The two ways to change your Windows 10 user name

Windows 10 lets you change your user name in two places, and which one you use depends on what kind of account you have. If you sign in with a Microsoft account (the kind tied to an email address), you change the name through Microsoft's website. If you use a local account (one that exists only on your computer), you change it through Windows Settings on your machine itself. Both take about five minutes.

The name you see on your Windows login screen and in the Start menu is separate from your email address if you use a Microsoft account, so you can change one without touching the other. Your files and folders stay where they are either way — Windows handles the renaming behind the scenes.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft account users change their display name at account.microsoft.com, while local account users change it through Windows Settings on their computer.
  • Changing your display name does not change your email address or password, and your files remain accessible after the change.
  • The name change takes effect immediately on your computer, though it may take a few minutes to update across all Microsoft services.
  • If you forget which type of account you have, you can check in Settings under Accounts to see whether it shows an email address or "Local account".

Changing a Microsoft account user name

Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with the email address and password you use on Windows. Click Your info in the left menu, then look for your name at the top of the page.

Click Edit name next to your current name. Type your new first and last name in the boxes that appear, then click Next. Windows will ask you to confirm by entering your password again. After you do, click Finish. The change takes effect immediately on your computer, though it may take a few minutes to show up in Outlook, OneDrive, and other Microsoft services you use.

Changing a local account user name

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click Accounts in the left menu, then click Your info. At the top of the page you will see your current user name.

Click Rename your device (or in some versions, Rename your PC). A text box will appear with your current name highlighted. Delete it and type your new name, then press Enter. Windows will ask you to restart your computer to finish the change. Save any open work, then click Restart now. When your computer starts back up, your new user name will appear on the login screen and in the Start menu.

What happens to your files after you change your user name

Your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and Pictures folders stay exactly where they are and contain all the same files. Windows keeps track of them by a hidden identifier behind the scenes, not by your user name, so the change does not break anything.

If you use cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive, those services continue to work normally. Programs you have installed keep working too. The only thing that changes is what you see on the login screen and in the Start menu.

How to check what type of account you have

Open Settings and go to Accounts, then Your info. If you see an email address under your name, you have a Microsoft account. If you see "Local account" instead, you have a local account that exists only on your computer.

You can also check by clicking Email & accounts in the Accounts menu. Microsoft account users will see their email listed there. Local account users will see nothing in that section.

Changing your user name back or trying again

You can change your user name as many times as you want using the same steps. If you made a typo or want to use a different name, just go back to account.microsoft.com (for Microsoft accounts) or Settings (for local accounts) and repeat the process. There is no limit to how many times you can do this.

If you change your mind right after restarting your computer, you can change it back immediately. Windows does not lock you into a name or require you to wait between changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my user name change my password?

No. Your password stays the same whether you have a Microsoft account or a local account. If you want to change your password too, that is a separate step in Settings (for local accounts) or at account.microsoft.com (for Microsoft accounts).

Will changing my user name sign me out of programs?

No. Programs like Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive stay signed in because they track you by your account, not your display name. You will not have to sign back into anything.

Can I change my user name if I forgot my password?

For a Microsoft account, you can reset your password at account.microsoft.com before changing your name. For a local account, you need to sign in first, so you would need to reset your password through Windows recovery options if you have forgotten it.

What if I see my name but no email address in Settings?

That means you have a local account. Use the Settings method described above to change your name. You cannot change it through account.microsoft.com because that site only works for Microsoft accounts.