How to remove inactive iMessage/iCloud account on Mac OS 10.11.4 ?

In System Preferences > iCloud

Select Sign Out in bottom left corner. This will remove any sync with all iCloud apps.

If you only want the account removed, you can uncheck the individual app in the list.

In Messages, remove the account in Preferences > Accounts.

hi,

The first pic is the default Action and I suspect it is for the second.

If you want the first to appear blank then delete com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.madrid.plist

To Access this you needs to use a Finder Window an then access th Go Menu whilst holding down the ALT key and then selecting the Library that appears.

Navigate to Preferences and find the file and Delete it (Drag to Trash).

I am not sure which .plist holds the Apple ID in use in the iCloud pane or System Preferences.

9:25 pm Tuesday; May 17, 2016

In the User's Library > Preferences move these files to the Trash.

Log out/in then empty the trash.

Open iMessage and check

com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.madrid.plist

com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.private.alloy.sms.plist

com.apple.iChat.plist

Also in Preferences there is a folder named ByHost. You might also need to remove these files in ByHost:

com.apple.iChat.SubNet.xxxxx.plist

com.apple.iChat.xxxx.plist

If this fails, there is an Accounts folder in User Preferences that might be corrupt.

Hi,

I opened System Preferences > iCloud AND the ~/Library/Preferences and set it to the Modified Column then Signed out of the iCloud ID

I got these plist altered. (Everything from 15 minutes past the hour up to the top)

It took a while as it asked about keeping Contacts, reminders, Calendars and so forth.

I still could not see one that keeps the actual ID in the .plist event though some of them are IDS ones.

I am afraid it is not a specifically detailed answer as I would usually like to give.

for the Points.

7:34 pm Wednesday; May 18, 2016

Hi,

com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.madrid.plist iMessages as Stated

com.apple.ids.service.com.apple.private.alloy.sms.plist Text Forwarding. It also only hold the iMessages stuff and not the iCloud stuff (I use two separate IDs

com.apple.iChat.plist No iCloud stuff. No iMessages Stuff. Holds references to Buddy List accounts such as Sort orders and the like (i.e. AIM, Jabber, Yahoo and Bonjour)

Also in Preferences there is a folder named ByHost. You might also need to remove these files in ByHost:

com.apple.iChat.SubNet.xxxxx.plist This is Bonjour only in Messages. the numbered file is only a temp storage beofre placing in com.apple.iChat.Subnet.plist itself

com.apple.iChat.xxxx.plist As above, but for the Messages settings in Menus and Preferences that used to be iChat effectively

8:09 pm Wednesday; May 18, 2016

Thanks for the additional info. I did the same as you to find altered plist files by sorting preferences to come up with my list. I did mine in a test User that had not used iMessage before.