How to view user profiles on this computer in Windows 11

Deleting Unwanted User Profiles Safely

Deleting user profiles on this computer frees up disk space and removes old accounts you no longer need. You can safely remove an account by opening the User Profiles window through the Run dialog, choosing the account you want to remove, and clicking Delete. Keep in mind that this deletes all files stored inside that profile folder, so make sure you back up anything important first.

This step requires administrator privileges.

1. Open the User Profiles window by typing sysdm.cpl in the Run dialog, clicking Advanced, and selecting Settings under User Profiles.
2. Click the profile you want to remove to highlight it.
3. Click the Delete button.

   

4. Click Yes on the confirmation prompt to permanently remove the profile and its files from the hard drive.

Fixing a Corrupted Profile on This Computer

Fixing corrupted profiles on this computer is necessary when Windows logs you into a temporary account or shows a sign-in error. You can fix this issue by creating a new local account through the Settings ⚙️ app and copying your old personal files over to the new profile to restore full access to your desktop and documents.

This step requires administrator privileges.

1. Open Settings by pressing the Windows Key + I.

   

2. Navigate to Accounts and then select Other users (or Family & other users depending on your Windows version).
3. Click Add account under the "Other users" section.

   

4. Click "I don't have this person's sign-in information" and then select "Add a user without a Microsoft account".
5. Enter a username and password, then finish the setup wizard.
6. Restart your computer and log into the newly created account once to initialize its profile folders.
7. Log back into an administrator account, open File Explorer, and navigate to C:\Users\CORRUPTED-USER-NAME where CORRUPTED-USER-NAME is your old profile.
8. Copy your personal files (such as Documents, Desktop, and Pictures) into the new user folder located at C:\Users\NEW-USER-NAME.

Backing Up User Profiles Before a Reset

Backing up profiles on this computer before a system reset or reinstall ensures you do not lose personal documents, pictures, and app settings. Since Windows lacks an automatic backup button for entire accounts, you must manually copy your user folders from File Explorer to an external drive or cloud storage location.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users.
2. Click on the specific user profile folder you want to back up.
3. Select the folders containing your data, such as Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Pictures, Music, and Videos.
4. Press Ctrl + C to copy the folders.
5. Plug in an external hard drive or USB flash drive, open it in a separate File Explorer window, and press Ctrl + V to paste the backup.

Advanced Profile Management via Computer Management

Advanced profile management on this computer lets you change account types, rename local accounts, or disable built-in profiles like the hidden Administrator account. You can access these deep system controls by opening the Computer Management console from the Start button menu and navigating to the Local Users and Groups section.

This step requires administrator privileges.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Computer Management.
2. Expand System Tools in the left sidebar.
3. Click Local Users and Groups and then select Users.
4. Right-click any user account in the middle pane and select Properties to modify account settings, such as forcing a password change or disabling the account.

If this didn't work

Troubleshooting profiles on this computer becomes necessary if accounts keep disappearing or failing to load properly after you try standard fixes. You can repair damaged system files that cause these account glitches by running the System File Checker tool in the Command Prompt and then restarting your PC.