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Remove Guest User

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Works with any MacWorks with any Mac running macOS/OS X on Intel or Apple Silicon.
  • macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • Impact: Medium

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Moderate

    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

    This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
  • Administrative (sudo) access requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

This script removes the built-in Guest User account from macOS to prevent unauthorized access.

The Guest User feature lets anyone access your Mac without requiring a password or user account 1. Guest users cannot log in remotely and have limited access to system settings 1. Guests have limited privileges and cannot change system settings or access encrypted disks (when FileVault is enabled) 1. Any files created by a Guest User are stored in a temporary folder, which is deleted when the guest logs out 1. Despite these limitations, the Guest account poses privacy and security risks.

Removing the Guest User improves your privacy and security by:

  • Preventing unauthorized physical access to your Mac 2
  • Eliminating a potential entry point for attackers
  • Restricting system access to only authenticated users 2 3

The U.S. Department of Defense recommends disabling guest access as part of their security guidelines 2 3 This aligns with the principle that only authorized individuals should have access to system components 3.

Removing the Guest User eliminates temporary files and configurations, freeing up disk space.

However, consider these benefits of keeping Guest User before removing it:

  • Lets others temporarily use your Mac without accessing your personal data 4
  • Helps locate your Mac if lost through the Find My app when someone uses Safari as guest 1
  • Creates an isolated environment where some guest activity is automatically deleted upon logout 1 4
  • Useful for organizations needing to provide temporary access 4

Note: This script only removes the Guest User account. For complete guest access removal (including sharing features), use additional related scripts.

Caution
  • Removing the Guest User removes the ability to let others use the device without exposing personal data
  • This disables the ability to locate your Mac through Find My when someone uses Safari as guest

Technical Details​

This script:

  • Uses sysadminctl with -deleteUser Guest to disable the guest account 2 sysadminctl is a macOS tool that controls user accounts 2.
  • Runs fdesetup remove -user Guest to remove Guest from the FileVault Boot Menu 5 6 7. fdesetup is a tool to manage FileVault and its users 8. remove -user option removes enabled user from FileVault 8.
  • Executes dscl . delete /Users/Guest to delete the Guest User directory 9. dscl is Directory Service command line utility built-in on macOS 9.
Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

Apply Now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script​

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Free
  • Open-source
Help

How to apply or restore "Remove Guest User" using script​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Remove Guest User" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Remove Guest User
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Run commands​

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
Apply changes
if ! command -v 'sysadminctl' &> /dev/null; then
    echo 'Skipping because "sysadminctl" is not found.'
else
    sudo sysadminctl -deleteUser Guest
fi
if ! command -v 'fdesetup' &> /dev/null; then
    echo 'Skipping because "fdesetup" is not found.'
else
    sudo fdesetup remove -user Guest
fi
if ! command -v 'dscl' &> /dev/null; then
    echo 'Skipping because "dscl" is not found.'
else
    sudo dscl . delete /Users/Guest
fi
Help

How to apply or restore "Remove Guest User" using commands​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Terminal app
  • Difficulty: undefined
  • ≈ 3 instructions
  1. 1

    Open terminal

    Open Terminal app.
  2. 2

    Copy code

    Copy the code:
    Copy Apply Code Copy Revert Code
  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the code into Terminal and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

Similar Guides​

Wider Goal​

The guide below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.

See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.

These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.

This specification: privacy cleanup — lays out a systematic approach to how to lock down private information as part of sensitive data privacy protection on macOS...

— Privacy cleanup

Same Goal​

Other guides in Privacy cleanup 

See settings that are in the same category as this guide.

Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.

See all 12 guides

About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process