Unable to delete a user account

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julien_7324 Posted messages 109 Registration date Status Member Last intervention -
julien_7324 Posted messages 109 Registration date Status Member Last intervention - 19 May 2020 at 09:32

Hello, I would like to delete a standard user account on my Mac. I am logged in as an administrator, but macOS asks me to enter the password for the account I want to delete.
Can I delete the user without the password since I don't remember it?

Thank you

3 answers

Answer 1 / 3
dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention 5 370

Hello,

I suppose it's asking you for an administrator password to unlock the small padlock (mandatory), which will then allow you to delete the user account that you no longer use/need after selecting it by clicking on the minus sign (-)

--
When it's urgent, it's already too late (Talleyrand)
When everything has failed, read the manual ;)
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Answer 2 / 3
julien_7324 Posted messages 109 Registration date Status Member Last intervention 27

Hello, I know the password for my user account because that's how I unlock the padlock. However, to delete another user, I need to enter their password, which I don’t know.
Is there a way to delete an account without the password?
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Answer 3 / 3
Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3661 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention 992

You can delete this with two commands in the Terminal (one for the account, the second for the associated folder):

sudo rm /private/var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default/users/toto.plist
sudo rm -rf /Users/toto

You obviously need to replace toto with the short name of the account to be deleted. And enter your admin password when prompted (nothing will be displayed, that's normal) and confirm with the <Enter> key

--
Hello at home!
Bernard
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1. dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention 5 370
  
  Hello Bernard,
  
  I just noticed that the account to be deleted has the same name as the main account, which I think is unusual, so with the terminal command, there might be confusion, right?
  But normally, by starting on the admin account and going to system preferences/users and groups, one can delete a user account without any problem, even if the other "user" account has administrative rights.
  Well, I'm saying this, but I might be wrong; it might change depending on the OS, I'm still on 10.11!
  
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  1. Aliboron Martin Posted messages 3661 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention 992 > dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention
    
    Well spotted. But in principle, it shouldn't be the same abbreviated name (it's indeed the abbreviated name that should be used for the command in Terminal). Two folders with the same name, I don't really believe it. But it is certain that if it's the same abbreviated name (but is that really possible?) it could cause issues. We'll see...
    
    As for the requirement for the account password, that seems to be a new feature in Catalina. I've seen similar cases before.
    
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  2. julien_7324 Posted messages 109 Registration date Status Member Last intervention 27 > dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention
    
    Hello, thanks for your help. Check the admin account and the standard account. There is a space between Julien and Heinen on the standard account while there are two spaces on the admin account.
    
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  3. dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention 5 370 > julien_7324 Posted messages 109 Registration date Status Member Last intervention
    
    Hello,
    
    So go through the terminal, as advised by Master Aliboron.
    But, make sure to start on your admin account.
    
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  4. julien_7324 Posted messages 109 Registration date Status Member Last intervention 27 > dede74000 Posted messages 26996 Registration date Status Contributor Last intervention
    
    Hello, thank you for your help. My problem is solved.
    
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Unable to delete a user account

3 answers

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