The quickest way: Settings on a standard account

If you have a standard user account (not the administrator account that came with your computer), you can change your username directly in Settings without restarting. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then click the Settings app. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click Your info at the top.

You will see your current username displayed under "Create your account". Click the Rename your account button. A dialog box will appear with your current name highlighted. Type the new username you want — it can include letters, numbers, spaces, and most symbols, though Windows will reject names that are too long or contain certain characters like asterisks or question marks. Click Next, then Finish. The change takes effect when ready; you do not need to restart.

This method changes only the display name that appears on the sign-in screen and in Settings. It does not change your user folder name on the hard drive, which stays the same. That folder name is what matters for file paths and permissions, so most people never need to change it.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings method (Accounts > Your info > Rename your account) works on standard accounts and takes effect right away without restarting.
  • Changing your username in Settings only changes the display name, not the folder name Windows created when you first set up the account.
  • If you need to change the folder name itself, you must use the Local Users and Groups tool, which is only available on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.
  • Administrator accounts can rename themselves the same way as standard accounts, but you cannot rename the administrator account from another account's Settings.
  • If you are signed in with a Microsoft account instead of a local account, changing the username in Settings changes only the display name, not your Microsoft account email.

Changing the folder name on Pro and Enterprise editions

If you are running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can change both the display name and the folder name using the Local Users and Groups tool. Press the Windows key and type "lusrmgr.msc", then press Enter. This opens a window showing all user accounts on your computer.

Right-click the account you want to rename and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter. This changes the folder name that Windows uses internally. However, this method does not change the display name that appears on the sign-in screen — you still need to go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and use Rename your account to change that separately. After using Local Users and Groups, restart your computer so Windows can explore the folder name change fully.

Changing the folder name is rarely necessary. The only common reason to do it is if you want file paths and shortcuts to reference a shorter or clearer name. Most people should stick with the Settings method, which changes only the display name.

What happens to your files and programs

When you change your username using Settings, your files stay exactly where they are. Windows keeps track of your account by an internal ID number, not by the name you see. Your Documents folder, Desktop, Downloads, and all other personal files remain accessible and work the same way.

Programs you have installed will continue to work. Some programs store settings in your user folder, and those settings will still be there because the folder itself did not change — only the name you see on the sign-in screen changed. Shortcuts on your Desktop and Start menu will continue to point to the right places.

If you changed the folder name using Local Users and Groups on a Pro edition, some older programs might briefly look for settings in the old folder name and not find them. This is rare, but if it happens, you can usually fix it by opening the program's settings and letting it recreate its configuration files in the new location.

Renaming a Microsoft account versus a local account

Windows 10 accounts come in two types: Microsoft accounts (which use an email address and sync with Microsoft's servers) and local accounts (which exist only on your computer). The method to change the username is the same for both — go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click Rename your account.

However, what changes is different. On a local account, you are changing the name that appears everywhere on your computer. On a Microsoft account, you are changing only the display name; your actual Microsoft account email address stays the same and is what you use to sign in. If you want to change your Microsoft account email itself, you must do that on the Microsoft account website, not in Windows Settings.

To check which type of account you have, open Settings > Accounts > Your info and look at the top. If it shows an email address, you have a Microsoft account. If it shows just a username with no @ symbol, you have a local account.

If you cannot find the Rename option

On some computers, the Rename your account button does not appear in Settings. This usually means you are signed in with a Microsoft account and your computer is managed by a workplace or school. In that case, contact your IT department or help desk — they control whether you can change your display name.

If you are on a home computer and the button is still missing, try signing out and signing back in, or restart your computer. If that does not work, you can try the Local Users and Groups method on a Pro edition, or create a new account with the name you want and transfer your files to it (though this is more work).

Changing the account name before you first sign in

If you are setting up Windows 10 for the first time and have not yet created an account, you can type any username you want during the setup process. Once you finish setup and sign in, you can change it later using the methods above. There is no way to change the username during setup itself — you have to complete setup first.

If you are setting up a computer for someone else and want to create an account with a specific name, just type that name during setup. You can always change it later if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username affect my password?

No. Your password stays the same no matter what name you change. You sign in with the same password you used before. If you want to change your password at the same time, you can do that separately in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Password.

Can I change someone else's username on my computer?

Only if you are signed in as an administrator. If you are, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, click the account you want to rename, then click Rename. On a Pro edition, you can also use Local Users and Groups to rename any account.

What if I change my username and then forget what it was?

You can see all usernames on your computer by going to Settings > Accounts > Other people. If you forgot your own username, look at the sign-in screen — it will show all account names on the computer. You can also check by opening File Explorer and looking at the path bar, which shows your current username.

Does changing my username change my email address?

Only if you have a local account. On a Microsoft account, changing your username in Settings changes only the display name; your email address (which is your actual account name) stays the same. To change your Microsoft email, you must go to account.microsoft.com and change it there.

Can I use special characters in my new username?

Most letters, numbers, and spaces work fine. Windows will reject names containing asterisks (*), question marks (?), quotation marks ("), forward slashes (/), and backslashes (\). If you try to use one of these, Windows will tell you the character is not allowed and ask you to pick a different one.