The two ways to change your Windows username

Windows lets you change the name that appears on your login screen and in system menus through two separate paths, depending on what you're trying to do. The account name — what shows up when you log in — can be changed through Settings on Windows 10 and 11. The user profile folder name — the actual directory where your files live on disk — requires a different process and is rarely necessary to change.

Most people only need to change the account name. This is the quickest route and takes about five minutes. Changing the folder name is more involved and carries a small risk of breaking things if done wrong, so only do it if you have a specific reason.

Key Takeaways

  • Your account name (what appears on the login screen) can be changed through Settings > Accounts > Your info on Windows 10 and 11 in about five minutes.
  • The user profile folder name on your hard drive is separate from your account name and rarely needs to change.
  • Changing your profile folder name requires using the Local Users and Groups tool or the command line, and should only be done if you have a specific reason.
  • If you use a Microsoft account instead of a local account, your account name is tied to your email address and cannot be changed in Windows itself.
  • Back up your files before attempting to change your profile folder name, since mistakes can prevent Windows from finding your user data.

Changing your account name through Settings

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click Accounts in the left sidebar, then click Your info at the top of the right panel. You'll see your current account name displayed under "Account settings".

Click the Rename your account button. A text field will appear with your current name highlighted. Type your new name — Windows allows up to 20 characters, including spaces and most symbols except asterisks, question marks, and forward slashes. Click Next, then Finish. The change takes effect immediately, and you'll see the new name on your next login.

This method works only if you're using a local account (a username and password created on this computer). If you're signed in with a Microsoft account (your email address), the account name is locked to your email and cannot be changed through Settings. You would need to create a new local account or change your Microsoft account email address through the Microsoft website instead.

When you need to change your profile folder name

Your profile folder is the directory on your hard drive where Windows stores your documents, downloads, desktop files, and user settings. By default, it's named after your original account name, even if you've changed the account name since. For example, if you created an account called "JohnSmith" and later renamed it to "John", your folder is still called "C:\Users\JohnSmith".

In most cases, this mismatch doesn't matter — Windows knows where your files are regardless of what your account name says. However, some people change it for clarity, or because they're troubleshooting a specific problem. If you're not sure whether you need to do this, you probably don't.

Changing your profile folder name using Local Users and Groups

This method works on Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions, but not on Windows Home. Press the Windows key and type "lusrmgr.msc", then press Enter. If you're asked for permission, click Yes. In the window that opens, click Users in the left panel to see all accounts on your computer.

Right-click your account name and select Rename. Type the new name you want for the folder — this can be different from your account display name. Click elsewhere to confirm. You'll be asked to restart your computer. Do not skip this step; Windows needs to restart to apply the change.

After restart, your profile folder will have the new name. Your account display name (what appears on the login screen) stays the same unless you also changed it through Settings. If something goes wrong and Windows won't start or can't find your files, restart in Safe Mode and undo the change by repeating these steps with the original folder name.

Changing your profile folder name from the command line

If you're using Windows Home or prefer the command line, you can rename your profile folder through the Command Prompt. Press the Windows key, type "cmd", right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. Click Yes when asked for permission.

Type the following command exactly as shown, replacing "OldFolderName" with your current folder name and "NewFolderName" with what you want it to be:

ren C:\Users\OldFolderName C:\Users\NewFolderName

Press Enter. If the command succeeds, you'll see no error message. Restart your computer. If you see an error saying the folder is in use, you're still logged into that account — log out completely, log in as a different administrator account, and try again.

What happens to your files and settings

Changing your account name through Settings does not move or rename anything on your hard drive. Your files stay exactly where they are, and Windows knows where to find them. You can change your account name back and forth as many times as you want with no risk.

Changing your profile folder name is permanent until you change it again. Windows updates all the internal references it needs to, so your files, desktop, and settings should all work normally after restart. However, some third-party programs may have stored the old folder path in their settings. If a program stops finding your files after you rename the folder, you may need to point it to the new location or reinstall it.

Troubleshooting if something goes wrong

If you renamed your profile folder and Windows won't start, restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly as it boots to enter Safe Mode. Log in with a different administrator account if you have one. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users to see if your folder is still there with the new name. If it is, try renaming it back to the original name using the same method you used to change it.

If you changed your account name through Settings and now can't remember what it is, you can see it by opening Settings > Accounts > Other people. Your own account will be listed at the top. If you're locked out of your account entirely, you'll need to use another administrator account to reset your password or create a new account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username if I'm using a Microsoft account?

Not in Windows itself. Your account name is tied to your Microsoft email address. To change it, you would need to create a new local account, or change your Microsoft account email through the Microsoft website and then sign out and back in to Windows.

Will changing my username affect my passwords or login?

No. Your password stays the same. You'll still log in the same way — the only thing that changes is the name displayed on the login screen and in system menus.

What's the difference between account name and profile folder name?

Your account name is what appears on the login screen and in Settings. Your profile folder name is the directory on your hard drive where Windows stores your files. They start out the same but can be different if you change one without changing the other.

Do I need to change my profile folder name if I changed my account name?

No. Windows keeps track of which folder belongs to which account regardless of the names. Changing the folder name is optional and only necessary if you have a specific reason to do so.

What if I renamed my profile folder and now a program can't find my files?

The program may have stored the old folder path in its settings. Open the program's settings or preferences and look for a file location or user folder option. Point it to your new folder path, or reinstall the program so it detects the new location automatically.