How to Add & Delete a User on Mac

If you want to delete a user on Mac, add a user on Mac, add a guest user, or make a user an administrator, you can do so in your MacBook or iMac’s settings. This can be useful if more than one person will be sharing a computer, whether it's a work or family computer. Read below to learn how.

Related: iMessage Not Working on Mac? Here’s the Quick Fix

Jump To:

• How to Add User on Mac
• What Does Adjust Mac User Account Type Mean?
• How to Delete Users On Mac
• What Is a Mac Group?
• How to Add Guest User

How to Add User on Mac

If you’d like to add another user on Mac, you’ll need to go to your computer’s settings.

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1. Open System Preferences.
   
   
2. Select Users & Groups.
   
   
3. Click the Lock icon to unlock and make changes.
   
   
4. Enter your password (if your computer is password protected) and click Unlock.
   
   
5. Click the plus button in the side navigation to add a new user.
   
   
6. Choose Account Type. How
   
7. Enter in the information accordingly and click Create User.
   
   

Now your Mac has an additional account for another user!

What Does Adjust Mac User Account Type Mean?

When you add another user on Mac, you have the option to choose how much control they have over the computer’s settings. You can choose for the new user on your Mac to have equal control as the owner, slightly less control, or basically no ability to make changes to settings. If you would like to make your new user an Administrator after already creating the user account, follow these steps.

1. Under Users & Settings, select the user you want to make Administrator.
   
   
2. Check the box that says Allow user to administer this computer.
   
   
3. Click OK and proceed to reboot your computer.
   
   

How to Delete Users On Mac

Here's how to delete a login profile on your Mac.

1. Open System Preferences.
   
   
2. Select Users & Groups.
   
   
3. Click the Lock icon to unlock and make changes.
   
   
4. From here, click the minus sign in the side navigation to delete mac user.
   
   
5. Choose the how you’d like to save the user’s information, and then select Delete User.
   
   

What Is a Mac Group?

A Mac group can be a useful feature if you have a computer being shared between family members, or a community computer at work. You have the ability to sort users into groups. To create a Mac group go to System Preferences, Users & Groups, unlock and click the plus sign to add new users.

1. Under New Account, select Group.
   
   
2. Enter in the name of your group and click Create Group.
   
   

Now you can add existing Users to the group. To do this,

1. Select the group in the side navigation.
   
   
2. Check the boxes next to the users you want to add to the group.
   
   
3. Then, click the lock button to save your changes.
   
   

To delete a group:

1. Select the group in the side navigation.
   
   
2. Click the minus symbol.
   
   
3. Select Okay from the pop-up menu.
   
   

How to Add Guest User

If you’d like the option of allowing a guest user, meaning this account is for anyone who is not the Mac’s owner, but the account is not for any one individual, we’ll walk you through that process now.

1. From the Users & Groups page, click Guest User in the side navigation.
   
   
2. Check the box in from of Allow guests to log in to this computer.
   
   
3. Click the lock icon to save your changes.
   
   

And that's how you add or delete a user to your Mac. This is very nice for families that share multiple computers, but each child wants a different desktop background or apps in their Mac Dock. It's also great for employees who may be sharing a computer to organize files and keep things separate. Be sure to sign up for our Tip of the Day for more cool tips on how to make the most of your Mac!