How to List User Profiles and Accounts in Windows 11

This guide helps you identify and manage user profiles on your Windows 11 computer. When you sign in for the first time, Windows creates a unique profile folder. This folder stores your documents, app settings, and desktop icons. These folders are typically found in the C:\Users directory.

Why do this? If you rename a delete-a-user-account-in-windows-11/" class="sal-link" rel="noopener" target="_blank" data-sal-id="5623">user account, Windows does not rename the folder. This creates a mismatch that makes it hard to tell which folder belongs to which person. Matching these helps you keep your files organized and prevents accidental data loss.

What happens when done? You will have a clear, accurate list that links every user account to its specific data folder on your hard drive.

Step 1: View Profile Folders in File Explorer

To see all profile folders currently on your computer, open File Explorer and navigate to:

C:\Users

Note that some folders might be hidden. To see them, click the View menu in File Explorer, select Show, and check Hidden items.

Step 2: Using the Command Line to List Accounts

For a more technical view, you can use the Command Prompt or PowerShell. Note: You must have admin privileges to run these commands.

Open the Windows Terminal as an administrator. To list all local user accounts, type the following command and press Enter:

net user

This shows a simple list of account names. To see more detail, including the Security Identifier (SID), use this command:

wmic useraccount get name,SID

Step 3: Matching Profiles via Registry Editor

Windows tracks the link between a user and their folder in the registry. Note: You must have admin privileges to access these settings.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
3. Click through the folders starting with S-1-5 to see the ProfileImagePath value.

Step 4: Using Advanced Management Tools

If you are using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can use the Local Users and Groups tool. Press Win + R, type lusrmgr.msc, and press Enter. This provides a visual interface to manage accounts, disable users, or reset passwords without needing command-line knowledge.

Summary

Managing user profiles is vital for system health. By using the net user command, the Registry Editor, or the lusrmgr.msc tool, you can accurately map user accounts to their folders. This ensures you know exactly where your data is stored and helps maintain a clean, organized Windows 11 environment.

Warning: Never manually rename or delete folders inside C:\Users. Doing so will corrupt the user profile and cause Windows to create a temporary profile, leading to potential data loss. Always use the official Settings app to delete user accounts.