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How to remove "Other" account from login screen?

Hello!


I have no guest users on my mac. I have only 1 admin user. Please help me and tell, how i can remove "Other.." login option from my login screen?


User uploaded file

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Mar 2, 2016 1:19 PM

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Posted on Jul 6, 2017 6:59 AM

Thank you. You are correct and your suggestion works.


This is the first time I have ever seen the "other" user in the login screen. I have four Macs on my Network and one NAS.


The command "sudo defaults delete /L*/P*/com.apple.loginwindow.* SHOWOTHERUSERS_MANAGED" just returns a page of syntax suggestions and arguments and accomplishes nothing.


Copied and pasted


sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow SHOWOTHERUSERS_MANAGED -bool FALSE

and it worked. Now it's gone. Thank you.


And just for the record, there is no "other" user folder, I don't have "Find My Mac" enabled, and I don't have guest account enabled.

38 replies

Mar 2, 2016 4:27 PM in response to skillman99

Please back up all data before proceeding.

1. If you enabled root logins, follow the instructions in this support article under the heading "Disable the root user." You must authenticate in Directory Utility as "root" with the root password. Authenticating as another administrator won't work. If you've forgotten the password, ask for instructions to reset it.

Log out and test. If there's no change, continue.

2. These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the administrator.

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

sudo defaults delete /L*/P*/com.apple.loginwindow.* SHOWOTHERUSERS_MANAGED

Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.

Launch the built-in Terminal application in any one of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

Paste into the Terminal window by pressing the key combination command-V. I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting. You'll be prompted for your login password. Nothing will be displayed when you type it. Type carefully and then press return. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. Confirm. You don't need to post the warning.

If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator. Log in as one and start over.

Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear below what you entered. You can then quit Terminal.

Mar 3, 2016 4:56 AM in response to skillman99

The 'Other…' option usually signifies that your Mac is connected (bound) to a network directory server, typically Open Directory or Active Directory but also possibly a type of LDAP server.


Open System Preferences, click on Users & Groups, then at the bottom left click on Login Options. Is there a 'Network Account Server' listed? If so this is the network directory server.


DO NOT delete the network directory server unless you know that is ok, you may need it to access office systems. If this is purely a home computer then perhaps it would be safe to delete any entry here.

Mar 3, 2016 5:40 AM in response to skillman99

All the above posts, are various sides of the truth on this topic. Pay attention especially to the points made by John Lockwood and Old Toad.

Yes, it is possible to do it like you want to. It is also possible to revert back. In what is other user in login window? the method has been covered. It is also possible for it not to display the login name at startup, but then the Mac has to be bounded to an OD and the User login's used above 1000, ie Network Users. That removes the security concern raised by Old Toad in a way.


Instead of what Linc has reccommended, you will enter:


sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow SHOWOTHERUSERS_MANAGED -bool FALSE


and to revert:


sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow SHOWOTHERUSERS_MANAGED -bool TRUE


Edit to correct Bind and to add the Terminal Commands


Leo

Dec 20, 2016 7:54 AM in response to skillman99

hi,


after having other.. appear on my login screen, i searched for solution to remove this. the only thing i've recently changed is enabling the root user account. i disabled the root account, and, this other... login is removed.


in summary, when i enable root on my imac el capitan, i see a login for other... which was never there before. i can login to this account with root/<password>. when i disable the root user, this login is removed entirely.


hope this helps


-- ENABLE / DISABLE root user:

How to enable the root user on your Mac - Apple Support

Enable or disable the root user

  1. Choose Apple menu () > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups (or Accounts).
  2. Click User uploaded file, then enter an administrator name and password.
  3. Click Login Options.
  4. Click Join (or Edit).
  5. Click Open Directory Utility.
  6. Click User uploaded file in the Directory Utility window, then enter an administrator name and password.
  7. From the menu bar in Directory Utility:
    • Choose Edit > Enable Root User, then enter the password that you want to use for the root user.
    • Or choose Edit > Disable Root User.

How to remove "Other" account from login screen?

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