The fastest way depends on your operating system

On Windows 10 or 11, you remove a username from the login screen by deleting the user account itself — Windows does not let you hide just the name while keeping the account active. On a Mac, you can disable the account or turn off the "Show password hint" option, but the username stays visible unless you delete the account. Both systems require you to be logged in as an administrator.

If you want the account to exist but not appear on login, your options are limited. Windows has no built-in way to do this. On a Mac, you can create a hidden account, but it requires command-line work. For most people, the practical choice is either deleting the account or leaving it visible.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows does not hide usernames from the login screen — you must delete the account to remove it from view.
  • On a Mac, you can disable an account or hide it using Terminal, but hiding requires typing commands.
  • Deleting an account removes all files associated with it unless you save them first.
  • You need administrator access to remove or hide any account on either system.

Removing a username on Windows 10 or 11

Open Settings and go to Accounts. Click on "Other people" in the left sidebar. Find the account you want to remove and click it, then click "Remove". Windows will ask whether you want to delete the account's files or keep them. Choose "Delete account and data" to remove everything, or "Keep files" if you want to save the desktop and documents folder to your main account's folder.

The account disappears from the login screen when ready. If you chose "Keep files", Windows moves the user's Desktop and Documents folders into a folder on your main account — you can find it in File Explorer under your user folder. Any other files stored in that account's folder are deleted.

If you do not have administrator access, you cannot remove the account. Ask whoever set up the computer to do it, or log in as an administrator first.

Hiding or disabling an account on Mac

If you want to keep the account but stop it from showing on the login screen, open System Settings and go to General, then Login Items. This does not hide the account — it only controls what opens when you log in. The username still appears on the login screen.

To actually hide an account on a Mac, you need to use Terminal. Open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight), then type: sudo dscl . create /Users/username IsHidden 1 — replace "username" with the actual account name. Press Enter and type your administrator password. The account will no longer appear on the login screen, but it still exists and can be accessed if you know the name and password.

To unhide the account later, open Terminal again and type: sudo dscl . delete /Users/username IsHidden. This brings it back to the login screen.

Deleting a Mac account

Open System Settings and go to General, then Users & Groups (or Accounts on older Macs). Click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then click the account you want to remove. Click the minus button below the account list. Mac will ask what to do with the account's files — you can delete them, keep them in a folder on your main account, or save them to an external drive.

The account is removed from the login screen once you confirm. If you kept the files, they appear in a folder called "Deleted Users" on your main drive.

What happens to files when you delete an account

When you delete an account on either Windows or Mac, the files in that account's folder are at risk. Before you delete, decide whether you need anything from the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, or Pictures folders. If you do, copy them to your main account or an external drive first.

Both Windows and Mac offer to save these folders when you delete, but the process is different on each system. On Windows, files go into a folder in your user directory. On Mac, they go into a "Deleted Users" folder. Either way, you can access them after deletion, but it is easier to move them before you remove the account.

Removing a guest account or temporary login

If the account you want to remove is a guest account or was created for temporary use, the process is the same as removing any other account. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people and remove it. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Users & Groups and delete it.

Guest accounts on Mac are different — they do not have a permanent folder and are designed to be temporary. To turn off the guest account entirely, open Users & Groups, click the lock to unlock, then uncheck "Allow guests to log in to this computer". The guest option disappears from the login screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove a username without deleting the account?

Not on Windows — the account and the login screen name are the same thing. On Mac, you can hide the account using Terminal so it does not appear on login, but the account still exists and can be accessed if you know the password.

What if I forget what files were in the deleted account?

On Windows, check the folder named after the account in Users — Windows sometimes keeps a copy there. On Mac, look in the "Deleted Users" folder on your main drive. If you deleted the files entirely, they are gone unless you have a backup.

Do I need a password to remove an account?

You need administrator access. If you are the only user, you have it. If someone else set up the computer, ask them to remove the account, or log in as an administrator account first.

Will removing an account affect my other files?

No. Deleting one account does not touch files in other accounts or on shared drives. Only the files in that specific account's folder are affected.

Can I recover a deleted account?

Once deleted, the account cannot be recovered, though the files may still exist if you chose to keep them. If you need the account back, you have to create it again from scratch.