Unknown folder and locked access to WsiAccount

Question

I read the article at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4002084/unexpected-user-named-wsiaccoount-created-after-i?page=1#answers and yet this folder does not disappear after getting internet. I've never been without internet to have this folder suddenly appear. After discovering it, I looked through the above article and found that it will disappear. Yet this does not happen and I have not needed a temporary permission, simply because I haven't been without internet. I want it gone, so how do I disable and delete it. It is intrusive and will not let me examine the contents?

Answer 1

Hi MI,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand why it is uncomfortable to see a locked system folder appear unexpectedly, especially when Windows won’t let you inspect or remove it. However, this is designed behavior.

WsiAccount is a system‑managed local account used by Windows Web Sign‑in / passwordless sign‑in scenarios. It is not only created when offline, but also other scenarios like:

• You clicked “Forgot password” at sign‑in (even briefly)
• You used or attempted passwordless / Authenticator / PIN recovery
• Windows invoked Web sign‑in internally after an update or recovery scenario

When this feature is invoked (even once), Windows creates the WsiAccount profile, which won't auto‑delete after that. This folder should not be removed because other sign‑in components depend on it.

The folder is locked by design, and you are not meant to browse its contents. Plus, the contents are credential‑handling data used by the sign‑in subsystem, meaning it's not meant for human-reading anyway.

In short, WsiAccount folder is normal, protected, and permanent once created. It cannot be removed safely, so the best next step is to leave the folder alone.

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Answer 2

It seems you are dealing with a folder related to an unexpected user account named "WsiAccount". Unfortunately, the context provided does not contain specific information on how to disable or delete this folder directly. However, you may want to consider the following general steps:

1. Check User Accounts: Go to the Control Panel and check under "User Accounts" to see if the "WsiAccount" is listed there. If it is, you might be able to remove it from this interface.
2. Folder Permissions: If you cannot access the folder due to permissions, you might need to take ownership of the folder. Right-click on the folder, select "Properties", go to the "Security" tab, and click on "Advanced" to change the owner.
3. Command Prompt: You can also use the Command Prompt to delete the folder. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and use the command rmdir /s /q "C:\Path\To\WsiAccount" (replace the path with the actual path of the folder).
4. Safe Mode: If the folder is still persistent, try booting into Safe Mode and then attempt to delete it.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consult further resources or support for more specific guidance related to Windows 11 and user account management.

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References:

• When you select Continue for folder access in Windows Explorer, your user account is added to the ACL for the folder
• When you select Continue for folder access in Windows Explorer, your user account is added to the ACL for the folder
• When you select Continue for folder access in Windows Explorer, your user account is added to the ACL for the folder
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