How do I remove the only user in Windows 10

[BeBuLamar]

I have a company owned laptop that only I used since new. I create a user for myself. I will have to return the laptop to the company soon. How do I remove myself as the user and make a generic user for whomever will use the laptop later. I don't want to remove the apps because I want to software there for the next person to use.

[Whales]

So this laptop is fully managed by you, ie there is no IT department that set it up and remotely tracks it?

In that case I recommend either:

(1) Wiping the disk and reinstalling windows.  This gives the new user an environment that's standard and nothing can be blamed on you or found of your old files.

... or ...

(2) Buy a new/clean disk and reinstall windows.  Same as above, but might be easier/simpler/preferred.  A 120GB SSD is minimum for Win10, they're pretty cheap, I suggest going for 240GB if you can anyway.  Any brand name unit will be good enough, unless you know you have requirements otherwise.


I suggest wiping and reinstalling because "deleting" files and user accounts on Windows (and most other operating systems) does not actually "delete" them, it simply unlists them.  The next guy can potentially recover your files, including saved web browser login credentials and cookies (giving them access to eg your email). 

This also avoids them having any issues with Windows 10 being annoying because of any changes you made during your use.  Or at least it shifts the blame   Windows 10 will be Windows 10, especially when it comes to printing.

EDIT: If you're not already aware: Windows 10 auto-detects keys and auto-activates itself most of the time these days.  It looks are your hardware IDs, asks Microsoft's server "have we seen these before?" and silently activates if it has done so.  This is almost always the case if the computer came with Win10 pre-installed (ie if you didn't spend a few hundred $$$ on a separate retail Win10 key).  Surprisingly painless.

[Whales]

I don't want to remove the apps because I want to software there for the next person to use.

Ah, sorry.

You have to create the new user account before deleting your old one.  It's in the settings app in Windows 10, search the start menu for "add user" or "create user".  Make them admin, then to delete your old account you have to login as them first.

There are some "file shredding" utilities that might help (somewhat) securely erasing your old documents.  If you don't want to reinstall then that's the best you can do for security.

Expect the new user to ask you to support these programs and any issues you have with the laptop (eg printing).

[BeBuLamar]

Yes the laptop is entirely managed by me. Reinstalling Windows is easy but there software that are very big and take a long time to reinstall plus I have to go thru a lot to transfer the license. Basically I have to transfer the license to the cloud and then retrieve them back after reinstallation. It's a pain.

[coromonadalix]

Normally you create a new user with admin rights if needed, if your special software has ''an all user'' setup,  it willl be easy to bring it back, by creating executable shortcuts

But if it was installed only for you ( user account name xxxx )  you will need to reinstall it,  when you will get rid of the ''old account''  some settings will be lost ....

[coromonadalix]

oh maybe   the simplest would be,  change you account name,  while keeping everything  as is,   erase all the traces you can find, documents, images etc ...   explorer files history ...

You have  nirsoft softwares utilities for emails passwords  etc ...  clean them up,    do web browsers resets, and for the finals touchs,    do a hdd defragmentation twice, it should mix and clear all the hdd files leftover traces

[JDubU]

Try:

Windows 10 Start menu --> Settings
Update & Security
Recovery
Reset this PC (Get Started)
Remove Everything

This will reset Windows to (mostly) it's original, out of the box state, where you have to assign a user name and password.
There are some times where a Windows recovery disk is needed, but that is not common.

Edit:  Never mind, this will remove all the apps also.

[coromonadalix]

The OP did say   he want to keep the installed   App(s) ...

A reset is the most convenient, but not for the asked question.

[BeBuLamar]

Thank you all. I have created a new user with Admin right. When the time come I would delete all my files and delete the user account.

[Berni]

Nothing wrong with making a new Admin account, using it to delete your own and leave the PC with that account. Whoever comes after you can create a new account if they wish.

But do check that the software actually works on the new user. Some applications store things in user specific directories or registry. Some programs might need some license manager crap to run in the background that might not start up automatically on a different user account...etc

[Rick Law]

You may want to first make sure the new user can start and use those other applications you so wanted to keep using.  Some software chokes -- I had one windows app that phone home every time a new user logged in to validate license, except that company is now defunct...