The quickest way to change your username
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select it. Go to Accounts in the left menu, then click Your info at the top. You'll see your current username displayed. Click the Rename your account button, type your new username, click Next, then Finish. Windows will ask you to sign out — do that, and when you sign back in, your username will be changed.
This method works for most people because it changes the display name that appears on your login screen and in Settings without moving any files. Your C drive files stay exactly where they are. The change takes effect when ready after you restart.
If the Rename your account button is greyed out or missing, your account may be a Microsoft account rather than a local account. Microsoft accounts require a different process, which is covered in the section below.
Key Takeaways
- The Settings app is the standard way to change your username and works for most local accounts in under two minutes.
- Microsoft accounts cannot be renamed through Settings — you must change the name associated with your Microsoft account online instead.
- Changing your username through Settings does not move or rename any folders on your C drive, so your files and programs stay in their current locations.
- If you need to rename the actual user folder on your C drive (the folder that holds your Documents, Downloads, and Desktop), you must use the Local Users and Groups tool, which is more complex and carries a higher risk of breaking permissions.
- After any username change, restart your computer to make sure all programs and services recognize the new name.
Changing a Microsoft account username
If your account is linked to a Microsoft email address, you cannot rename it through Settings. Instead, you must change the name on your Microsoft account itself. Go to account.microsoft.com in your web browser and sign in with your Microsoft email and password.
Once you're signed in, click your name or profile picture in the top right corner, then select Your info. Look for an option to edit your name or profile — the exact wording changes depending on your account type. Click it, type your new name, and save. The change will sync to your Windows computer within a few hours, though restarting your computer speeds this up.
This process changes the name displayed on your login screen and throughout Windows, but it does not rename the user folder on your C drive. If you want the folder name to match your new username, you will need to use the Local Users and Groups tool (see the section below).
When you need to rename the user folder itself
Windows stores your personal files in a folder on the C drive named after your username — usually something like C:\Users\YourUsername. Changing your username through Settings does not rename this folder. For most people, this is fine — your files work normally even if the folder name no longer matches your username.
However, if you want the folder name to match your new username, or if a program is looking for files in a folder with your old username, you will need to rename the folder itself. This is more involved and requires using the Local Users and Groups tool, which is only available in Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions — not in Windows Home.
If you have Windows Home and need to rename the user folder, your only option is to create a new local account with the username you want, move your files to that account, and then delete the old account. This is time-consuming and carries a risk of losing file permissions, so contact a local computer repair shop if you're unsure.
Renaming the user folder with Local Users and Groups
This method only works on Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education. First, create a new local account that will be your temporary admin account. Press the Windows key, type "Settings", and go to Accounts > Other people > Add account. 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 "Temp" and a password you'll remember.
Once that account exists, sign out of your current account and sign into the Temp account. Press the Windows key, type "lusrmgr.msc", and press Enter to open Local Users and Groups. Find your original username in the list, right-click it, and select Rename. Type your new username and press Enter. Close the tool and restart your computer.
After restart, sign back into your renamed account. Your files will be in the old folder location, but Windows will still find them. If you want to rename the folder on the C drive to match, open File Explorer, navigate to C:\Users, right-click the old folder name, select Rename, and type the new name. Then delete the Temp account by going back to Settings > Other people, selecting it, and clicking Remove.
Why your username and folder name can be different
Windows separates your display username (what you see on the login screen) from your user folder name (the actual folder on the C drive). This design choice exists because changing a folder name after it's been created can break file permissions and program settings that reference the old path.
When you change your username through Settings, Windows updates the display name but leaves the folder untouched. This is the safe approach and works for nearly all situations. Programs look for your files using Windows's internal user ID, not the folder name, so everything continues to work normally.
The only time you need to rename the folder is if you're troubleshooting a specific program that explicitly looks for a folder with your username, or if you want the folder name to match your display name for your own organization. In most cases, leaving the folder name as it is causes no problems.
What to do if something goes wrong after renaming
If you renamed your username and now a program won't start or you can't access certain files, the most common cause is that the program was looking for your old username in a specific location. Restart your computer first — many issues resolve after a restart because Windows needs time to update its internal references.
If restarting doesn't help, open the program's settings or preferences and look for any field that references your old username. Update it to your new username and save. If the program has no settings for this, uninstall it completely and reinstall it — the fresh installation will use your new username.
If you renamed the user folder itself and now you're locked out of files or folders, right-click the affected folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab, and click Edit. Select your new username from the list, check the Full Control box, and click explore. This restores your permission to access the folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my username delete any of my files?
No. Changing your username through Settings leaves all your files exactly where they are. Your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and all other folders remain intact and accessible. The only thing that changes is the name displayed on your login screen.
Do I need to reinstall Windows or my programs after changing my username?
No. Reinstalling is not necessary. Your programs will continue to work because Windows tracks user accounts by an internal ID, not by the username you see. Restart your computer after the change, and everything should work normally.
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
Yes. Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info, click Rename your account, type your old username, and finish. You can change your username as many times as you want.
What's the difference between a local account and a Microsoft account?
A local account is stored only on your computer and has no connection to the internet. A Microsoft account is linked to a Microsoft email address and syncs your settings across devices. You can tell which type you have by looking at Settings > Accounts > Your info — if it shows an email address, you have a Microsoft account.
If I rename my user folder, will my programs still find my files?
Most programs will, because they use Windows's internal user ID to locate files, not the folder name. However, some older programs or custom scripts may look for a specific folder path. If a program breaks after you rename the folder, update the program's settings to point to the new folder location, or reinstall the program.