---
title: "Deleting Users in Linux"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/server-administration/linux/deleting-users-in-linux/"
description: "If you've added multiple users to your Linux server, you might eventually need to delete users, too. You can delete users in two ways, from cPanel and from the…"
vertical: "Hosting"
date: "2024-03-04"
last_modified: "2026-07-02"
---

# Deleting Users in Linux

If you’ve added multiple users to your Linux server, you might eventually need to delete users, too. You can delete users in two ways:

[Delete in cPanel](#cpanel)  
[Delete from Command Line](#command_line)

These instructions apply to any hosted solution, including [VPS hosting](https://www.liquidweb.com/vps-hosting/), [dedicated servers](https://www.liquidweb.com/dedicated-server-hosting/), and [cloud servers](https://www.liquidweb.com/cloud-hosting/).

## Delete in cPanel

If your Linux server uses cPanel, delete user accounts using WHM instead of the command line. Deleting users via the command line won’t delete everything necessary. Deleting a user in WHM is easy.

1. Log into WHM. Then, search for “List Accounts” in the left search bar.
2. Click on **List Accounts** in **Account Information**.  
    ![list accounts link highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_y8yUh1.png)
3. Click the **\[+\]** plus sign next to the account you want to delete to open the account functions.  
    ![gif showing plus sign and account open](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_MHVpsr.gif)
4. Then, under **Actions**, click on **Terminate Account**.  
    ![terminate account button highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_zVIujZ.png)
5. You will have to confirm you want to really delete the account and all the user data. Once an account is deleted, it cannot be undone!  
    ![terminate account home page](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_S8wzhD.png)

## Delete from Command Line

If you need to delete users via command line, these instructions should work for all Liquid Web Linux servers.

1. Using the terminal program of your choice, log into your server as root. If you haven’t logged into your server using the command line before, read [Logging into Your Server via Secure Shell (SSH)](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/server-administration/linux/logging-into-your-server-via-secure-shell-ssh/) first.
2. You’ll use the *userdel* command to delete users. In the command prompt, type  
    ```
    userdel username
    ```
    
      
    and press **Enter**. Replace “username” with the user you want to delete. If you want to remove all the user files, as well, type:
    
      
    ```
    userdel -r username
    ```
    
      
    and press **Enter**. This cannot be undone!