# Deleting a REST API User for MaxScale with MaxCtrl

## Overview

MaxScale has a [REST API](/docs/maxscale/reference/maxscale-rest-api.md), which can be configured to require authentication. When it is first installed, it has a single default admin user (admin) and password (mariadb). However, this user can be deleted, and other users can be created.

[MaxCtrl](/docs/maxscale/maxscale-management/administrative-tools-for-mariadb-maxscale-maxctrl.md) is a command-line utility that can perform administrative tasks using MaxScale's [REST API](/docs/maxscale/reference/maxscale-rest-api.md). It can be used to delete a user for the REST API.

## Deleting a User

1. [Configure the REST API](/docs/maxscale/maxscale-management/configuring-maxscales-rest-api.md) if the default configuration is not sufficient.
2. Use *MaxCtrl* to execute the [destroy user](/docs/maxscale/reference/maxscale-maxctrl.md#destroy-user) command:

```bash
$ maxctrl --secure
   --user=maxscale_rest_admin
   --password=maxscale_rest_admin_password
   --hosts=192.0.2.100:8443
   --tls-key=/certs/client-key.pem
   --tls-cert=/certs/client-cert.pem
   --tls-ca-cert=/certs/ca.pem
   destroy user "admin"
```

Replace `admin` with the actual user.

{% hint style="info" %}
MaxScale will refuse to delete the last remaining admin user.
{% endhint %}

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{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}


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