will all applications be deleted if i delete the admin account with the applications folder

There is no way to tell. You can actually have an Applications folder in your user account. It will then work just like the main Applications folder. However, most people don't have a user-specific Applications folder. Furthermore, the apps that will likely cause the most trouble and be the most difficult to remove will have pieces spread all over the hard drive. This is true for both the user folders and the main folder. Each one has a "Library" folder that likely contains pieces of apps. Some of those pieces are helper apps that are, themselves, executable programs. Often, they are always running in the background.

If you want to truly get a fresh start, I'm afraid the only guaranteed way is to erase the hard drive and reinstall the operating system. Make sure to have a backup. You can restore from the backup, but you'll have to be careful. The default restore would restore all of the apps just the way they were. What you have to do is make sure to uncheck the boxes for "software and apps", "system settings", and "other files". The ones you do want are "user accounts" and "user files". You can then manually reinstall any 3rd party apps that you really need.

I may be wrong but as I understand it, the user account does not contain an Applications Folder. (Where are you seeing this?) Each user account can be set up to have access to specific apps, etc. Do not delete your Applications Folder. I don't think it can be deleted, but some of the apps you've installed can be deleted. Apple's installed apps mostly cannot be deleted. I hope this is helpful.

When you click on that Mac mini's hard drive you'll get a list of folders which contain applications and the user account. Clicking on the user account and go to the Home folder which again showed an application folder. Cannot delete Apple's apps. If you're having problems, which happens from time to time, can "usually" fix by restarting with command-R, and run disk utility - first aid, first, on each component of the drive as there are several. Click on show all entities, not just volumes and run first aid on each. Then quit and reinstall macOS.

If you've made a lot of system desktop changes to your account you probably don't want to erase and start all over again. I have over a decade of app shortcuts, text substitutions and many alterations that would preclude doing internal SSD erase and start over again. Curious why you would want to delete the applications folder though, but that's your business. Find Any File is a great app for finding all the orphan files that go along with any app, especially ones you download that you find are intrusive. When you delete a non-Apple app a list comes up of other files to delete with the application; but, Find Any File will find many orphan files associated left behind. They are usually not friendly, or confusing file names that later you'll wonder what they're doing there. I use the apps name first and then the developer's name in part or whole - be sure to hold the option key down when you select "find", as it will then turn to "find all" so it will search every nook and cranny of your selected hard drive. By default it will select your start up drive, which will have all the orphan files. Good luck. Best, Seth

To the see and use those folders you need to sign in with that users credentials.

That's why the red negative signs - that means you don't have permission to see or use those folders - they belong to another user. You can switch users in different ways depending on how it is set up under groups and users in system preferences. Seth

Hold down the option KEY in the finder and under "Go" section in the menu, you'll see the option to show the "Library folder", which does not usually show, because it's important that it is not deleted or changed unless you know exactly what you are doing. There's another Library connected with the System -operating system, which you can show by holding down "Shift -Command - Period". Best to hide that folder because you definitely do not want to change anything there, so click one more time the same key combination to hide it once again. There are actually three different libraries, but the one that shows in the finder under the go menu is it one you might want to remove orphan files associated with applications you decide you do not want. That's a good time to use the well-known app Find Any File, and hold the option key down before hitting the "Find" key. You'll have to enter your computer's password, and the Find will change to "Find All". This allows Find Any File to search your start up drive at all levels. When it's finished the upper left display option will show every instance of the word that you are searching, and the one next to it will show you the pathway to that file. Holding down the option key will allow to show that file in the finder, among a number of other options. I believe they finally put it in the App Store, but charge $8. Go to Thomas Templeton website and you can use it as long as you want, fully functional, but you'll get an occasional reminder for a donation. You can purchase it there for $6.

No need to purchase until you decide it is very functional for you. Been using it for about 10 years and think I donated twice, as it is one of my essential "go to apps" to find orphan files that might be slowing down your Mac, or associated malware files. Cheers. Seth

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ChrisBen5112 wrote:

Thanks for the info, as with your answer, i dont find any library folders in my user account or the other... it is to be found only in the root directory of macos... would that mean it is ok if delete it and the library would not be affected? and i dont really want to erase my whole system as the other user has some very important information to keep and cannot currently backup.

Why can’t you make a backup? You are dangerously close to a catastrophic failure.

Whatever you are doing - Stop Now!

Concur... Set up a time machine back up ASAP. Or at least buy a flash drive with enough memory to back up your start up drive. And no, never delete a folder that says library... and you don't want to delete users folders, as those are their home folder. You can tell which user is active as a home icon will be on the folder. Best advice is do not delete anything, unless you know exactly what you are deleting. Especially in the areas you are speaking of, at the root level and the user level of a start up drive. I know the tendency is to want to clean up folders you don't need to be seeing, But do not move or delete any of them.

I concur with etre, you can get a flash drive for $15 or $20 to back up your start up drive. Or a cheap external hard drive for time machine. It doesn't need to be fast, nor expensive, since it's just backing up in the background. Seth

All chill here...

Since you have Support access with your new Mac mini pro, find it always informative to interact with Apple tech support. Someone will usually connect with your computer with an arrow. They do this while speaking with you on the phone. You probably already know this if you've had Apple Support previously. If not, I find it quickest to use your iPhone Apple support app, the solid blue one, and you'll get to speaking with someone in short order. You can also start a support session on your Mac mini, but getting to the page where you enter your information and phone number is a bit more convoluted, as they try to switch you over to FAQs. In any event, either way they were using connect with you computer. A tiny window will appear in the right upper corner, select options and Accept. I believe you will accomplish more, and more rapidly, rather than Msgs here for the type of questions you have. They should be all answered in short order. What you are trying to do and why is a bit confusing, and suspect the reason you're not obtaining the answers you seek. Thus the frustration. Give it a try, as I always learn something, and sometimes vice versa. Seth

Good to hear.

One learns not to assume anything here. Carry on, until the next confusion, yes? Seth