You can delete a user account directly from Windows 10 settings in about two minutes
To remove a user account from Windows 10, open Settings, go to Accounts, select the account you want to delete, and click Remove. Windows will ask you to confirm, then delete the account and all files associated with it. The whole process takes less than five minutes, though you should back up any files from that account first if you want to keep them.
You need administrator rights to delete an account. If you are logged in as a standard user, you will not see the Remove option. You must either log in as an administrator or have an administrator approve the deletion.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a user account removes all files, desktop settings, and program preferences tied to that account permanently.
- You must be logged in as an administrator or have administrator approval to delete any account.
- Windows will not let you delete the last administrator account on the computer, so you need at least one admin account to remain.
- If you want to keep files from the account being deleted, copy them to another user's folder or an external drive before you remove the account.
- A deleted account cannot be recovered through Windows — if you change your mind, you will need to recreate the account from scratch.
What happens when you delete a user account
Deleting a user account removes everything tied to that account from your computer. This includes the user's Documents folder, Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, and any other files saved in that account's profile. It also removes all browser bookmarks, email settings, program preferences, and saved passwords for that user.
Windows does not move these files to a backup or recovery folder. Once the account is deleted, the files are gone unless you backed them up separately. If someone else uses the computer and you want to preserve their files, you must copy them to a shared location or external drive before you delete the account.
Deleting an account does not remove programs installed on the computer — those stay in place and remain available to all other users. Only that specific user's personal files and settings disappear.
How to delete a user account step by step
Step 1: Log in to Windows 10 using an administrator account. If you are not sure whether your account is an administrator account, you can check by opening Settings and going to Accounts. Look for the word "Administrator" under your account name.
Step 2: Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then click the Settings app. You can also click the Start button and select the gear icon.
Step 3: Click Accounts in the left sidebar.
Step 4: Click Other people in the left sidebar. This shows all non-administrator accounts on the computer.
Step 5: Click the account you want to delete. A panel will open on the right side showing options for that account.
Step 6: Click the Remove button. Windows will ask you to confirm that you want to delete the account and all its files.
Step 7: Click Delete account and data to confirm. The account will be removed when ready.
Backing up files before you delete an account
Before you delete a user account, check whether that account contains any files you want to keep. The easiest way is to open File Explorer, click This PC, then double-click Users. You will see a folder for each user account on the computer. Open the folder for the account you are about to delete and look inside the Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and Pictures folders.
If you find files you want to keep, copy them to a shared location. You can create a new folder on the Desktop of your administrator account, or copy them to an external hard drive or USB flash drive. Right-click the files you want to keep, click Copy, then navigate to where you want to save them and click Paste.
Take a few minutes to do this before you delete the account. Once the account is gone, there is no way to recover the files through Windows.
Why you cannot delete the last administrator account
Windows requires at least one administrator account to exist on every computer. If you try to delete the only administrator account, Windows will block you and show an error message. You must first create a new administrator account or change another account to administrator status before you can delete the last admin account.
If you are locked out of your administrator account and cannot log in, you have a different problem that requires a different solution — you cannot delete it through Settings. In that case, you would need to use password recovery tools or contact Microsoft support.
The difference between deleting and switching to a Microsoft account
If the account you want to remove is a local account (not connected to a Microsoft email address), deletion is straightforward. If it is a Microsoft account, deletion works the same way in Windows 10, but the account will remain associated with that email address across other Microsoft services like Outlook, OneDrive, and Xbox Live. Deleting the Windows account does not delete the Microsoft account itself.
If you want to fully remove a Microsoft account from all services, you need to visit the Microsoft account website separately and close the account there. Deleting it from Windows 10 only removes it from your computer.
What to do if you cannot see the Remove button
If you open the account settings and do not see a Remove button, one of three things is happening: you are not logged in as an administrator, the account you are trying to delete is an administrator account, or the account is the only administrator on the computer.
If the account is an administrator account, you must first change it to a standard user account. Click the account, then click Change account type, select Standard user, and click Next. After that, you can delete it.
If it is the only administrator account, create a new administrator account first. Go to Other people, click Add someone else to this PC, follow the prompts to create a new account, then change that new account to administrator status. Once you have a second administrator account, you can delete the first one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a deleted user account?
No. Once you delete a user account in Windows 10, it cannot be recovered through Windows. If you need that account back, you must create a new account with the same name and set it up again from scratch. This is why backing up files before deletion is important.
Will deleting a user account affect other people's files?
No. Deleting one user account only removes files and settings for that specific account. Other user accounts on the same computer are not affected, and their files remain untouched.
What if I delete an account by mistake?
You will need to create a new account with the same name if you want to use it again. The original files are gone unless you backed them up to an external drive or another location before deletion. Windows does not have an undo option for account deletion.
Do I need to uninstall programs before deleting a user account?
No. Programs installed on Windows 10 are shared across all user accounts, so they remain on the computer after you delete an account. Only that user's personal files and settings are removed.
Can I delete my own account while I am logged in?
No. You cannot delete the account you are currently using. You must log in as a different administrator account first, then delete your original account from the Other people section in Settings.