Eliminate ALL other users than myself

Machinehead · 2026-06-30T08:35:53-0400

I am so tired of Windows 11 creating multiple users when I am the one and ONLY user of my PC. Is there anyway to eliminate all the users except for myself?

dalchina · 2026-06-30T08:45:13-0400

To confirm: do you mean you unexpectedly find additional login options on the sign in screen? Or something else?

It is extremely concerning that you find other accounts being created. Suggests you've been hacked or your O/S has been attacked.

Is there any sort of pattern to this happening?

Have you run malware scans?

I've not seen other reports of this myself.

I have however found this for you:

Please post a screenshot of what you see under C:\Users

Kees · 2026-06-30T08:45:21-0400

Machinehead said:
Is there anyway to eliminate all the users except for myself?

The users 'Public' and 'Default' are part of the system and should never be deleted.
The user 'WsiAccount' is a system folder created by Windows for Web Sign‑In and passwordless authentication scenarios.
You should not delete that either.
The users 'All Users' and 'Default User'only are links and possibly relics for compatibilty.

Please specify what users you are pointing at.

Alejandro85 · 2026-06-30T09:08:46-0400

Windows is inherently a multiuser operating system, so multiple user accounts are a normal thing, you're never the only user. Built-in accounts are undeletable and a few others are also frequently used.
Specifically, what accounts are you seeing and why they're a problem?

Megahertz · 2026-06-30T09:54:21-0400

Welcome to the Forum Machinehead

Windows creates a C:\Users\"Name" folder for each user to store under it the user configuration and files.
If you're the only one who has set and used the computer, you should be the only "user" despite Windows has two built in users: Administrator and Public. Administrator is a super user and is disabled by default and Public isn't a really a user but folders shared with all users.

gunrunnerjohn · 2026-06-30T09:58:20-0400

FWIW, I always have added a second admin account to my machines, a small bit of insurance in case my user profile gets corrupted.

wiganken · 2026-06-30T10:11:13-0400

gunrunnerjohn said:
FWIW, I always have added a second admin account to my machines, a small bit of insurance in case my user profile gets corrupted.

I agree. That's what I do.

Megahertz · 2026-06-30T10:19:00-0400

gunrunnerjohn said:
FWIW, I always have added a second admin account to my machines, a small bit of insurance in case my user profile gets corrupted.

Instead of creating another normal user why don't you just enable the Administrator user?
Activate administrator (run on a CMD as administrator)
net user administrator /active:yes
Deactivate administrator (run on a CMD as administrator)
net user administrator /active:no

In case you need to fix a corrupted profile you will need a super user as the Administrator.

Machinehead · 2026-06-30T10:35:03-0400

Public and default users and their libraries are a real nuance. I do not use any MS library, I create my own folders that I name and place where I want to handle documents, pictures, music, etc. I get that MS created them and embedded them into the OS, but I do not use them for my own use and do not want to see them in file explorer, nor do I want anything I create or download going into them. If I can't get rid of them is there a way to hide them in file explorer and prevent any files and folders I create or download from automatically going into them. The visual architecture of having all these "users" (which I do not use) and their "Libraries" show up when you are trying to manage your PC is confusing and serves no purpose. I only want to see one user (ME) when I look through my computer. If nothing else, MS should consider renaming non-owner "users" and libraries something else to separate my intentionally created files and folders from the files and folder Windows 11 needs to operate.

dalchina · 2026-06-30T10:54:38-0400

And thank you so much for your reply.

Had you been more specific in your original question, you could have saved quite a few people speculating on what you meant.

NormanF · 2026-06-30T10:59:19-0400

Windows is the opposite of BEOS, which is a single user system by default. You have two accounts in Windows: the default administrator account and any limited user accounts that exist on it.

MisterEd · 2026-06-30T11:30:43-0400

NormanF said:
Windows is the opposite of BEOS, which is a single user system by default. You have two accounts in Windows: the default administrator account and any limited user accounts that exist on it.

The first user created in Windows 11 is always type administrator. Additional accounts can be either type administrator or type standard.

The first user needs to be type administrator in order to install new programs, add additional users, and make system changes.

Windows 11 also has a built-in account called Administrator which is also type administrator. It is hidden by default so you have to enable it to see and use it. For security reasons it also should have a password assigned to it.

hader · 2026-06-30T12:05:53-0400

Machinehead said:
I am so tired of Windows 11 creating multiple users when I am the one and ONLY user of my PC. Is there anyway to eliminate all the users except for myself?

Don't know exactly what you mean. Windows 11 creates by default only one user; The user you gave during installation. That user is the only one that has administrator rights.

