Managing users and groups is a fundamental aspect of system administration, ensuring proper access control and security. On macOS, the Unix-based underpinnings provide robust tools for managing users and groups, both via the graphical user interface (GUI) and the command line. This article will guide you through various methods to create, manage, and delete users and groups on macOS, highlighting the importance of these tasks for maintaining a secure and organized system.

Examples:

1. Creating a User via System Preferences:

   • Open System Preferences from the Apple menu.
   • Click on Users & Groups.
   • Click the lock icon to make changes and enter your administrator password.
   • Click the + button below the list of users.
   • Fill in the new user's details and choose the account type (Standard, Administrator, etc.).
   • Click Create User.

2. Creating a User via Command Line:

   • Open Terminal.
   • Use the sysadminctl command to create a new user:

     sudo sysadminctl -addUser newusername -fullName "New User" -password userpassword

   • To grant the user administrative privileges, use:

     sudo dseditgroup -o edit -a newusername -t user admin

3. Creating a Group via Command Line:

   • Open Terminal.
   • Use the dscl command to create a new group:

     sudo dscl . -create /Groups/newgroup
     sudo dscl . -create /Groups/newgroup gid 1234  # Ensure GID is unique

4. Adding a User to a Group:

   • Open Terminal.
   • Use the dscl command to add a user to a group:

     sudo dscl . -append /Groups/newgroup GroupMembership newusername

5. Deleting a User via Command Line:

   • Open Terminal.
   • Use the sysadminctl command to delete a user:

     sudo sysadminctl -deleteUser username

6. Deleting a Group via Command Line:

   • Open Terminal.
   • Use the dscl command to delete a group:

     sudo dscl . -delete /Groups/groupname