Users and groups - cannot create a user

Question

Level 1

11 points

Users and groups - cannot create a user

Hello,

I am working under an Admin-type user, which is currently the only user on this Mac. I am running the latest MacOS High Sierra. I cannot create a new user and in general experience unexpected behaviour from "Users and Groups".

I am trying to create a new user by clicking '+' sign. If I choose an 'Admin' or 'Standard' user, and confirm, a new group is created instead, visible under "Groups" on the left hand side menu. If I choose a 'Group' type and confirm - nothing is created at all.

Moreover, newly created users-turned-groups cannot be deleted when I click '-' sign.

Could anyone help with this very strange issue(s)?

MacBook Air, macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)

Posted on Nov 25, 2017 2:53 PM

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Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

65,026 points

Dec 3, 2017 5:41 AM in response to piero.fiorani

Hello !

Enter in user library macOS Sierra: Library folder

Find a folder preferences > drag and drop com.apple.systempreferences.plist to the desktop , restart the machine and try to configure the accounts , see if it helps .

Right now I have added group in my system it is working , in your system after fresh installation may I know what apps are right now running , cleaners , anti virus etc .

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,063 points

Nov 25, 2017 3:03 PM in response to dmlazar

Unless you are the admin user you cannot create user accounts. You must click on the Lock icon and authenticate first. Select your account entry. Click on the Add [+] button under Login Options to create a new user panel. Complete the panel information needed then click OK to create the user account.

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Answer 3

dmlazar Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 25, 2017 5:32 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks,

I am the admin user (the only user which is currently set up), and I do unlock the changes using the Lock icon.

After completing all the information in the panel, and clicking 'Create User', a new _group_ appears on the left hand side - and no new users.

I have tried that three times, so now have three groups named 'User XX1's public folder', 'User XX2's public folder', and 'User XX3 public folder'.

I am really puzzled by the fact that the 'Create User' menu in fact creates a group and not a user.

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Answer 4

tygb

Level 9

65,026 points

Nov 25, 2017 6:19 PM in response to dmlazar

As per this article macOS Sierra: Set up users, guests, and groups on your Mac

Create a group

A group allows multiple users to have the same access privileges. For example, you can grant a group specific access privileges for a folder or a file, and all members of the group have access. You can also assign a group specific access privileges for each of your shared folders.

Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
Click the lock icon to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password.
Click the Add button below the list of users.
Click the New Account pop-up menu, then choose Group.
Give the group a name, then click Create Group.
Select each user and group you want to add to the new group.

Use Sharing preferences to specify whether the group members can share your files and share your screen.

See this article also macOS Sierra: Use File Sharing to share files

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Answer 5

Dec 3, 2017 3:55 AM in response to tygb

I have the same problem.

On the console I get the line:

Dec 3 12:38:34 iMac-**-Pierluigi com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.preferences.users.remoteservice[1463]): Service exited due to signal: Illegal instruction: 4 sent by exc handler[0]

Does it help in finding the cause ?

In my case the operation aborts and I get a message like "Error in Users and Group preferences..."

Any way out ?

Thanks Piero

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Answer 6

Dec 3, 2017 4:53 AM in response to piero.fiorani

Let me add the following info.

Using iMac 27" late 2013 - Erased the system disk containing El Capitan - Did Clean install of High Sierra.

Just after installation I tried to add a new user (as I had in El Capitan) - And I got the errors as in the above post. I tried to create standard and administrator users, no avail.

Maybe this may be solved by erasing some preference file for System Preferences ? the problem is I don't know which one to remove...

Please, any help?

Thanks in advance

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