Windows 10 - Remove User Profile

Tags Windows10

Issue/Question

  • How do I remove a user profile on Windows 10?

Environment

  • Oregon State University
  • Windows 10

 

Note: Make sure user profile is backed up before performing the steps below to prevent data loss

Resolution

Method 1 - Use Advanced System Properties

  1. Login with an account that has local administrative access to the computer and is not the account for the profile you are trying to remove.
  2. Press Windows Key + R
  3. Enter: systempropertiesadvanced
  4. Select the Advanced tab
  5. In the User Profiles section, select Settings
  6. Select the user profile to remove, and press Delete
    • If the Delete button is grayed out, try restarting the computer. 
  7. It can take up to 2 minutes for the profile to be removed.

Method 2 - Remove the Profile Manually

Note: If you have issues deleting the registry key or profile directory, try restarting the computer first.

  1. Login with an account that has local administrative access to the computer and is not the account for the profile you are trying to remove. 
  2. Press the Windows key and enter: regedit
  3. Click on Registry Editor
  4. Browse to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList Registry Editor with ProfileImagePath selected and the C:\users path highlighted.
  5. To find the right profile:
    1. Select a SID in the ProfileList
    2. Look at the ProfileImagePath​​​​​​​ to see the username
  6. Right-click the appropriate profile and select Delete
  7. Press the Windows key and enter: C:\users
  8. Right-click the profile folder to remove and select Delete

 

For assistance, contact the IS Service Desk.

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