Windows 10 stores your old account profile pictures even after you stop using them, but surprisingly, Microsoft doesn’t provide an obvious option to remove them directly from the Settings app. Over time, these old images can pile up and continue appearing whenever you try to switch profile pictures.
If you want to clean up your old account photos or switch back to the default Windows profile icon, the process is actually much simpler than it first appears — you just need to know where Windows hides the files.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to delete old Windows 10 account pictures and restore the default user profile image in just a few steps.
How to Delete Old Account Pictures
If you want to remove account pictures you no longer use, follow these steps:
- Open File Explorer. You can quickly do this by pressing Windows key + E on your keyboard.
- In the address bar, paste the following path:
C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPicturesReplace<YourUsername>with your actual Windows username. If you're unsure of your username, you can find it instantly by opening Command Prompt and typingecho %username%. Alternatively, you can manually browse your user folder under C:\Users. - Inside the folder, you’ll see the account pictures previously used on your device. Simply delete the images you no longer want.
How to Restore the Default Windows 10 Account Picture
If you want to switch back to one of Windows 10’s default profile pictures, here’s how:
- Click the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu.
- Right-click your current account picture, usually located in the upper-left corner of the Start Menu.
- Select Change account settings. This will open the Accounts section in Windows Settings.
- Under Create your picture, click Browse for one.
- In the file browser address bar, paste the following path and press Enter:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures - You’ll now see the default Windows account images. Select your preferred picture and click Choose picture.
Your account picture should update immediately after selecting the image.
Final Thoughts
Although Windows 10 makes managing old account pictures more difficult than it should be, removing them manually is actually very straightforward once you know where the files are stored.
Cleaning up unused profile images can help keep your account settings organized, especially if you frequently change profile pictures or share the computer with multiple users. Switching back to the default Windows profile icon is also a quick way to maintain a cleaner and more professional-looking user account.
