How to delete a user from your PS5 (the "clean house" guide)

Updated: May 6, 2026

Whether you’re moving on from an old roommate, clearing out a "Guest" account, or preparing your console for a new owner, deleting a user profile is the ultimate way to "clean house." While the PS5 makes it easy to add people, removing them requires a quick trip into the system settings to ensure you aren't leaving any digital footprints behind.

Before you hit the "Delete" button, there is one thing you must know: Deleting a user from your PS5 wipes their local data (save games and screenshots) off that specific console. It does not delete their PlayStation Network (PSN) account from the world. They can still log in on another console and find their digital purchases waiting for them.

Ready to reclaim your login screen?

• Selling or trading in your PS5?
• Removing an old profile to free up SSD space?
• Tired of seeing "User 1" every time you boot up?
• Helping a friend log out after a weekend of split-screen gaming?

Let’s get that login screen looking brand new again.

🛑 Stop! Read this before you delete anything

Deleting a user is permanent for that console. To avoid losing your hard-earned progress or locking yourself out of your games, perform these two quick checks:

1. Backup save data, video clips, and screenshots

If the user has unsaved progress, video clips, or screenshots, back them up to the Cloud (PS Plus) or a USB drive. Once the user is deleted, their local save files are gone forever.

2. Check "Console Sharing"

If the user you are deleting purchased games that you still want to play on your own profile, you must ensure your console is still authorized to play them.

To check if Console Sharing is enabled:

1. Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other.
2. Select Console Sharing and Offline Play.
3. Choose Enable (if it's not enabled yet).

Method 1: Deleting a specific user (standard)

Use this method if you are keeping your PS5 but just want to remove one or two profiles.

1. Log into an account other than the one you want to delete (you can't delete yourself while logged in!).
2. Go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right).
3. Open Users and Accounts.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the left-hand menu and select Delete Users.
5. Select the user you want to delete.
6. Click Yes to confirm.

Method 2: The "Nuclear option" (for selling your console)

If you are selling your PS5, you shouldn't just delete users one by one. You need to perform a Full Factory Reset. This wipes every user, every game, and every password, returning the console to its "out of the box" state.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open System.
3. Select System Software.
4. Click Reset Options.
5. Select Reset Your Console.
6. Confirm by selecting Reset.

⚠️ Warning: This process cannot be undone. Make sure you’ve synced your own trophies and saves to the cloud before doing this!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a user delete their games?

It removes the files from the console's SSD, but it does not remove the ownership. If that user logs into a different PS5 later, they can redownload all their games for free.

Can I delete the "Lead" or "Admin" account?

Yes, but the PS5 will require at least one user to exist. If you delete the only user on the console, it will prompt you to create a new one or sign in immediately.

What happens to the screenshots and clips?

They are deleted along with the user profile. If you want to keep that game-winning clip, move it to a USB drive before hitting delete.