How to Delete a User Profile in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / September 25, 2025

Are you running out of storage space, or do you want to clean up unused accounts on your PC? Deleting a user profile in Windows 11 is a smart way to free up disk space and keep your computer organized.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to delete a user profile in Windows 11 step by step. We’ll explain the difference between removing a profile and deleting an account, share multiple methods, and give you troubleshooting tips to avoid mistakes.

📝 Key Takeaways

  • A user profile stores personal settings, files, and preferences for an account.

  • Deleting a profile is not the same as deleting a user account.

  • You can delete profiles via Settings, Control Panel, or Advanced System Properties.

  • Always back up important files before removing a profile.

  • Administrator rights are required to delete any profile.

What Is a User Profile in Windows 11?

A user profile is a collection of settings, documents, and customizations that Windows creates when a person logs into a PC for the first time.

It includes:

  • Desktop files and icons

  • Downloads, Documents, and Pictures

  • App settings and preferences

  • Browser data and saved logins

When you delete a profile, you’re wiping out these personal files and settings. However, the account itself may still exist unless you delete it too.

Why Would You Delete a User Profile?

Here are common reasons:

  • Free up storage: Profiles can take up gigabytes of disk space.

  • Remove old data: Clean up profiles of people who no longer use the PC.

  • Fix corruption: If a profile is corrupted, deleting it forces Windows to rebuild a fresh one.

  • Simplify management: Keep your system neat by removing unnecessary users.

Things to Do Before Deleting a Profile

Before you dive in, keep these in mind:

  • Back up files: Move important documents from the user’s Desktop, Documents, or Downloads to another location.

  • Check permissions: You must be logged in as an administrator to delete profiles.

  • Decide if you also want to delete the account: Removing the profile does not always delete the account itself.

Methods to Delete a User Profile in Windows 11

Let’s go step by step through different approaches.

Method 1: Delete a User Account and Profile via Settings

This is the easiest way for beginners.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to Accounts > Family & other users.

  3. Find the user you want to remove under Other users.

  4. Click the account and select Remove.

  5. A confirmation message will appear: Delete account and data.

  6. Click Delete account and data.

✅ This deletes both the account and its profile from your PC.

Method 2: Delete a User Profile from Advanced System Properties

If you only want to delete the profile, not the account:

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type:

    SystemPropertiesAdvanced

    and hit Enter.

  2. Under User Profiles, click Settings.

  3. Select the profile you want to delete.

  4. Click Delete.

  5. Confirm the action.

👉 The next time that user logs in, Windows will create a fresh profile.

Method 3: Delete Profile Folder Manually from File Explorer

Advanced users may prefer deleting the profile folder directly.

Steps:

  1. Log in with a different administrator account.

  2. Open File Explorer and go to:

    C:\Users

  3. Locate the folder for the user you want to delete.

  4. Right-click the folder and select Delete.

  5. Empty the Recycle Bin.

⚠️ Note: If you skip Registry cleanup, Windows may recreate the folder.

Method 4: Delete User Profile via Registry Editor (Advanced)

For full control, edit the Registry.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

  3. Look through the subkeys (long number strings).

  4. Check the value ProfileImagePath to identify the profile.

  5. Right-click the correct SID folder and select Delete.

  6. Restart your PC.

✅ This permanently removes the profile from Windows.

Comparison of Methods

Method Difficulty Deletes Account Too? Best For
Settings Easy ✅ Yes Beginners
System Properties Medium ❌ No Resetting a profile
File Explorer Medium ❌ No Manual cleanup
Registry Editor Hard ❌ No Advanced users

Common Issues and Fixes

❓ Can’t delete profile because it’s in use?

Log out of that account and use another admin account to delete it.

❓ Deleted profile, but folder still exists?

Remove leftover folders from C:\Users manually.

❓ Accidentally deleted wrong profile?

Restore from backup or use File History/OneDrive if enabled.

Safety Tips

  • Always back up before deleting.

  • Keep at least one admin account active.

  • Use Settings if you want simplicity; use Registry only if necessary.

Conclusion

Deleting a user profile in Windows 11 helps free up space, remove unnecessary accounts, or fix corrupted profiles.

  • Use Settings to remove both the account and profile.

  • Use System Properties or Registry Editor if you want to only reset the profile.

  • Always back up files and double-check before deleting.

With the right method, you can safely clean up your Windows 11 PC in just a few clicks.

FAQs About Deleting User Profiles in Windows 11

1. Does deleting a user profile also delete the account?
Not always. It depends on the method — using Settings deletes both, while Registry or System Properties only delete the profile.

2. Will deleting a profile remove personal files?
Yes, the user’s Desktop, Documents, and settings are deleted unless you back them up first.

3. Can I delete the profile I’m currently logged into?
No, you must log into a different admin account.

4. Is deleting a profile reversible?
Not directly. You’ll need to restore from backup or let Windows create a new profile.

5. Which method is best for fixing a corrupted profile?
Use System Properties to delete the profile — it forces Windows to rebuild a fresh one.

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