The fastest way to hide a username depends on your operating system
On Windows 10 and 11, you remove a username from the login screen by deleting the user account itself — or by switching that account to a hidden account that still exists but no longer appears when you start your computer. On a Mac, you hide accounts through System Settings without deleting them. Both methods take under five minutes and require you to be logged in as an administrator.
The reason usernames appear on your login screen in the first place is convenience: Windows and Mac both show recent accounts so you can click your name instead of typing it. Removing a name from that list doesn't erase the account or any files in it — it just hides it from view. If you ever need to use that account again, you can unhide it the same way.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, you can hide an account through Settings without deleting it, or delete the account entirely if you no longer need it.
- On a Mac, go to System Settings, select the account, and uncheck "Show when logging in" to hide it from the login screen.
- Hiding an account keeps all files and data intact — the account still exists, it just doesn't display at startup.
- You must be logged in as an administrator to hide or remove any account other than your own.
- If you delete an account on Windows, you can choose whether to keep or delete the files associated with it.
How to hide a username on Windows 10 or 11
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click "Accounts" in the left sidebar, then click "Other people" (or "Family & other people" on some versions). You'll see a list of all user accounts on your computer.
Find the account you want to hide and click it once. Click "Remove" at the bottom of the window. Windows will ask whether you want to delete the account's files or keep them. Choose "Delete account and files" if you want to remove everything, or "Keep files" if you want to preserve the files in that account's folder (they'll move to your desktop or Documents folder). The account will disappear from your login screen when ready.
If you want to hide the account but keep it fully intact and usable later, use a different method instead: open Settings, go to Accounts, click "Other people", find the account, and look for an option that says "Remove this person" or similar. Some Windows versions also allow you to disable an account through the Local Users and Groups tool, which hides it without deletion — press Windows key + R, type "lusrmgr.msc", and press Enter, then right-click the account and select "Disable".
How to hide a username on a Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older macOS versions). Click "General" in the sidebar, then click "Login Items & Extensions" or "Users & Groups" depending on your macOS version.
Find the account you want to hide in the list on the left. You may need to click the lock icon at the bottom and enter your administrator password first. Once the list is unlocked, click the account name, then uncheck the box that says "Show when logging in" or "Allow user to log in". The account will remain on your Mac with all its files intact, but it won't appear on the login screen the next time you restart.
To unhide the account later, return to the same location, click the account, and check the box again. Your Mac will show the username on the login screen at the next startup.
What happens to files when you remove an account
On Windows, when you delete an account, you choose in that moment whether to keep or delete the files. If you choose "Keep files", Windows moves the contents of that account's Documents, Desktop, and Downloads folders to a new folder on your main user's desktop called something like "Old User Name". You can then sort through those files and delete what you don't need.
On a Mac, hiding an account doesn't touch the files at all — they stay exactly where they are. If you want to delete the account and its files on a Mac, you have to do that separately through System Settings by clicking the account, then clicking the minus button, and confirming deletion. Even then, you can choose to keep the home folder.
Hiding your own account versus hiding someone else's
You can hide your own account from the login screen on either system, but you'll need to have another administrator account to log in with first. If you hide your only administrator account, you won't be able to log back in or make changes to your computer.
If you're hiding someone else's account — a family member's, a roommate's, or a guest account — make sure you're logged in as an administrator. On Windows, right-click your username in Settings and check that it says "Administrator" next to your name. On a Mac, open System Settings, go to Users & Groups, click the lock icon, and confirm you're listed as an "Admin".
If you accidentally hide the wrong account
On Windows, log back in with your administrator account, open Settings, go to Accounts, click "Other people", and look for the hidden account. It may appear grayed out or in a separate section. Click it and select "Add" or "Restore" to bring it back to the login screen.
On a Mac, open System Settings, go to Users & Groups, click the lock icon, find the hidden account in the list, and check "Show when logging in" again. The account will reappear on your login screen at the next restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will hiding an account delete my files?
No. Hiding an account on a Mac keeps all files completely intact. On Windows, hiding (through the Local Users and Groups method) also preserves files. Only if you choose to delete the account entirely on Windows and select "Delete account and files" will files be removed.
Can I hide an account if I'm not an administrator?
No. You must be logged in as an administrator to hide or remove any account other than your own. If you're not sure whether your account is an administrator, open Settings and look for "Administrator" or "Admin" next to your username.
What if I hide my only administrator account?
You won't be able to log in or make changes to your computer. Before hiding an administrator account, create or unhide another administrator account first. If this happens, you'll need to restart in Safe Mode or use a recovery method specific to your operating system.
Can someone still log into a hidden account?
Yes. On Windows, they can click "Other user" at the login screen and type the username and password manually. On a Mac, they can restart while holding Command-S to enter Single User Mode, or use another method to access the account. Hiding only removes the account from the visual list — it doesn't lock the account.
How do I show a hidden account again?
On Windows, open Settings, go to Accounts, find the hidden account (it may be grayed out), and click "Add" or "Restore". On a Mac, open System Settings, find the account in Users & Groups, and check "Show when logging in". The account will appear on your login screen at the next restart.