The fastest way depends on whether you use Windows or Mac

On Windows 10 or 11, you change your username through Settings in about two minutes. On a Mac, the process is similar but lives in System Preferences or System Settings. Both let you change the name that appears when you log in and the name of your home folder, though the home folder name requires a workaround on Mac. The steps are different enough that you need to follow the path for your operating system.

Before you start, know that changing your username does not affect your files, passwords, or installed programs. Everything stays where it is. If you are the only person who uses the computer, you can make this change yourself. If others use the machine, you may need administrator permission.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click "Rename your account" to change the name that appears on your login screen.
  • On Mac, open System Settings > General > Users & Groups, unlock the panel with your password, then right-click your account and select "Advanced Options" to change your short name.
  • Changing your username does not move or delete your files, and programs you installed keep working the same way.
  • Your home folder name on Mac stays the same after you change your username unless you create a new account and move your files over.
  • If you forget your password or cannot access Settings, you may need to restart in Safe Mode or use another administrator account.

Changing your username on Windows 10 or 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click Accounts on the left side. Click Your info at the top. You will see your current account name displayed with a picture. Click the button that says Rename your account.

A dialog box will appear with your current name highlighted. Type the new name you want, then click Next. Click Finish. You may need to restart your computer for the change to take effect, though Windows often applies it when ready. The new name will appear on your login screen and in the Start menu.

If you do not see a "Rename your account" button, you may be using a Microsoft account instead of a local account. For a Microsoft account, click Manage your Microsoft account instead, sign in online, and change your name through the web interface. The change can take a few hours to show up on your computer.

Changing your username on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (on newer Macs) or System Preferences (on older ones). Click General, then click Users & Groups on the left. You may see a lock icon at the bottom of the window. Click it and enter your password to unlock the settings.

Right-click your account name in the list on the left and select Advanced Options. You will see a field labeled Account name — this is your short name, the one that appears in the terminal and in file paths. Change it to what you want, then click OK. The display name (the one that appears on the login screen) is a separate field in the same window; you can change that too.

Your home folder name will not change automatically. If you want the folder name to match your new username, you need to create a new account with the new name, move your files to it, and delete the old account. This is more involved, so most people leave the home folder name as it was.

What happens to your files and programs

Your files stay exactly where they are. Windows and Mac store your personal files in a folder with your username in the path — something like C:\Users\OldName on Windows or /Users/OldName on Mac. When you change your username, the operating system updates the reference to that folder, so your files are still there and still yours.

Programs you installed continue to work. They do not care what your username is; they only care that you have permission to run them. Shortcuts, bookmarks, and settings in your programs stay the same. The only thing that changes is the name displayed when you log in and the name shown in Settings.

If you cannot access Settings or forgot your password

If you are locked out of your account or cannot open Settings, you have a few options. On Windows, restart your computer and press F8 or Shift+F8 repeatedly before the login screen appears. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt. If you have another administrator account on the computer, log in with that account and change the username from Settings > Accounts > Other people.

On Mac, restart and hold Command+S to boot into Single User Mode. Type fsck -fy and press Enter, then type mount -uw / and press Enter. You can then use terminal commands to change your account name, though this requires some comfort with the command line. If you have another administrator account, log in with that and use System Settings to change the other account's name.

If you do not have another account and cannot access Safe Mode, you may need to use your Mac's Recovery Mode or Windows' password reset disk. Both of these are more involved; contact Apple Support or Microsoft Support for step-by-step help.

Changing your username does not affect your Microsoft or Apple account

Your local username on your computer is separate from your Microsoft account (if you use Windows) or your Apple ID (if you use Mac). Changing your computer username does not change your email address, password, or anything tied to those online accounts. You can still sign into OneDrive, Outlook, iCloud, or any other service the same way you did before.

If you want to change your Microsoft account name or Apple ID, you do that through the online account settings, not through your computer's Settings app. Those changes are separate and take longer to roll out across all your devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username log me out or require me to log back in?

No. You stay logged in the whole time. The change takes effect when ready or after a restart, and you do not need to enter your password again. Your login password stays the same.

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

Yes. Follow the same steps and type your old name. There is no limit to how many times you can change it. Each change takes effect right away or after a restart.

What if I share my computer with other people?

Each person has their own account and their own username. You can only change the username for the account you are logged into. Other people's usernames stay the same. If you need to change someone else's username, you need administrator permission and you need to follow the same steps while logged into their account.

Does changing my username affect my Wi-Fi password or saved networks?

No. Your saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords stay the same. You will stay connected to the internet the whole time you are making the change.

What if my username has a space or special character in it?

Windows and Mac both allow spaces and most special characters in display names. For the short name on Mac or the account name on Windows, stick to letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores — spaces and special characters can cause problems in some programs and terminal commands.