You can delete an admin user account, but macOS requires at least one admin to remain on the machine
To delete an admin user account on your Mac, you use System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) and remove the account from the Users & Groups panel. The process takes a few minutes, but macOS will not let you delete the last admin account on the machine — you must have at least one admin user remaining. Before you delete, decide what to do with the files in that user's home folder: you can keep them in a shared location, transfer them to another account, or delete them along with the account.
The person doing the deleting must be logged in as an admin user themselves. If you are trying to remove your own account, you will need a second admin account to do it, or you will need to use Recovery Mode (a special startup state) to regain access.
Key Takeaways
- You must be logged in as an admin user to delete any account, including another admin account.
- macOS will not allow you to delete the last admin account on the machine — at least one admin must always exist.
- Before deletion, choose whether to keep the deleted account's files in a shared folder, move them to another account, or remove them entirely.
- If you need to delete your own admin account, you must first create or access a second admin account to perform the deletion.
- The deletion is permanent and cannot be undone through normal means, so confirm you have backed up any needed files first.
Steps to delete an admin account on macOS Sonoma, Ventura, and Sequoia
Open System Settings and click Users & Groups in the left sidebar. (On older Macs running Big Sur or earlier, open System Preferences instead and click Users & Groups.) You will see a list of all user accounts on the machine, with a lock icon at the bottom left.
Click the lock icon and enter your admin password to unlock the panel. Once unlocked, select the account you want to delete from the list on the left. Click the minus button (−) below the account list. A dialog will appear asking what you want to do with the account's home folder — the folder containing that user's Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and other personal files.
Choose one of three options: "Save the home folder in a shared location" (moves the files to a folder called Deleted Users in the Shared folder, which any admin can access later), "Do not change the home folder" (leaves the files where they are, but the account is deleted), or "Delete the home folder" (removes the account and all its files permanently). Select your choice and click Delete User. The account will be removed when ready.
What happens if you try to delete the last admin account
If you attempt to delete the only remaining admin account on your Mac, the minus button will be grayed out and you will not be able to click it. macOS enforces this rule to prevent you from locking yourself out of the machine entirely — without an admin account, no one can change system settings, install software, or manage other user accounts.
If you are in this situation, you have two choices: create a new admin account first (while still logged in as the current admin), then delete the old one; or use Recovery Mode to reset the admin password or create a new admin account. Recovery Mode is more complex and should only be used if you have forgotten the password to your only admin account.
How to create a new admin account before deleting the old one
While logged in as the admin you want to delete, open System Settings and go to Users & Groups. Click the lock icon, enter your password, and click the plus button (+) below the account list. Enter a name for the new account, create a password, and select "Administrator" from the account type dropdown. Click Create User.
Log out and log back in as the new admin account. Return to System Settings, unlock Users & Groups, select the old admin account, and click the minus button to delete it. Now you can choose what to do with the old account's files and complete the deletion.
Using Recovery Mode if you cannot access any admin account
If you have forgotten the password to your only admin account and cannot log in, you can use Recovery Mode to create a new admin account or reset the existing password. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R when ready after you hear the startup sound (or on Apple Silicon Macs, hold the power button until "Loading startup options" appears). Release when you see the macOS Utilities window.
Click Utilities in the menu bar, then Terminal. Type resetpassword and press Enter. A password reset window will open where you can create a new password for an existing account or create a brand new admin account. Follow the prompts, restart your Mac normally, and log in with the new credentials. You can then delete the old account using the standard method described above.
What to do with files from a deleted account
If you chose "Save the home folder in a shared location" during deletion, the account's files will be moved to /Users/Shared/Deleted Users/[account name]. Any admin on the machine can open this folder and move files to their own account or to a shared drive. This is the safest option if you are not certain whether the files will be needed later.
If you chose "Do not change the home folder," the files remain in /Users/[account name], but the account itself no longer exists. An admin can still access these files by navigating to that folder in Finder, but they will appear to be owned by a user ID number rather than a user name. If you chose "Delete the home folder," all files are permanently removed and cannot be recovered through normal means.
Why you might want to delete an admin account
Common reasons include removing a former household member's account, consolidating multiple admin accounts into one, or cleaning up test accounts created during setup. If someone else set up your Mac and created an admin account for themselves, you may want to delete it once you have created your own admin account and transferred any needed files.
Before deleting, verify that no active applications or scheduled tasks (like backups or automated scripts) depend on that account. If a program was installed under the account you are deleting, it may stop working or require reinstallation under the new admin account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an admin account if I am logged in as a standard user?
No. You must be logged in as an admin user to delete any account. If you are a standard user, ask an admin on the machine to perform the deletion, or log out and log in as an admin account first.
What if I deleted an account and now regret it?
If you chose "Save the home folder in a shared location," the files are still in /Users/Shared/Deleted Users and can be recovered. If you chose "Delete the home folder," the files are permanently removed and standard recovery tools cannot retrieve them. Regular backups (using Time Machine or another backup service) are the only way to restore permanently deleted files.
Can I delete an admin account without a password?
No. You must enter the admin password to unlock Users & Groups before you can delete any account. If you have forgotten the password, use Recovery Mode to reset it or create a new admin account.
Will deleting an account remove the person's email from Mail or Messages?
No. Deleting the account removes it from the Users & Groups list, but email and message history may remain in those applications if they are stored in a shared location or synced to iCloud. To fully remove someone's data from Mail or Messages, you must delete those messages and accounts separately within each process.
What if the account I want to delete is the one I use every day?
Create a new admin account first, transfer your files and settings to it, then log in as the new account and delete the old one. This ensures you do not lose access to your own account during the deletion process.