How to Change Username in Windows 10 and Windows 11

How to Change Your Username in Windows 10 and Windows 11

To change the username shown in Windows, first determine what type of account you use. A Microsoft account uses an online profile name, while a local account can be renamed directly inside Windows.

Username, Display Name, Profile Folder, and PC Name: What Actually Changes?

Many Windows users say “change username,” but Windows can show several different names. Changing the wrong one may not produce the result you expect.

Before You Rename a Windows User Account

Renaming a user is usually safe when you only change the visible account name. Problems are more likely when you try to change the profile folder path or rename an account used by services, scripts, mapped drives, or corporate policies.

• Confirm the account type. Open Settings > Accounts > Your info and check whether the account is local, Microsoft, work, or school.
• Use an administrator account. Some methods require elevated rights, especially PowerShell and Computer Management.
• Create a restore point or backup. This is especially important if you plan to migrate files to a new profile.
• Close apps before renaming. Browser profiles, sync tools, and office apps can keep profile files open.
• Avoid changing corporate accounts manually. Work or school accounts may be controlled by Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory, or company policy.

How to Change a Microsoft Account Name in Windows

If you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, the name shown on the sign-in screen comes from your online Microsoft profile. Change it online instead of trying to rename the Windows profile folder.

1. Open your browser and sign in to your Microsoft account page.
2. Open Your info or the profile information section.
3. Select Edit name.
4. Enter the new first name and last name.
5. Save the changes.
6. On the Windows PC, sign out and sign in again. If the old name remains, restart the PC and allow time for account sync.

How to Change a Local Account Name in Control Panel

For a local Windows account, Control Panel is the simplest method. It changes the account name displayed by Windows, but it does not rename the existing user profile folder.

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type control and press Enter.
3. Open User Accounts.
4. Select User Accounts again if Control Panel shows category view.
5. Click Change your account name.
6. Enter the new account name.
7. Click Change Name.
8. Sign out and sign back in to check the new display name.

How to Rename a Windows User with netplwiz

The netplwiz tool opens the classic User Accounts dialog. It is useful when Control Panel does not show the option you need, or when you want to edit both the user name and full name fields.

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type netplwiz and press Enter.
3. Select the local user account you want to rename.
4. Click Properties.
5. Edit User name and, if needed, Full name.
6. Click OK, then OK again.
7. Restart Windows or sign out and sign in again.

How to Change Username with PowerShell

PowerShell is a clean way to rename a local user account. It is especially useful for administrators, remote maintenance, and repeatable instructions.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Open Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. List local users to confirm the exact account name:

Get-LocalUser

Then rename the account by replacing OldName and NewName:

Rename-LocalUser -Name "OldName" -NewName "NewName"

After running the command, sign out and sign in again. If you use the old username in scripts, scheduled tasks, or mapped drive credentials, update those references manually.

How to Rename a User in Computer Management

Computer Management provides a graphical way to rename local users, but Local Users and Groups is normally available on Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. It is not the standard account-management tool on Windows Home.

1. Press Win + X.
2. Select Computer Management.
3. Open Local Users and Groups.
4. Select Users.
5. Right-click the account you want to rename.
6. Select Rename.
7. Type the new username and press Enter.
8. Restart or sign out to test the new name.

How to Change the C:\Users Folder Name Safely

Renaming a Windows account does not normally rename the existing profile folder. For example, after changing the account name from Alex to David, the folder may still be C:\Users\Alex. This is normal.

The safest way to get a new profile folder name is to create a new user account with the desired name, sign in once so Windows creates the new folder, and then move your personal files.

1. Create a new local or Microsoft account with the desired username.
2. Make the new account an administrator temporarily if you need to move files from the old profile.
3. Sign in to the new account once so Windows creates C:\Users\NewName.
4. Copy personal files from the old profile: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Videos, and other custom folders.
5. Reconfigure apps that store settings inside the old user profile.
6. Keep the old account for a few days until you are sure nothing is missing.
7. Delete the old account only after making a full backup of important files.

Username vs Computer Name: Do Not Confuse Them

The Windows username is the account you sign in with. The computer name is the device name used on a network. Renaming one does not rename the other.

To rename the PC instead of the user account:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to System.
3. Open About.
4. Click Rename this PC.
5. Enter the new device name.
6. Restart Windows when prompted.

Troubleshooting: Username Did Not Change or Access Is Denied

FAQ: Changing Username in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Useful Official Microsoft Pages

For more details, see these Microsoft resources about account names and Windows account commands:

• How to change your user account name
• How to change your Microsoft account name or address
• Rename-LocalUser PowerShell reference
• net user command reference