SysAdmin account shows at login, but doesn’t work and is not listed in Users & Groups

accounts

When I start my MacBook Air (Mojave), I see the correct list of accounts from which to choose.

If I choose my SysAdmin account, it accepts the password correctly, the horizontal progress bar advances to the end and then it redisplays the login screen with the list of available accounts – but MINUS the SysAdmin account.

If I logon with another account which has admin privileges and look in Users & Groups, I see all the accounts listed, minus the non-functioning SysAdmin account. I see the same list of accounts in Users & Groups, with no SysAdmin account listed, if I don't try to logon to the SysAdmin account first.

I have created a new Administration account (with a slightly different name), which works fine.

How do I remove the non-working SysAdmin account from the account list that appears when I start my Mac, as I can't find a way to see it in the User & Groups list?

Many thanks !

Best Answer

YES !!!! I got it. I used Directory Services.

Full details are here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203513

I summarise below, in the unlikely case the link disappears:

  • Log in with a user account you want to keep.
  • Press Command-Space to open Spotlight.
  • Type Directory Utility and press Return.
  • If the lock in the lower-left corner of the Directory Utility window is closed, click it and enter an admin user's name and password.
  • Click Directory Editor in the Directory Utility window's toolbar.
  • Choose Users from the Viewing pop-up menu.
  • From the list on the left side of the Directory Utility window, select the user that you want to remove. The name you select should be identical to the name shown in the Users & Groups pane of System Preferences when that user is logged in.
  • Click “-“ in the lower-left corner of the Directory Utility window.
  • Verify that the selected user is the one that you want to be removed, then click the Delete button.

After you remove the user account, you can delete its folder:

  • In the menu bar, choose Go > Go to Folder, type /Users, and then press Return.
  • Drag the folder for the account you just removed into the Trash.
  • Choose Finder > Empty Trash to delete the folder and its contents.

Problem solved.

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