Deleting User Accounts In Windows

Overview

This article will go over deleting user accounts properly in Windows. That means deleting the user accounts home directory and the accounts user account in the registry.

There are two ways you can do this. But, for now I’ll cover the easiest way using the GUI.

This can also be used to clean up Active Directory accounts that have signed into the workstation. If users no longer sign into the workstation and you only have one available, it isn’t sensical to keep all of those accounts on the workstation. Remove them.

GUI - System Advanced Properties

This will show you how to properly delete an account using System Advanced Properites. This will delete the account, accounts home directory, and delete the accounts entry in the Registry. All in the GUI.

1. Type the keyboard shortcut Windows (Super) + R.
2. In the Run prompt type SystemPropertiesAdvanced.
3. Click Advanced > Settings.
4. At the User Profiles window. Click on the account you would like to delete.
5. Click Delete.
6. Confirm Deletion.
7. Click OK.