---
title: "Delete User account"
slug: "delete-user-account"
updated: 2024-10-10T09:36:22Z
published: 2024-10-10T09:36:22Z
canonical: "help.scalefusion.com/delete-user-account"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.scalefusion.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Delete User account

Use this script to delete a user account on Linux machines.

1. Copy and save the contents below to a **UTF-8** editor like **notepad++** OR **Sublime Text** in Windows or **gedit** in Ubuntu.
  1. If you are using **notepad++** then use the bottom right panel to change the type to **Unix (LF)**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/175c0eac-012f-4410-bdc5-ac60794f82d8/Images/Documentation/image-54JKNZ9R.png)
2. Or click [here](https://cdn.document360.io/175c0eac-012f-4410-bdc5-ac60794f82d8/Images/Documentation/Delete_User_Account.sh) to download the file.

```bash
#!/bin/bash

# Define variables
username="ENTER_USER_NAME"
hostname="ENTER_USER_HOSTNAME"

# Function to check if the user is logged in
is_user_logged_in() {
    who | grep -q "^$1 "
}

# Function to kill all processes associated with the user
kill_user_processes() {
    pkill -u "$1"
}

# Check if hostname is present
if grep -q "$hostname" /etc/passwd; then
    # Check if user is present
    if id "$username" &>/dev/null; then
        # Check if the user is logged in
        if is_user_logged_in "$username"; then
            echo "User $username is currently logged in. Attempting to log them out..."
            kill_user_processes "$username"
            sleep 2  # Wait for processes to terminate
            if is_user_logged_in "$username"; then
                echo "Failed to log out user $username. Aborting deletion."
                exit 1
            else
                echo "User $username has been logged out."
            fi
        fi
        
        # Delete user account
        sudo userdel --force "$username"
        echo "User $username has been deleted."
    else
        echo "$username has been deleted."
    fi
else
    echo "Hostname $hostname not found. Exiting..."
    exit 1
fi
```
3. In the script, replace the following placeholder:
  1. Provide the username and hostname of the user whose account you want to unlock. # Define variables

username="ENTER_USER_NAME"

hostname="ENTER_USER_HOSTNAME" ![](https://cdn.document360.io/175c0eac-012f-4410-bdc5-ac60794f82d8/Images/Documentation/image-9C762L3V.png)
4. Follow [our guide](/docs/deploy-linux-shell-scripts-using-scalefusion#step-1-upload-and-deploy-the-script) to upload & publish the script using Scalefusion Dashboard.

> [!CAUTION]
> Note:
> 
> 1. Some of the scripts and their contents are sourced from internet and yes, our new friend ChatGPT.
> 2. Please validate the scripts on a test machine before deploying them on all your managed devices.
> 3. Scalefusion has tested these scripts, however Scalefusion will not be responsible for any loss of data or system malfunction that may arise due to the usage of these scripts.