You can delete a user account through Settings, but the process depends on whether you are the account owner
To delete a user account on Windows 10, open Settings, go to Accounts, then select the account you want to remove and choose "Delete". Windows will ask you what to do with the files in that account's folder — you can keep them, move them to another account, or delete them. The whole process takes about two minutes.
The catch: you must be signed in as an administrator to delete any account. If you are trying to delete your own account, you need a second administrator account on the machine first, because Windows will not let you delete the last admin account on the computer.
Key Takeaways
- You need administrator rights to delete any user account, and you cannot delete the only administrator account on the computer.
- Before deleting an account, decide whether to keep the files in that account's folder, move them to another account, or remove them entirely.
- Deleting an account removes access to that user's email, Microsoft Store purchases, and OneDrive files stored in that account.
- If you forget the password to an account you want to delete, you can reset it through Settings before removing the account.
How to delete a user account step by step
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click on "Accounts" in the left sidebar. On the right side, you will see "Other people" — click that option.
Find the account you want to delete in the list and click on it once. A button labeled "Delete" will appear below the account name. Click "Delete". Windows will show you a warning that says "Delete account and data?" — this is asking whether you want to keep the files or remove them too.
Choose one of three options: "Delete account only" keeps all the files in that account's folder on your computer, "Delete account and data" removes everything, or you can select a specific folder path to move the files somewhere else first. After you choose, click "Delete" again. The account is now gone.
What happens to files and data when you delete an account
If you choose "Delete account only", Windows moves the account's entire folder to your Desktop in a folder named after that user. You can then look through it, copy what you need to keep, and delete the rest. This is the safest option if you are not sure what files the account contains.
If you choose "Delete account and data", Windows permanently removes everything in that account's folder — documents, photos, downloads, desktop files, all of it. This cannot be undone. Do not choose this option unless you are certain the account contains nothing you need.
Deleting an account also removes that person's access to any Microsoft services tied to that account. If they were signed into Outlook, OneDrive, or the Microsoft Store, those services will no longer work on this computer under that account. Any files stored only in that account's OneDrive folder will be deleted from the computer, though they may still exist in the cloud if the person signs in from another device.
When you cannot delete an account
Windows will not let you delete an account if you are not signed in as an administrator. If you see a message saying "You do not have permission to delete this account", you are signed in as a standard user. You need to sign out, sign back in as an administrator, and try again.
You also cannot delete the only administrator account on the computer. If the account you want to remove is the only admin account, you must first create a new administrator account, then sign in as that new account, and then delete the old one. To create a new administrator account, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people > Add account, then choose "I don't have this person's sign-in information" and follow the prompts to create a local account. After creating it, go back to Accounts > Other people, click the new account, then click "Change account type" and select "Administrator".
Deleting an account you do not have the password for
If you need to delete an account but do not know the password, you can reset it first. Go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, click the account, and select "Reset password". Windows will ask you to answer security questions or use another sign-in method to verify you own the computer. After you reset the password, you can then delete the account using the steps above.
If you cannot answer the security questions and do not have another way to verify ownership, you cannot reset the password or delete the account from Settings. In that case, you would need to use the Command Prompt as an administrator, but that is a more technical process and carries higher risk of accidentally affecting other parts of Windows.
The difference between deleting an account and signing out
Deleting an account removes it from the computer entirely — that person can no longer sign in, and their files are either moved or deleted depending on what you chose. Signing out just logs the person out of their account; the account still exists on the computer and they can sign back in anytime.
If you want to prevent someone from using the computer but keep their account and files intact, signing out is the right choice. If you want to remove the account completely, delete it. There is no middle ground — once you delete, the account is gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a deleted account?
No. Once you delete an account through Settings, it is permanently removed from the computer. If you chose "Delete account and data", the files are also gone. If you chose "Delete account only", the files are on your Desktop in a folder you can still access, but the account itself cannot be restored.
What if I delete an account by mistake?
If you deleted the account but chose "Delete account only", the files are still on your Desktop in a folder with that account's name. You can copy them back or keep them. If you chose "Delete account and data", the files cannot be recovered through Windows. You would need data recovery software, which may or may not work depending on how long ago the deletion happened.
Will deleting an account remove it from my Microsoft account?
No. Deleting a local account on your computer only removes it from that specific Windows 10 machine. If the account was linked to a Microsoft account (like Outlook or OneDrive), that Microsoft account still exists and can be used to sign in on other computers. Only the connection to this computer is removed.
Do I need to uninstall programs before deleting an account?
No. Programs installed on Windows 10 are stored in a shared location, not in the user account folder, so deleting an account does not uninstall them. However, any settings or files that account created inside those programs will be lost.