Removing a user account on macOS is a common administrative task that can help maintain system security and manage user access. Whether you need to delete an old employee's account, clean up unused accounts, or simply manage user permissions, knowing how to remove a user effectively is crucial. This article will guide you through the process of removing a user on macOS using both the graphical user interface (GUI) and the command line interface (CLI).

Examples:

Using the Graphical User Interface (GUI)

1. Open System Preferences:

   • Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
   • Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu.

2. Access Users & Groups:

   • In the System Preferences window, click on "Users & Groups."

3. Unlock the Settings:

   • Click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner of the Users & Groups window.
   • Enter your administrator username and password when prompted.

4. Select the User to Remove:

   • In the left panel, select the user account you wish to remove.

5. Remove the User:

   • Click the minus (-) button below the list of users.
   • A dialog box will appear asking if you want to save the user's home folder as a disk image, delete the home folder, or leave the home folder as is. Choose the appropriate option based on your needs.
   • Click "Delete User" to confirm the removal.

Using the Command Line Interface (CLI)

1. Open Terminal:

   • You can find Terminal in the Applications > Utilities folder or by searching for it using Spotlight (Cmd + Space, then type "Terminal").

2. List All Users:

   • To see a list of all user accounts on the system, you can use the following command:

     dscl . list /Users

3. Remove the User:

   • Use the sudo command to remove the user. Replace username with the actual username of the account you want to delete:

     sudo dscl . -delete /Users/username

   • You may be prompted to enter your administrator password.

4. Remove the User's Home Directory:

   • If you also want to remove the user's home directory, use the rm command. Replace username with the actual username:

     sudo rm -rf /Users/username

Important Considerations

• Backup Important Data: Before removing a user, ensure that any important data is backed up or transferred to another location.
• Administrator Privileges: You need administrator privileges to remove a user account.
• System Integrity: Be cautious when using the command line to avoid accidental deletion of critical system files.