Force Delete user in mac

force_delete_user_in_mac.md

Can’t Delete Original Admin User on macOS High Sierra

Reference: Medium Article by Ambrose Little

I recently migrated to a new MacBook Pro. The old one was on High Sierra, but the new one wasn’t. So I created a temp “admin” account to do the upgrade, then do the migration with Migration Assistant.

All seemed okay, but when I went to delete the original user account, I couldn’t. And I don’t mean “you don’t know how to delete accounts” couldn’t. I mean, I tried every possible way, and it wouldn’t couldn’t.

I found this thread on the Apple forums with people having the same problem. After trying everything else, this is the solution shared in one of the replies that worked. Warning, I have no idea of the side effects this might have, but so far so good for me. Also, do not come crying to me if it totally hoses your machine. You’ve been warned!

• System Preferences > Login Options > Join… > Open Directory Utility…
• Click to unlock it. (You may need to Enable Root User in Edit menu.)
• Go to Directory Editor. Search to find the user you can’t delete — the original user that was logged in when upgrading to High Sierra.
• Find the GeneratedUID field on the right and copy it somewhere safe.
• Change one digit in it and Save.
• Find your new/main user account > GeneratedUID, paste in the one copied above. Save.
• Identify the BDS device node value by following the below steps.
  • open spot light search (cmd+space) type Disk Utility
  • Mark/Select your startup disk
  • click on the info icon in the top right of the window
  • In the pop-up window find the row 'BDS device node', copy the value and run the below command.
• Run diskutil apfs updatePreboot <BDS_device_node> in Terminal.
• Reboot.
• Login as your main user. You should be able to delete the original user now.

thank you so much

thank you so much

you are welcome

Note that the command diskutil apfs updatePreboot disk1s1 may need to be modified to your disk and partition number for your startup disk. For example 'disk1s1' may be 'disk2s1' or 'disk0s2'.
To determine the correct disk/partition number:

1. open Disk Utility
2. mark your startup disk
3. click on the info icon in the top right of the window
4. in the pop-up window find the row 'BDS device node'
5. copy that value to the command line above and run

Note that the command diskutil apfs updatePreboot disk1s1 may need to be modified to your disk and partition number for your startup disk. For example 'disk1s1' may be 'disk2s1' or 'disk0s2'.
To determine the correct disk/partition number:

1. open Disk Utility
2. mark your startup disk
3. click on the info icon in the top right of the window
4. in the pop-up window find the row 'BDS device node'
5. copy that value to the command line above and run

Thank you I have updated the document...

Funny, I almost did this but I decided to search further, and found the easiest solution here

All I had to do was disable "Fast user switching", and restart the system. Then sign into the account I wish to keep, and delete the old user account. It worked!

I have no idea how you figured this out, but I am grateful that you did because it too worked for me. CRAZY!!!!! Again, thanks.

@temiyemi I've spent the last 3 days trying to figure this out and your fast user switching comment fixed it for me, thank you!

Question: Which is the "startup disk," Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data? They have different nodes and I want to be sure to use the right one.