Windows 10: Delete User Profile in Windows 10

How to: Delete User Profile in Windows 10

How to Delete User Profile of an Account in Windows 10


Information When signs in to the new account for the first time.

A user profile is a collection of settings that make the computer look and work the way you want it to for a user account. It is stored in the user's C:\Users\<user name> profile folder, and contains the account's settings for desktop backgrounds, screen savers, pointer preferences, sound settings, and other features. User profiles ensure that your personal preferences are used whenever you sign in to Windows.

A user's profile folder also contains their personal folders such as the 3D Objects, Contacts, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Links, Music, OneDrive, Pictures, Saved Games, Searches, and Videos folders.

If a user's profile becomes corrupted or you just want to reset it back to default, then you could delete the user's profile to do so without having to signs in.

This tutorial will show you how to delete the profile of a user account to have a new profile created for the user without deleting their account in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to delete a user profile.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Delete User Profile of an Account in Advanced System Properties
• Option Two: To Delete User Profile of an Account in File Explorer and Registry Editor

OPTION ONE [/i] To Delete User Profile of an Account in Advanced System Properties
1. If you haven't already, you will need to make sure that the user account (ex: "Example") you want to delete the profile of is signed out before continuing.

2. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe, and click/tap on OK to open advanced System Properties.

3. Click/tap on the Settings button under User Profiles. (see screenshot below)



4. Select the profile of the user account (ex: "Example"), and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below)



5. Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)



6. The profile of the user account (ex: "Example") will now be deleted. A new profile for the user's account will automatically be created the next time that user signs in. (see screenshot below)



7. You can now close the User Profiles and System Properties windows if you like.




OPTION TWO [/i] To Delete User Profile of an Account in File Explorer and Registry Editor
1. If you haven't already, you will need to make sure that the user account (ex: "Example") you want to delete the profile of is signed out before continuing.

2. Open the C:\Users folder in File Explorer, and delete the profile folder (ex: "Example") of the user account you want. (see screenshot below)



3. Click/tap on Continue to approve. (see screenshot below)



4. The user profile folder (ex: "Example") of the account will now be deleted. You can now close File Explorer. (see screenshot below)



5. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

6. Navigate to the ProfileList key in the left pane of Registry Editor at the location below. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList




7. Look at the value data for the ProfileImagePath value name in the right pane of each SID key (S-1-5-21....long number) under the ProfileList key in the left pane to find the SID key that belongs to the user profile (ex: "Example") you want to delete. (see screenshot above)

8. When you find the correct SID key (ex: "S-1-5-21....1007") in the left pane, right click or press and hold on this SID key (ex: "S-1-5-21....1007"), and click/tap on Delete.

9. Click/tap on Yes to confirm deleting the profile's reference in the registry. (see screenshot below)



10. The profile of the user account (ex: "Example") will now be deleted. A new profile for the user's account will automatically be created the next time that user signs in.

11. You can now close Registry Editor if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Customize Default User Profile for New Accounts in Windows 10
• How to Delete a User Account in Windows 10
• How to Fix 'You've been signed in with a temporary profile' Error in Windows 10
• How to Change the Name of a User Profile Folder in Windows 10

:)

 

How to delete a user profile in Windows 10?

We appreciate that you have cleared the issue that you're experiencing. Since you're using a Kiosk, we suggest that you post your query to our

TechNet forums. From there, you will be assisted promptly by our Microsoft specialists.

Let us know whenever you need further assistance.

 

How to delete a user profile in Windows 10?

1.1 Is Kiosk listed if you enter this in the Command prompt / PowerShell?

net user

1.2 If so then enter this next

net user kiosk

You'll see various details including if it is an Admin [member of the Administrators group] - judging from your description I think the answer is yes.

2 Is there a folder C:\Users\Kiosk? If not then it has never been logged in to.

3 I think you need to run full antimalware scans using both Windows defender and, say,

Malwarebytes free [don't accept their Premium trial].

• Did anybody else have physical access to your computer at the time this started?
• What unusual events happened before the symptom started?
• It looks like somebody has hacked into your computer but I think it is also possible that one of your installed applications has some weird way of working that involves the creation of a dummy user account. There is, for example, a group of Mozilla add-ons
  called Kiosk. Anything ring a bell?

4 Does the Kiosk account appear in Settings, Accounts, Family & other people, Other people subheading?

• If so select it & delete it there.
• If not then use one of these other methods -
  Delete a User Account - TenForums

Denis

 

Hello Steve, *Smile

Both options perform the same action, but Option Two is the manual way.

You are correct. Deleting a profile will also delete all user and program data and configuration/settings stored in the profile folder as well. Deleting a profile to reset it to default will essentially be the same as a new account's profile.

It would be recommended to back up anything that you do not want to lose in the profile folder first though.

 

Is deleting a profile any different from just deleting an account or am I missing something?

 

I am confused as well.
I just deleted a user, and had no choice to keep files (like we could in W7?), but all the data remains and I can still see it, although the user account no longer appears at the login screen. I activated the hidden administrator account, went in there, and deleted all the deleted user's data. Wondering if I need to do this "profile deletion" as well?

 

Hey guys, *Smile

If you delete an account and select to delete both account and data, it will include deleting the user profile folder. If you don't, it will only delete the account reference, and not the user profile folder.

 

But, I didn't get a choice - only delete user account and data. But still, all the data was there, and I could view it from another admin account on the system.

 

Usually, both will only be deleted if done in Settings (option 1).

The other options will only delete the account.

Delete User Account in Windows 10 Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

 

Thanks Brink. That's what I did. *Sad

 

Luckily, you can always manually delete the profile folder though. *Smile

 

Well, I activated the hidden administrator account, and deleted all the user's data that way. I just checked, and the profile no longer shows up, so I guess I'm good. Thanks.

 

You're most welcome mate. *Smile

 

Do I use "How to Delete a User Account in Windows 10" or "How to Delete User Profile of an Account in Windows 10"?


I bought a used laptop.
Laptop
HP 17-e117dx
Windows 10

The system was reset but in the process, the user account was setup with the owners name and a Microsoft account was setup.
Also an Outlook account.
Both with the same email address and password.

Now, I ONLY use LOCAL accounts and do not use Outlook.

I would like to get rid of the Microsoft and Outlook accounts and revert to a Local Account.

Also, do I use OneDrive and that too has been setup up and I would like to get rid of that.

I have setup to Log on as a Local Account and changed the logon account name.
I notice that the User folder name has not changed.

I think can change the name and password on the Microsoft and Outlook accounts but I would prefer to get rid of them completely.

I really don't want to reinstall Windows and I have not tried a reset using the HP recovery since this might give me some trouble and a lot of work.

In any event, I would need some guidence using the HP recovery.

Is there an easy way out of this?

Thanks
Joe

 

Hello Joe, *Smile

The easiest way to start fresh would be to reset Windows instead so that you can set it up with your own account without any left overs from the previous owner.

*Arrow Reset Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials