why does it not let me delete a user

Hi Jaydenisverypog,

Thanks for clarifying that and attaching the screenshot.

You might not be permitted to add or delete user accounts as the root (System Administrator) user. It is also strongly recommended to disable the root user and use your normal administrator account instead.

The root user account isn't just an administrator; it's the superuser. The root user has several unique permissions that no other account has, such as being able to access almost anything on the system, including sensitive files and data stored in other user accounts. It's too powerful to be used for daily use, and doing so is dangerous.

Also, FYI: The root user does not count as a true administrator in System Preferences. If you're trying to delete your real administrator account using the root user, macOS will prohibit you from doing this for safety reasons.

Hi Jaydenisverypog,

Thanks for verifying that. Next, try starting up in Safe Mode. If you're still unable to delete the user account in Safe Mode, try these steps:

1. Create a new administrator account.
2. Restart your Mac.
3. Sign into the new administrator account.
4. Delete the desired user account.

Hi Jaydenisverypog,

Just to confirm, are you unable to access the Users and Groups preferences only when you're logged into the new administrator account?

Also, was this new account made using the root user account? Or was it made using a different user account?

Jaydenisverypog wrote:

I am confirming that I cannot access the Users and Groups preference when Ive just made the new administator account. I made it using the root user because I cannot access the preference on any account.

Thanks for those details. I'm not sure if the root user account is supposed to be able to make new user accounts, but who knows.

I'd try the following to create a new genuine admin account from scratch:

1. Log in as the root user or an admin account.
2. Open a new Finder window.
3. At the top of the screen, select Go -> Go to Folder...
4. Enter the following, exactly as shown: /var/db
5. Press Command-Shift-Period to reveal hidden files.
6. Delete the file named ".AppleSetupDone" - this will force Setup Assistant to run on the next reboot.
7. Restart your Mac. If you're prompted to log in, do so to continue to Setup Assistant.
8. In Setup Assistant, choose not to migrate any data. Then create a new admin account when prompted (use a unique name).
9. When finished, log out, then log into the root user to transfer any desired files from the old admin account to the new one. Log out of the root user when done.
10. Use the new administrator account to delete the old administrator accounts and disable the root user.

Hi Jaydenisverypog,

Ensure that all of the following are true before you attempt to delete the user account:

• At least one administrator account exists, and it's not the account you're trying to delete.
• You're logged out of the account that you want to delete.

If both of the above are true, please let me know if you're still unable to delete the user account in question.

Ok, how can I make an administrator account? Ive made one but I cant even access the user and groups pannel.

Do you mean you can't unlock the padlock or does it mean you can't open the Users & Groups prefpane?

It shows that Jayden2 is an admin account.

What is MLTIStudent? Is this Mac managed by a school? That may be why you cannot remove users.

• first go to created user and then unlock current user and delete it. it will delete from device.

Jaydenisverypog wrote:

I use a root system administrator account

I am not sure what the benefit of a root system admin (?), but it seems you have complicated the situation.