Troubleshooting: Error `Profile not deleted completely` in Windows 10 PC

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If the user profile deletion process was not completed correctly, you may see an error message saying: Profile not completely deleted, error – directory not empty. Although this error message usually appears when you delete part of a domain profile, you may find it on an ordinary home computer as well. Whatever the cause of this error, you can fix it in a few moments.

You can create a profile that allows someone else to access your computer and delete it when you are finished. However, if Windows 10 doesn’t complete the entire profile deletion process, you may find the above error message when deleting a specific folder or file.

What causes the “Profile not completely deleted” error?

According to various online reports and some possible reasons for this problem, it seems that the default Windows search function may interfere when deleting an account profile.

Another reason could be problems with Windows registry keys. There is also a good chance that when you try to delete a profile in the Windows 10 GUI, the profile deletion will remain incomplete.

How to resolve the “profile not completely deleted” error message?

Removing a user profile from the system properties

1. Press the Windows + R key.
2. Type sysdm.cpl and click OK to open the system properties.
3. Switch to the Advanced tab.
4. Click the Settings button in the User Profile section.
5. Now select the user profile you want to delete and click Delete.

Deleting a user profile using Regedit

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C: Users.
2. Now right-click on the corrupted profile and select Delete.
3. Press Windows + R to open Run.
4. Type Regedit and click OK to open the registry editor.
5. In the registry editor, navigate to the following location.
6. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE
7. MicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionProfileList.
8. You will see several entries below the profile list.
9. Click each entry and check the ProfileImagePath data.
10. If they match a corrupted user profile, delete it.
11. Right-click on the profile and select Delete.

Eliminate a user profile as an administrator

You must have administrator privileges to delete a user profile. Note that you cannot delete a user profile that you are logged in with. So if you want to delete one of the main profiles, you must create another profile with administrator rights and then try to delete the corrupted profile.

1. Log on to your computer under an administrator account.
2. Make sure that the account you are trying to delete is not the one you logged in with.
3. Press the Windows + R keys to open Run.
4. Type netplwiz and click OK to open the User Account window.
5. Under Users on this computer, you can check all the user profiles on the system.
6. Select the user profile you want to delete and click Delete.
7. In the “Are you sure you want to delete the selected profile” window, click Yes.

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Carter Blakefield