The quickest way depends on your operating system
On Windows 10 or 11, you go through Settings > Accounts > Your info, click "Rename your account", type the new name, and restart. On a Mac, you use System Settings > General > Users & Groups, unlock the panel with your password, right-click your account, and select "Advanced Options" to change the short name. On Linux, the process varies by distribution, but most use the terminal command usermod -l newusername oldusername or a graphical tool in your system settings.
The name you see on your login screen is separate from your account's short name (sometimes called the username or home folder name). Windows and Mac let you change the display name easily; changing the short name is harder and sometimes requires administrator access or workarounds. Linux treats the short name as the primary identifier and changing it requires more care because it affects file permissions and system processes.
Before you start, back up your important files. Changing a username can affect where your documents, photos, and settings are stored, and mistakes can lock you out of your own account. If you share your computer with others, make sure you have administrator rights first.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users can change their display name in Settings > Accounts > Your info without restarting, but changing the folder name requires more steps and administrator access.
- Mac users can change the display name in System Settings > General > Users & Groups, but changing the short name (home folder name) requires the Advanced Options menu and administrator password.
- Linux users typically use the terminal command usermod -l newusername oldusername, which changes the login name and home folder path at once.
- Back up your files before making any username changes, because the process can affect where your documents and settings are stored.
- If you forget your administrator password or get locked out during the change, you may need to use password recovery tools or reinstall your operating system.
Changing your display name on Windows 10 and 11
The display name is what appears on your login screen and in the Start menu. To change it, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to Accounts on the left sidebar. Click "Your info" at the top. You will see your current account name under "Your account". Click the button that says "Rename your account".
Type your new name in the box that appears. Windows allows display names up to 20 characters and accepts spaces and most punctuation. Click "Next", then "Finish". You do not need to restart your computer for this change to take effect — the new name appears when ready on your next login screen.
If you want to change the folder name (the short name Windows uses behind the scenes), the process is more involved. You need administrator access, and you must either use the Local Users and Groups tool on Windows Pro or Enterprise editions, or rename the folder manually through File Explorer while logged into a different administrator account. For most people, changing the display name is enough.
Changing your display name and short name on Mac
On a Mac running macOS 12 or later, open System Settings and click "General" in the sidebar. Then click "Users & Groups". You may see a lock icon at the bottom of the window — click it and enter your administrator password to unlock the settings.
Right-click your account name in the list on the left and select "Advanced Options". You will see two fields: "Full Name" (the display name) and "Account name" (the short name, which is your home folder name). Change whichever one you need. The display name can be anything; the account name must be lowercase letters and numbers only, with no spaces.
After you change the account name, macOS will ask if you want to keep your home folder name the same or update it to match. If you update it, files and permissions may shift. If you keep the old folder name, your account name and folder name will no longer match, which can confuse some applications. Most people change the display name only and leave the account name alone.
Changing your username on Linux
Linux systems store the username as the login name and home folder path. To change it, you need terminal access and administrator (sudo) privileges. The command is sudo usermod -l newusername oldusername. Replace "newusername" with what you want and "oldusername" with your current login name. You will be prompted for your password.
This command changes your login name but not your home folder path. To rename the home folder as well, use sudo usermod -d /home/newusername -m oldusername. The -m flag tells the system to move your home folder to the new location and update all the file permissions automatically.
Some Linux distributions (like Ubuntu) also offer a graphical tool in Settings or Users to change your username. If you are not comfortable with the terminal, look for "Users" or "Accounts" in your system settings menu. However, graphical tools may not rename your home folder, so you might need the terminal command anyway.
What happens to your files and settings when you change your username
On Windows, changing the display name does not move or rename any files. Your documents, photos, and desktop items stay in the same place. Changing the folder name is different — it can break shortcuts and confuse some programs that look for files in the old path.
On Mac, if you change the account name and update the home folder to match, your files move to a new location and permissions are updated. If you keep the old folder name, your files stay put but some applications may not find them. Either way, your email, browser history, and process settings usually stay intact because they are stored inside your home folder.
On Linux, using the -m flag with usermod ensures that your home folder and all file permissions are updated correctly. Without it, you may own files in the old folder path but not be able to access them. Always use the -m flag unless you have a specific reason not to.
When you need administrator access and how to get it
On Windows, you can change your own display name without administrator access. To change the folder name, you need an administrator account. If you are the only user on your computer, your account is probably already an administrator. To check, go to Settings > Accounts > Other users and look for "Administrator" under your account type.
On Mac, you need your administrator password to unlock Users & Groups. If you do not have it, you can use Recovery Mode to reset it. Restart your Mac, hold Command + R until you see the Apple logo, then go to Utilities > Terminal and use the resetpassword command.
On Linux, you need sudo access to run usermod. If you are not in the sudoers group, you will see a message saying "user is not in the sudoers file". You will need another administrator account to add you to the group, or you will need to boot into single-user mode (which requires physical access to the computer).
Troubleshooting if something goes wrong
If you change your username and then cannot log in, the problem is usually a mismatch between your login name and the folder where your settings are stored. On Windows, try logging in with your old username first, then change it again more carefully. On Mac, use Recovery Mode to access your account or reset your password. On Linux, boot into single-user mode or use a live USB to access your files and fix the username.
If programs stop finding your files after a username change, the issue is usually that they are looking in the old folder path. On Windows and Mac, reinstalling the program often fixes this. On Linux, you can manually update the file paths in configuration files, but this is advanced and usually not necessary if you used the -m flag with usermod.
If you get locked out completely and cannot access Recovery Mode or single-user mode, you may need to reinstall your operating system. This is rare, but it is why backing up your files before making any username changes is so important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username without restarting my computer?
On Windows, changing your display name does not require a restart. On Mac, changing the display name also does not require a restart. On Linux, you do not need to restart either, but you will need to log out and log back in for the change to take effect. If you change your home folder name on Mac or Linux, you should restart to may support all permissions update correctly.
What if I change my username and forget what it was?
On Windows, open Settings > Accounts > Other users and look at the list of accounts. On Mac, open System Settings > General > Users & Groups and check the list. On Linux, open a terminal and type whoami to see your current username. If you are locked out, you can use Recovery Mode (Mac) or a live USB (Linux) to access your account information.
Will changing my username affect my email or online accounts?
No. Your computer username is separate from your email address, Microsoft account, Apple ID, or any online service. Changing your computer username does not change your login credentials for websites, email, or cloud services. You will still use the same passwords and usernames to log into those services.
Can I have two usernames on the same computer?
Yes. You can create multiple user accounts on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Each account has its own username, home folder, files, and settings. To add a new account, go to Settings > Accounts > Other users on Windows, System Settings > General > Users & Groups on Mac, or use the Users tool in your Linux distribution's settings. Each person can log in with their own username and password.
Is it safe to change my username, or could it break something?
Changing your display name is very safe. Changing your short name or login name carries more risk because it affects file paths and permissions. The safest approach is to back up your files first, change only the display name, and test that everything still works before making any deeper changes. If you are not sure, leave your short name alone.