How to delete a local admin acct that shows up only on login screen?

Question

I want to delete a local admin login that shows up on the login screen but doesn't show up under Accounts--Other Users. I cannot find a way to delete the account. Please assist, thks

Answer 1

Dear sfarr, 

Thank you for your question and for sharing the details into Microsoft Q&A Forum. 

I understand how confusing it can be when a local admin sign-in option appears on the Windows login screen but does not show under Settings > Accounts > Other users. First, I recommend that you review and try the steps provided in the Independent Advisor’s answer on your thread. That reply typically include the most relevant checks for this scenario. Meanwhile, the steps below will help narrow down what you’re seeing and guide the correct removal method. 

• What exact name is shown on the sign-in screen? (Is it a simple local username like Admin2, or an email address?) 
• When you run the command (run as administrator) net user, does the account appear in the list?  
• Is the PC connected to Work or School (Settings > Accounts > Access work or school), or joined to a domain? 

In the meantime, to help clear the extra sign-in option and pinpoint whether it’s a real account or a cached entry, please follow the steps below in order. 

1. Quick check 

• Open Command Prompt (Run as administrator) and run: net user 
• If you see the username that matches the sign-in tile, proceed to Step 2. 
• If you do not see it, skip to Step 3. 

2. If the account exists, delete the local account 

• From Command Prompt (Run as administrator): net user "USERNAME" /delete (Please replace USERNAME with the exact local username shown in net user.) 
• Then restart the PC and check if the tile is gone. 

3. If the account does NOT exist, remove leftover profile / cached sign-in entry 

• Win + R > sysdm.cpl 
• Advanced tab > User Profiles > Settings 
• If you see a profile for the same username, select it > Delete 
• Restart and re-check the login screen 

4. Confirm it’s not the built-in “Administrator” account 

• If the tile is literally named Administrator, that is the built-in account. It’s commonly handled by disabling (not deleting). 
• In Command Prompt (Admin): net user Administrator /active:no 
• Restart and check again. 

While our initial response may not fully resolve the issue, we truly appreciate your cooperation as we work together toward identifying the most effective solution. Thank you so much for your understanding. 

I hope these steps help you remove the unwanted sign-in account from the login screen and keep your Windows sign-in options tidy without impacting your existing profiles or files. Wishing you a smooth experience resolving this account display issue on your device. 

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Answer 2

Hello,

Search for CMD in the search box, right‑click it, and choose Run as administrator. Then enter the command:

net user

You will see a complete list, and usually that “mysterious account” can be found there.

To delete it, use this command:

net user accountname /delete

Please be careful not to delete the wrong account. Once deleted, it cannot be restored, and if you remove a system account, you may run into permission issues.