What changing your username actually does

Changing your Windows 10 username updates the name that appears on your login screen, in the Start menu, and in file paths on your computer. It does not change your Microsoft account email, your password, or anything tied to cloud services like OneDrive or Outlook. If you use a Microsoft account to sign in (rather than a local account), the change is local to that computer only — other devices will still show your old name.

There are two different usernames on most Windows 10 computers: your account name (what you see on the login screen) and your display name (what appears in the Start menu and settings). You can change one, both, or neither depending on what you need. The steps are different for each.

Key Takeaways

  • Your account name and display name are separate things, and Windows 10 lets you change them independently.
  • Changing your display name takes two minutes and requires no restart; changing your account name requires administrator access and affects file paths.
  • If you use a Microsoft account, changing your username on this computer does not change it on other devices or in your email.
  • You cannot change a username while you are logged in as that account if you are also the only administrator — you need a second admin account or a password reset disk.

How to change your display name (the fast way)

Your display name is what shows in the Start menu, on the lock screen, and in Settings. Changing it takes about two minutes and does not require a restart.

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Go to Accounts on the left side. Click Your info at the top. You will see your current display name under your account picture. Click Rename your account and type the new name you want. Click Next, then Finish. The change takes effect when ready.

If you do not see a Rename your account button, you are logged in with a Microsoft account and the button may say Rename instead. The process is the same.

How to change your account name (the technical way)

Your account name is the folder name in C:\Users\ and what appears in the command line. Changing it is more involved because Windows does not provide a straightforward button for it. You have two options: use the Local Users and Groups tool (if you have Windows 10 Pro or higher), or create a new account and transfer your files.

Using Local Users and Groups (Pro and Enterprise only): Press Windows key + R, type "lusrmgr.msc", and press Enter. Click Users on the left. Right-click your account name and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter. You must restart your computer for the change to take effect. After restart, your old user folder in C:\Users\ will still exist with the old name — you can delete it manually once you confirm everything works, but back up important files first.

Using the new account method (all Windows 10 versions): Create a new local administrator account, log into it, then use Settings to delete your old account. When Windows asks whether to keep your files, choose Keep files. Your documents, desktop, and downloads will move to the new account's folder. This is slower but works on any Windows 10 edition and is safer because you have a backup account if something goes wrong.

What happens to your files when you change your account name

If you change your account name using Local Users and Groups, your user folder stays named after your old account. For example, if your account was "Sarah" and you rename it to "Sarah Chen", your files will still be in C:\Users\Sarah\. This does not cause problems for most programs, but some older software looks for the exact folder name and may not find it.

If you want the folder name to match your new account name, you have to manually move your files or create a new account and transfer them. The new account method does this automatically — when you delete the old account and keep the files, Windows moves everything to the new folder.

Cloud services like OneDrive, Outlook, and OneDrive for Business are not affected by account name changes. They stay linked to your Microsoft account, not your local username.

When you cannot change your username and what to do

If you are the only administrator on the computer and you are logged in as that account, you cannot use Local Users and Groups to rename it — the tool will not let you change the account you are currently using. You have three ways around this:

Create a second local administrator account first. Press Windows key + I to open Settings, go to Accounts, then Other people, then Add someone else to this PC. Choose I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Give it a straightforward name like "Admin2" and a password. Make it an administrator by going back to Other people, clicking the new account, and selecting Change account type, then choosing Administrator. Log out, log into Admin2, then use Local Users and Groups to rename your original account.

Alternatively, if you have a Microsoft account, you can use the new account method instead: create a new local account, make it an administrator, log into it, then delete your old account from Settings and choose to keep your files.

If you have forgotten your password and cannot log in, you will need a password reset disk or access to another administrator account to proceed.

Changing your username on a Microsoft account versus a local account

Windows 10 lets you sign in with either a Microsoft account (your email address) or a local account (a username and password stored only on that computer). The steps for changing your display name are the same for both. The difference matters when you change your account name.

If you use a Microsoft account, your email address does not change — only the display name on that computer changes. Other devices using the same Microsoft account will still show your old display name until you change it on each one separately. If you use a local account, changing your account name only affects that computer.

You cannot change your Microsoft account email address from Windows Settings. To change the email you use to sign in, you must go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and change it there. That change will take effect on all your devices the next time you sign in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username affect my passwords or sign-in?

No. Your password stays the same, and you sign in the same way. If you use a Microsoft account, you sign in with your email address, which does not change. If you use a local account, you sign in with your username, which will be the new name you chose.

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Yes. Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. There is no limit to how many times you can rename your account or display name.

What if a program stops working after I change my account name?

Some older software looks for your user folder by its exact name. If a program breaks, try reinstalling it. If that does not work, you can create a symbolic link (a shortcut folder) with your old account name pointing to your new folder, but this requires command-line knowledge. For most people, reinstalling the program is simpler.

Does changing my username change my OneDrive or Outlook?

No. OneDrive and Outlook are tied to your Microsoft account email, not your Windows username. Changing your Windows username does not affect them at all.

Can I have two usernames on the same computer?

Yes. You can create multiple user accounts on one computer, and each one can have its own username, password, and files. Each person signs in separately, and Windows keeps their files and settings separate.