Occasionally, after a clean install of Windows 10, you may notice an unusual user account labeled “defaultuser0” in C:\Users directory. The confusing aspect about this is that despite its existence in the ‘Users’ folder, the defaultuser0 can miss from the ‘User Accounts’ section in Control panel.
In some scenarios, the account appears on the sign-in screen and other time remains absent. In addition, the strange account shows up in file and folder permissions. So, begs the question, what is this DefaultUser0 account? Could it be a rogue account? Or bug in Windows 10? If so, what causes it? If it’s a bug in Windows 10, how can it be remediated and prevented in the future?
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The DefaultUser0 account is an account bug in Windows which has been linked to the Windows 10 anniversary update. The cause of this account’s existence remains a mystery, however, a commonly held theory suggests that the account is created when something goes awry during the profile creation process of the primary account.
This guide would help you to fix defaultuser0 error account in Windows 10
How Defaultuser0 can harm your system?
The defaultuser0 is considered harmless, however, in some cases, it can be a nuisance. It has been noted that at times, after resetting Windows 10, a user is presented with a Sign-in screen with the defaultuser0 as the default account. Since the account does not have a password associated with it, the account locks the users out forcing them to wipe clean the entire disk. In some scenarios, it appears again even after a clean install! And the vicious cycle goes on and on.
Fix Windows 10 Defaultuser0 account
To fix this account bug, here are a few solutions abound.
Solution 1- Enabling Hidden Administrator Account
To start off, we need to enable the administrator account so that we can safely delete the bug account. To accomplish this, we’ll need an installation media of Windows 10 (DVD or a bootable USB). You can create one by downloading an ISO image from Microsoft’s site and burning it on your DVD or make your USB stick bootable.
Next, you need to change the boot priority order in the BIOS to ensure that the PC boots into the DVD / USB drive. Once that’s done, follow the steps as outlined
1. Restart the PC. At this point, you’ll boot into your preferred Windows 10 DVD / USB drive.
NOTE: The Windows setup on your installation media needs to be of the same build & version as the copy of Windows 10 residing on your PC. The Windows setup on your installation media also needs to be of the same architecture as the one on your machine. (i.e. 32 bit or 64 bit)
2. Select your preferred Language, Time and Keyboard settings. Click ‘Next’.

3. At the lower left bottom corner, click on ‘Repair’ option.
4. On the next screen, select the ‘troubleshoot’ option.

5. Select ‘Command’ Prompt option.

Once in command line, run the command below
net user administrator /active:yes
and press Enter.

At this point, you can proceed and add another user and make him/her Administrator.
The syntax is net user username password /ADDExample-net user Mike XybhK@2030! /ADD
To add user Mike to the administrators’ groupnet localgroup administrators Mike /ADD
6. Thereafter, reboot your PC
This should unhide the administrator account and allow you to log in using the newly created user and delete the Windows 10 defaultUser0 once logged in.
Another handy trick to fix defaultuser0 faulty account is to delete it altogether.
Solution 2- Deleting Windows 10 defaultuser0
The defaultuser0 has presented many challenges to users. Several troubleshooting techniques have in the past hit a snag including
There are 4 Methods of Deleting defaultuser0 account
Deleting defaultuser0 account using Command Prompt
Got to the Cortana search bar and type ‘Command Prompt’
Right-click on the ‘command Prompt’ option and select ‘Run as Administrator’.
Run the command net user defaultuser0 /DELETE
Next, navigate to the C:\Users directory and delete the account’s folder.
Deleting defaultuser0 account using Control Panel
This account can also be deleted using the control panel.
- Click on the start button
- In the Cortana search bar type ‘Control Panel’
- Navigate to ‘User accounts’
- Click on ‘Remove User accounts’ under ‘User accounts’
- Be sure to locate the defaultuser0 account. Right-click on it and select Delete.
Deleting defaultuser0 after the Anniversary Update
The anniversary Update from Microsoft has also been said to cause the defaultuser0 issue. To work around this challenge
- Hit Windows Key + R
- Type lusrmgr.msc in the dialogue box that pops up and hit ‘Enter’
- This takes you to the Local Users and Group Window.
- Double Click on the ‘Users’ folder
- On the right Pane be sure to locate the defaultUser0 account.
- Right Click on it and select ‘Delete’
At this point, you can decide to assign a password to the account by right-clicking and selecting the ‘Set password’ option. A pop up appears. Click on ‘Proceed.’ In the pop-up dialogue box type in a simple and easy to remember password and hit ‘OK’
Thereafter, a confirmation pop up will appear notifying you that the password has been successfully set.
Deleting defaultuser0 account using Delprof2
You can use a third-party software utility tool called Delprof2 to get rid of inactive user profiles in your system. Delprof2 was released by Microsoft and succeeds delprof which was limited only to Windows XP.
Delprof2 is free for both personal and commercial use and is compatible with Windows 7 Windows 8 and Windows 10. The tool scans the account properties and upon detection of an inactive user, it suggests the user delete sit.
Summing Up
The defaultUser0 faulty account is harmless and has very little consequence in your system. It occurs due to an error during the normal profile creation during the installation of Windows 10 and should therefore not make you lose sleep. If you cannot stand seeing it in the Users folder, feel free to follow the above guide and leave us some feedback. We value your opinions. Keep it locked for more insightful topics!
FAQs: Fix Defaultuser0 account in Windows 10
NO, unfortunately, there is no password for this account. As per support team of Microsoft, since the account has been encrypted, there is password available.
When system is setting up the Windows, it creates a user profile named as defaultuser0. Usually this profile automatically disappears after the first boot, but sometime can remain on the system.
If defaultuser0 is not automatically removed, them it can lock your system since there is no password available to log-in using it. It can force you to reinstall Windows.
Hey, this is Margaret, a Windows Systems Administrator who’s in love with everything about tech.
This account causes problems when doing a full backup using Windows 7 backup and restore. An error message says that two files associated with this account failed to backup and the backup failed to complete