Can't delete user in High Sierra

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Level 1

11 points

Can't delete user in High Sierra

Hi, I recently got a mac, and created an admin account (1) to use migrant assistant to restore a user (2) from my Time Machine backup. Now I've made my migrated account (2) the admin account and made the original account (1) a standard user. I keep trying to delete user 1 but the minus button is greyed out. I've also tried using Directory Utility, but every time I press the '-' button and 'Delete' nothing happens at all. I've tried logging out of the user I want to delete, changing the password, but nothing seems to work. Also, whenever I open my Mac, it automatically goes to the login window of user (1) and asks me to input my password, and I can't switch to user (2) (which is the admin) unless I log into user (1). Any help would be appreciated.

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)

Posted on Dec 8, 2017 1:03 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Camilla Richardson

Level 1

19 points

Jan 4, 2018 1:50 PM in response to TheMuffin260

Had the same problem - setup my old MacBook 2016 from scratch for my daughter, then restored her backup from her previous Mac but were unable to delete the first account ("-" button greyed out in System `preferences > Users & Groups).

After tweeting AppleSupport, they have kindly (and surprisingly) responded with the following solution that worked for me:

1. Ensure that that the user you want to delete is an Admin user. If not, go into System Preferences and make them one.

2. Log out of the current user and log into as the user you want to delete.

3. In System Preferences, change the password of the user you want to keep. You can even set it to the same as the existing one.

4. Log out and then log back in as the user you want to keep.

5. You can now delete the first user by clicking on the "-" button which is now enabled.

Please note that you need to unlock the Users and Groups dialog to make changes.

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Answer 2

TheMuffin260 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 4, 2018 1:52 PM in response to Camilla Richardson

Thanks a lot for your reply! Worked for me!

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