how do I remove a user?

Question

Level 1

8 points

how do I remove a user?

I have a user called 'test' on my macbookair. I want to remove it. I have logged the user out. I go to Users and Groups, select the 'other user', then '-' and get a menu that says:

'To delete user 'test' you need to enter THEIR password.

Enter YOUR password to allow this. '

I enter my current user/admin password and the box shakes indicating that this action is wrong. I enter the password of the user called 'test' and it shakes again.

What am I doing wrong?

thanks...

MacBook Air

Posted on Mar 9, 2022 11:11 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Encryptor5000

Level 5

7,568 points

Mar 11, 2022 5:06 PM in response to rhabdornis

rhabdornis wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion. I should add that this 'Test' account was on the computer when I bought it secondhand. I want to remove it in case it is a security threat and also because it takes up space on the already tiny HDD.

There is no sign of an Icloud account.

I should add that when I select 'test' it appears in the dialog box as greyed over, as though it cannot be selected for some reason

o.O

If you bought the Mac second-hand, complete these steps to erase all content and settings left behind by the previous owner.

Log in to your admin account.
In System Preferences -> Apple ID, make sure that Find My Mac is disabled for your user account.
In the top left corner, hold down the Option key, and click the Apple Menu -> System Information.
Check if the Activation Lock status appears in the Hardware Overview. If it does, make sure that Activation Lock is disabled.
Erase everything and start over.

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Answer 2

Mar 10, 2022 7:32 AM in response to rhabdornis

Hi rhabdornis,

If the user "Test" has Find My Mac enabled for their iCloud account, you might need to enter their Apple ID password (not their user account password) in order to clear Activation Lock and disable Find My Mac. This is likely required before you can delete the user account.

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Answer 3

rhabdornis Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 10, 2022 9:42 AM in response to Encryptor5000

Thanks for the suggestion. I should add that this 'Test' account was on the computer when I bought it secondhand. I want to remove it in case it is a security threat and also because it takes up space on the already tiny HDD.

There is no sign of an Icloud account.

I should add that when I select 'test' it appears in the dialog box as greyed over, as though it cannot be selected for some reason

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Answer 4

rhabdornis Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 12, 2022 12:51 AM in response to Encryptor5000

Thanks Encryptor5000, this is very helpful, although being a 2013 model the details are slightly different.

One more point: after erasing Macintosh HD I am still left with something called disk1 with a volume 'OS X base system of 1.28Gb. These appear to be unavailable for erasing.

I do not have them on my original Macbookair.

How should I proceed? TIA

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