What is Public user?

I was poking around advanced system properties (I forget why actually, the domino effect), and I ran into Account Unknown. That led me to look at C:\Users to see if it had that long name S-1-... which indicates Account Unknown is a Windows thing. I didn't see it. But I did see User 1 with a long named owner:


QUESTION1:
User1 is my dogs name but I have no recollection of creating that account. When I first set up this PC, I had a MS account for a minute (sadly I never saw an option to go straight to Local Account.. I looked). I think my MS account email name starts with the same letters as User1. The only thing in User1 folders is MS Edge in the Desktop folder and AppData with mostly empty folders dated 6-23-2026 Does that seem to align with the fact that User1 is associated with my MS Account somehow? (all MS apps are signed out)


Also properties on User1 folder yields this. There are 2 Account Unknowns. Are they both ok? Why 2?



Now I can't recall where I first saw the single "Account Unknown". If pressed maybe I can.


QUESTION2:
What is the Public account for? Seems some software installs dropped shortcuts there. Can I get rid of this "feature" safely?

The Windows Public folder is a shared directory located at C:\Users\Public that allows all local user accounts—and optionally other devices on your local network—to easily read, write, and share files.

When you logon do you have have the MS account (1) and the local account (2) as an option to logon?
It seems that you didn't delete the MS account when you created your local account.
If you don't use the MS account (1), you can delete it.

FreeBooter said:

The Windows Public folder is a shared directory located at C:\Users\Public that allows all local user accounts—and optionally other devices on your local network—to easily read, write, and share files.

Click to expand...

is that a substitute for shared drives on other devices? Only 1 user on this device so I don't think I need it. Can I remove safely?

hershey4 said:

Can I remove safely?

Click to expand...

If you do... Windows will probably throw a hissy-fit. ^^

Megahertz said:

When you logon do you have have the MS account (1)

Click to expand...

no. If it even is an MS account. I have no password written down in my special book. I have an email address and a password for logging in -- in the cloud I suppose. What does s-1-5-21... indicate as OWNER?

Megahertz said:

and the local account (2) as an option to logon?
It seems that you didn't delete the MS account when you created your local account.
If you don't use the MS account (1), you can delete it.

Click to expand...

any chance I might need sign in for some reason in the future? I purchased OFFICE 2024 standalone thru my MS account (and promptly signed out of apps)? I hear that unused accounts get purged leaving people in the lurch for potential reactivations.

Would I delete it from Manage Users? Probably more modern interfaces exist. (recent W7 migrant)

If your computer is working well, I would leave everything alone.

The two "Unknown Users" are Security Identifiers (SID's) created on behalf of Windows application support. They're normal and expected.

Windows creates a Capabilities SID under S-1-15-3 or S-1-5-21 to sandbox certain application rights for UWP (or Windows Store) apps. UWP apps operate under a distinct security model, and a fake user identity is needed as a go-between when apps request special access to system resources.

Capabilities SID's do not represent real users, so they cannot be removed or managed from the Accounts control panel.

There is no Public User. It's just a shared folder designed so installed apps can create shortcuts that are inherited by newly created user accounts. If you were to create a new user right now, it would have those shortcuts on their desktop. There's no need to remove the folder, but you're free to delete the shortcuts found inside if you don't like them being shown to new users.