How to Remove Local Account from Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

Are you trying to clean up your Windows 11 user accounts? Maybe you’ve created multiple profiles on your computer and no longer need one of them — or you just want to keep your system tidy and secure. Whatever the reason, learning how to remove a local account from Windows 11 is essential for proper system management.

In this detailed, beginner-friendly guide, we’ll walk you through every method to remove a local user account from your Windows 11 laptop or desktop — using Settings, Control Panel, Command Prompt, and more.

Whether it’s an old guest account or a test user you no longer need, this guide has you covered.

What Is a Local Account in Windows 11?

A local account in Windows 11 is a standalone user account that stores data and settings on your computer — not in the cloud. Unlike Microsoft accounts, local accounts are not linked to an email address, OneDrive, or online services.

Each local account has its own:

• User profile

• Desktop layout

• Settings and preferences

• Files stored in the Users folder

So, if you have multiple local accounts, each one functions almost like a separate user space on your PC.

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🔄 Difference Between a Local Account and a Microsoft Account

In short:

• A local account is great for privacy or guest use.

• A Microsoft account is ideal for syncing and security.

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💡 Why You Might Want to Remove a Local Account

There are plenty of valid reasons to remove a local account from your Windows 11 computer:

• You’re the only person using the PC and want to simplify login options.

• You no longer need a guest or test account.

• You want to free up disk space used by old user profiles.

• You’re switching to a Microsoft account.

• You want to tighten security by removing unused profiles.

⚠️ Important: Removing a local account deletes its files and settings permanently. Back up important data before proceeding.

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⚙️ Things to Do Before Removing a Local Account

Before you delete a local user account, take a few minutes to prepare:

✅ 1. Back Up Important Data

Copy important files from:

to a USB drive or another account.

✅ 2. Log In as an Administrator

Only an Administrator can delete other user accounts.

✅ 3. Sign Out of the Account You Want to Delete

You can’t delete an account that’s currently logged in.

✅ 4. Check for Shared Files or Permissions

Make sure no system files, documents, or folders are linked to that user profile.

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🪟 Method 1: Remove Local Account from Settings

This is the easiest and most straightforward method for most users.

🔹 Steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

2. Navigate to Accounts → Family & other users.

3. Under Other users, find the local account you want to remove.

4. Click the arrow (>) next to it.

5. Click Remove.

6. A confirmation message appears:

   “Delete account and data?”
   Click Delete account and data.

✅ Result:

The local account and its files are permanently deleted from your system.

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🖥️ Method 2: Delete Local Account Using Control Panel

If you prefer the classic Windows interface, you can delete a user via the Control Panel.

🔹 Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter.

2. Go to User Accounts → Remove user accounts.

3. Select the account you want to remove.

4. Click Delete the account.

5. Choose one of these options:

   • Delete Files: Permanently removes all user files.

   • Keep Files: Saves desktop and document files to your admin account.

💡 Tip:

If you choose “Keep Files,” Windows will store them in a folder on your desktop.

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💻 Method 3: Remove Local Account via Command Prompt

For power users who prefer command-line tools, Command Prompt (CMD) can also remove local accounts efficiently.

🔹 Steps:

1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, and choose Run as Administrator.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

   net user


   This lists all local accounts on your PC.

3. Now, to delete a specific user, type:

   net user username /delete


   (Replace username with the actual account name.)

4. Press Enter.

✅ Example:

If the account name is Guest, run:

You’ll see a message:

“The command completed successfully.”

That means the local account has been removed.

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🧰 Method 4: Remove Local Account from Computer Management

The Computer Management tool provides another way to manage and remove user accounts.

🔹 Steps:

1. Right-click the Start Menu → Select Computer Management.

2. In the left panel, go to:

   Local Users and Groups → Users


3. Find the account you want to remove in the list.

4. Right-click the account → Delete.

5. Confirm by clicking Yes.

💡 Note:

If you don’t see “Local Users and Groups,” you’re probably using Windows 11 Home Edition — this feature is available in Pro and Enterprise versions.

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⚡ Method 5: Remove Local Account Using PowerShell

PowerShell is another advanced yet powerful way to remove accounts quickly.

🔹 Steps:

1. Press Windows + X → Select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).

2. To view all local accounts, type:

   Get-LocalUser


3. To remove a specific account, type:

   Remove-LocalUser -Name "username"


   (Replace username with the actual user name.)

4. Press Enter to execute.

✅ Example:

The selected account will be permanently deleted.

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🚫 Can You Remove the Administrator Account?

You cannot delete the main Administrator account while logged into it.
However, you can remove secondary admin accounts from another admin profile.

🔹 To Remove an Extra Admin Account:

1. Sign in with a different administrator account.

2. Use any of the methods above (Settings, CMD, or Control Panel).

3. Delete the unnecessary admin account.

⚠️ Warning:

Don’t remove the only administrator account — you’ll lose system control.

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🔄 How to Switch from Local to Microsoft Account Instead

If you want to keep the account but upgrade it to a Microsoft account, here’s how:

🔹 Steps:

1. Press Windows + I → Go to Accounts → Your info.

2. Click Sign in with a Microsoft account instead.

3. Enter your Microsoft credentials (email & password).

4. Verify with security code if prompted.

Your local account will now be linked to your Microsoft account without deleting files or settings.

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🧩 Troubleshooting Common Issues

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🧭 Safety Tips Before and After Removing Accounts

To ensure safe account removal and system stability, follow these tips:

1. ✅ Backup everything before deleting any user.

2. 🧱 Never delete the only admin account — always keep one.

3. 💡 Keep a guest account disabled, not deleted, for occasional use.

4. 🔐 Review local user permissions after deletion.

5. 📁 Use cloud backup (OneDrive, Google Drive) for data security.

6. ⚙️ Restart your computer after deleting the account to apply changes.

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🧾 Summary: All Methods to Remove Local Account in Windows 11

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🧩 FAQs

1. What happens when I remove a local account in Windows 11?

All files, settings, and user data associated with that account are permanently deleted — unless you choose to keep them during deletion.

2. Can I remove my current account while logged in?

No. You need to log in with another admin account before removing the one you want to delete.

3. How do I delete a local guest account in Windows 11?

Go to Settings → Accounts → Family & other users, select the guest account, and click Remove.

4. Why can’t I see “Other users” in my Settings?

You may not be signed in as an administrator. Log in as admin to access full account settings.

5. Is there a way to restore a deleted local account?

Not directly. However, if you have a System Restore Point or backup, you can revert your system to an earlier state.

6. What if I just want to disable, not delete, the local account?

Use Computer Management → Users → Right-click → Properties → Uncheck “Account is disabled.”

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🏁 Conclusion

Removing a local account from Windows 11 is simple — as long as you follow the right steps and take precautions.

Whether you prefer the Settings app, Control Panel, or Command Prompt, Windows 11 gives you multiple ways to manage and delete accounts easily.

To recap:

• ✅ Back up all important files.

• ✅ Sign in with an administrator account.

• ✅ Use Settings → Accounts → Family & other users → Remove for the easiest method.

• ✅ Confirm deletion to clean up your system.

By keeping your system organized and removing unnecessary accounts, you can ensure better security, performance, and privacy on your Windows 11 PC.