete user accounts. What happens if you try to delete an account while someone is using it? You cannot delete an account that is currently signed in. That person must sign out first.

For official information, see Manage User Accounts in Windows – Microsoft Support.

Method 1: Delete User Account Using Settings

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Click Accounts on the left menu.
3. Select Family & other users (or Other Users).
4. Find the user account you want to delete under Other users, click on it, then click Remove.
5. Click Delete account and data to confirm the removal.
6. You can now close Settings.

Method 2: Delete User Account Using Control Panel

1. Open the Control Panel. To do this, type Control Panel in the search box and click it.
2. Set the view to Small icons or Large icons (top-right dropdown).
3. Click User Accounts.
4. Click Manage another account.
5. Choose the account you want to delete.
6. Click Delete the account.
7. Choose whether to Delete Files or Keep Files. This is your choice — decide if you want to keep the user’s files or remove them.
8. Click Delete Account to confirm.
9. Close Control Panel when done.

Method 3: Delete User Account Using Command Prompt

⚠️ Requires admin privileges

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. Make sure you are in the Command Prompt tab. You can switch from the dropdown arrow at the top.
3. Type net user and press Enter to see a list of user accounts on your computer.
4. Find the exact name of the account you want to delete.
5. Type the following command and press Enter. Replace UserName with the real user name:
   
   net user "UserName" /delete
6. Close Windows Terminal when done.

Method 4: Delete User Account Using PowerShell

⚠️ Requires admin privileges

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. Switch to the PowerShell tab.
3. Type Get-LocalUser and press Enter to see all user accounts.
4. Note the user account name you want to delete.
5. Type the following command and press Enter. Replace UserName with the actual name:
   
   Remove-LocalUser -Name "UserName"
6. Close Windows Terminal when finished.

Tips Before Deleting a User Account

• Make sure the account you want to delete is no longer needed.
• Backup any important files from that user before deleting.
• You must be signed in as an administrator account to delete users.
• Do not delete an account that is currently signed in.
• Choose the deletion method you feel most comfortable with.

Summary

Deleting a user account in Windows 11 is easy and helps keep your computer organized. You have four different ways to do this: through Settings, Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. Why delete an account? Removing accounts you no longer use frees up space and reduces clutter. What happens when you delete? The account and its files are removed from your computer. Always remember to backup any important files you want to keep before deleting an account.