Windows 10 and 11: Change Your Username Through Settings

The fastest way to change your username on Windows is through the Settings app. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the app that appears. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click Your info at the top.

You will see your current username displayed under "Your info." Click the blue Rename your account button. A dialog box will open asking for your new username. Type what you want your new name to be, then click Next and Finish. Windows will ask you to sign out and back in for the change to take effect — do that, and your username is changed.

This method works if you are the account owner and you remember your password. If you are locked out of your account or cannot access Settings, you will need to use the Command Prompt method instead, which requires administrator access.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can change their username in Settings under Accounts > Your info by clicking Rename your account.
  • Mac users open System Settings, go to General > Users & Groups, unlock the panel with their password, then right-click their account and select Advanced Options.
  • Changing your username does not affect your files, folders, or installed programs — they stay where they are.
  • If you cannot access Settings or System Settings, you may need to restart your computer in Safe Mode or use the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac).

Windows: Using Command Prompt if Settings Does Not Work

If the Settings method does not work or you do not have access to it, you can change your username through Command Prompt. Right-click the Start menu, select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) — you may see one or both depending on your Windows version. If a dialog appears asking for permission, click Yes.

In the black Command Prompt window, type this command exactly: wmic useraccount where name="CurrentUsername" rename NewUsername. Replace "CurrentUsername" with your actual current username and "NewUsername" with what you want it to be. Press Enter. You should see a message saying the rename was successful. Close the window and restart your computer.

This method requires administrator rights on your account. If you see an error message, it usually means either the username you typed does not match your actual username exactly, or you do not have the permissions needed. Check that you opened Command Prompt as Administrator — the window title should say "Administrator" at the top.

Mac: Change Your Username in System Settings

On a Mac, open System Settings by clicking the Apple menu in the top left corner and selecting System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click Users & Groups. You may see a lock icon at the bottom of the window — if you do, click it and enter your password to unlock the settings.

Right-click your account name in the list on the left side and select Advanced Options. You will see a field labeled "Account name" — this is your username. Click in that field, clear the current text, and type your new username. The new name must be lowercase letters and numbers only, with no spaces or special characters. Click OK to save the change.

Your Mac will ask you to restart. When you sign back in, your username will be the new one you entered. Your files and programs remain unchanged — only the name of your account changes.

What Happens to Your Files and Folders

Changing your username does not move, delete, or hide any of your files. Your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and all other folders stay exactly where they are. Programs you have installed continue to work normally. The only thing that changes is the name that appears when you sign in and the name of your user folder in the system.

On Windows, your user folder is located at C:\Users\YourUsername. After you change your username, Windows keeps the old folder name but updates the display name you see when you sign in. On Mac, your home folder name stays the same in the file system, but your account display name changes. In both cases, you will not notice any difference in how your computer works.

Changing Your Display Name vs. Your Username

Windows and Mac both have two separate name fields: your username (also called account name) and your display name (the name that shows on the sign-in screen and in menus). The instructions above change your username. If you only want to change how your name appears on the sign-in screen without changing your actual username, you can do that separately.

On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and look for "Change your account name" — this changes only the display name. On Mac, the display name is what you see in System Settings > General > Users & Groups. Changing the account name in Advanced Options changes your actual username. Most people only need to change one or the other, not both.

Troubleshooting: Username Changes That Do Not Stick

If you changed your username but it reverted back to the old name, or if you see an error message during the change, the most common cause is that you did not restart your computer afterward. Both Windows and Mac require a restart to finalize the change. Close all your programs, save any open work, and restart your computer completely — do not just log out and back in.

If the change still does not stick after a restart, check that you have administrator rights on your account. On Windows, open Settings > Accounts > Other users and look for "Administrator" next to your account name. On Mac, open System Settings > General > Users & Groups and check that your account shows "Admin" in the list. If you do not have administrator rights, you will need to ask someone with an admin account to make the change for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your password stays the same — you will still sign in with the same password you used before. Only the username itself changes. You may see your new username on the sign-in screen the next time you restart, but your password does not change.

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

Yes. Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time, and enter your old username as the new name. There is no limit to how many times you can change your username.

What if I forgot my current username?

On Windows, open Command Prompt as Administrator and type wmic useraccount list brief — this shows all usernames on your computer. On Mac, open Terminal and type whoami — this displays your current username. Once you know it, you can follow the steps above to change it.

Does changing my username affect my Microsoft account or Apple ID?

No. Your local computer username is separate from your Microsoft account (on Windows) or Apple ID (on Mac). Changing one does not change the other. Your email address and password for those accounts stay the same.

What characters can I use in my new username?

On Windows, you can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most special characters. On Mac, usernames must be lowercase letters and numbers only — no spaces, capital letters, or special characters allowed. If you try to use an invalid character on Mac, the system will not let you save the change.