Within all user accounts: netplwiz.exe: Only 1 user; You, member of the groups Administrators and Users. Advanced-tab: Advanced usermanagment: you will find; (Window: lusrmgr: Local Users and Groups (local))

Under Users you will find the following users:
- Administrator (Default: account is disabled) User is either the specific person who set up the PC, or the hidden, built-in system account.
- DefaultAccount (Default: account is disabled) Can not be deleted. a built-in, user-neutral account automatically created by Windows.
- Guest (Default: account is disabled) Can be enabled. Once logged in, when logging out the profile of the user is deleted. Has no rights. Can start a webbrowser and all data after logging out is deleted. Can not look into other users files.
- <your username> Account is enabled.
- WDAGUtility (Default: account is disabled) This is used by Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) or Windows Sandbox. Only turned on if you use WDAG or the Sandbox option of Windows 11.
- WsiAccount (Default: account is disabled) A built-in, system-managed local account automatically created by Windows 11.

Under Groups you will find many groups, but the most of them have no members.
Only the following groups has members;
- Administrators: Administrator, <Your username>
- Guest: Guest
- Users: <your username>, NT AUTHORITY\Verified users (S-1-5-11), NT AUTHORITY\Interactive (S-1-5-4), WsiAcccount
- ISS_IUSRS: NT AUTHORITY (S-1-5-17) Built-in group used by IIS (Internet Information Services) Has a directory called C:\inetpub. Was introduced with update April 8, 2025—KB5055519 (OS Build 17763.7136) Windows 10. Only active if Windows 11 Option IIS is enabled.
- System Managed Accounts Group: DefaultAccount

All NT Users are hidden Windows 11 system users. No real users.
During the use of Windows 11 only these accounts will be there and if you don't create users yourself; this will not change.
You are saying the Windows 11 is constantly creating multiple users. If this is the case; Windows is not doing that but some other program or infected piece of software. I would scan your PC for viruses, trojans, bots etc.

Try3 · 2026-06-30T12:31:07-0400

Megahertz said:
you will need a super user as the Administrator

In order to, for example, fix a user profile, you will need to be able to log in to an Admin account.
The built-in Admin account [with the username Administrator] has no more power than any Admin account you have created yourself. It is not a super user at all.

All the best,
Denis

Alejandro85 · 2026-06-30T12:31:37-0400

Neither public nor default are users, they're system folders that serve special purposes for user accounts.

Public is a shared profile among all users. Every account can read and write there and is usually used for common things like documents, some settings and start menu item.
Default is the profile template. When you create a new account your profile folder is created, which is at first a copy of the "default" folder.

Normally both folders are just siting there without any ill effect, their presence is normal.
If you really don't want to see them, hide them and set Windows Explorer to not display hidden files. I would highly recommend NOT doing this, but it's a posibility.

cheaterslick · 2026-06-30T12:49:03-0400

MisterEd said:
Windows 11 also has a built-in account called Administrator which is also type administrator. It is hidden by default so you have to enable it to see and use it. For security reasons it also should have a password assigned to it.

And how do you unhide it?

Thanks

Brink · 2026-06-30T12:51:35-0400

cheaterslick said:
And how do you unhide it?

Thanks

You can use an option below to enable the built-in Administrator account, but it should not be used as an everyday account and not kept enabled when not needed.

Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the built-in Administrator account in Windows 11. Windows 11 includes a hidden built-in Administrator account that serves as the local system administrator with elevated rights by default without needing Run as administrator or UAC (User...

www.elevenforum.com

Megahertz · 2026-06-30T14:46:38-0400

Try3 said:
In order to, for example, fix a user profile, you will need to be able to log in to an Admin account.
The built-in Admin account [with the username Administrator] has no more power than any Admin account you have created yourself. It is not a super user at all.

All the best,
Denis

Sorry Denis,
It isn't a super user as in Linux but it has less restrictions than a administratot user so I think it is a super user.

Administrator by default:
- View all files and folders

- Has no restrictions to system files and folders
Administrator User

Windows Administrator

- Windows Administrator don't have restrictions to open other users data (no UAC)

cheaterslick · 2026-06-30T15:09:56-0400

Brink said:
You can use an option below to enable the built-in Administrator account, but it should not be used as an everyday account and not kept enabled when not needed.

Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the built-in Administrator account in Windows 11. Windows 11 includes a hidden built-in Administrator account that serves as the local system administrator with elevated rights by default without needing Run as administrator or UAC (User...

www.elevenforum.com

Thanks for the response.

I was speaking more in terms of hide/unhide vs. enable/disable.

In other words, can the account stay unhidden while being disabled at the same time?

Again, thanks

Try3 · 2026-06-30T15:12:30-0400

Megahertz said:
it has less restrictions than a administratot user

By default, the built-in Admin account has UAC challenges disabled [but they can easily be enabled if desired], whilst
By default, an Admin account created by a user has UAC challenges enabled [but they can easily be disabled if desired].

I don't know what that C:\Config.msi folder in your diagram is. I don't have one even with HS items unhidden.
What account are you signed into in that diagram? - a WhoAmI cmd would show that. Are you by any chance using utility that lets you emulate the System user?
My Windows 10 computer has a C:\Config.msi folder and an Admin user I created can open it in a cmd window but not in File explorer [File explorer does not run elevated so that was not a surprise].

Denis

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