How to Delete Items From Other Users in Mac OS X

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: Monday 2 June 2014

Mac OS X provides the ability for users to have separate accounts with files that are protected from other users. This means that unless you have a root user account, you can't see, access or delete files from other user accounts. For security, the root user account comes disabled on Mac OS X. Once the account has been enabled, you can delete files from individual user accounts. Business owners who need to gain access to other employee accounts that share the same computer can use the root user to delete files and conserve disk space. Any administrator of a computer can become a Root User, but you must set up the account first.

Step 1

Click on the Apple menu and then click "System Preferences."

Step 2

Click the "View" menu and then "Users and Groups."

Step 3

Click the "Lock" button and then enter a previously established administrator username and password to authenticate.

Step 4

Select the "Edit..." or "Join..." button located at the bottom of the page.

Step 5

Click the "Open Directory Utility..." button at the bottom of the window.

Step 6

Select the "Edit" menu and choose "Enable Root User." Enter a new password in the Password and Verify field to create a password for the root user and then select OK. This password is not the same as the administrator password you entered in Step 3, although, if you wish, you can use the same password.

Step 7

Click the "Go" menu and then "Computer." Select the main hard drive, then click "Users" and the user's main folder. Double-click on any folder you want to access and drag any items you want removed to the trash.

Tips

If you don't see the Enable Root User option, make sure you are logged out of all other accounts and log in on a password-protected administrator account. You can also try running "Repair Disk Permissions" in the Disk Utility if the system does not recognize you as an administrator.
When attempting to create a root user password, if you have already enabled the root user, you will be required to enter in a new password. Alternatively, you can cancel the process and use your old password.

Warning

Log out of the administrator account when you are finished completing your tasks. The administrator account should only be used when you need to perform system-wide changes.

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