Windows 10: How do I remove an unwanted user created by Windows

I have been running Windows with a single user ID – the one on top with the photo in the bottom left hand corner of the attached screenshot.


A couple of days ago, the user below it randomly appeared. Same name, no photo. Windows now tries to log in with this id by default when it starts and I have to manually intervene to instruct it to use the correct one, which means I can no longer bypass the login screen on startup.

I have been unable to find a way to delete the unwanted user, as it doesn't appear anywhere in the settings. I'd also love to know how it was created.


Any ideas gratefully received.


Steve S.





:)

 

Creating and removing a user account in Windows 10

Hi Ron,

To answer your question, kindly follow the steps below:

To create a local user or administrator account:

Method 1:

• Open the Settings app.
• Click on Accounts.
• Select Family & other people.
• Click on Add someone else to this PC.
• Enter a user name, password, password hint, and then select Next.

Method 2:

• Follow the steps given on this Wiki article create by Andre Da Costa:
  
  How to: create a Local Account in Windows 10.

To remove a user account or administrator account:

• Open the Settings app.
• Click on Accounts.
• Select Family & other people.
• Select the user you want to delete under Other users and click on Remove.
• Accept the UAC (User Account Control) prompt.
• Select Delete account and data if you wish to delete account and the data and follow the onscreen instructions.

Note: Only administrator user can delete a user account. Log on as the new administrator and delete your account.

Let us know if you have further concerns.

 

Removing a "hidden" user and user files

Thanks for your patience. I was able with "Net User" to remove the left over user. It no longer appears when I invoke Net User.

Now for the user's folder which remains behind. After performing the series of steps that you suggested, I attempted to delete this folder. The result again was an error message about permission


"Administrators" appears on the list in the list of advanced security.

 

Remove account

I suggest you backup your personalized files first before removing the account.
To delete an account, follow these steps:

1. Press WIN + X keys and click Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
2. Type the following command and press Enter. Replace test with the name of your sister's account. Code: