The fastest way: Settings menu

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar, then click Your info at the top. You will see your current username displayed under "Who's using this PC right now?" Click the blue Rename your account button, type your new username in the box that appears, then click Next and Finish. The change takes effect when ready, though you may need to sign out and back in to see it everywhere.

This method works for local accounts — the kind you create directly on your computer. If you signed in with a Microsoft account (the kind that syncs across devices), the process is slightly different and covered in the section below.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings menu is the simplest route: go to Accounts, click Your info, then Rename your account.
  • Microsoft accounts change their display name through account.microsoft.com, not through your computer.
  • Your username and your display name are different things — changing one does not automatically change the other.
  • After you rename your account, your user folder on the hard drive keeps its old name, which can cause confusion but does not break anything.
  • You cannot rename the built-in Administrator account through Settings; you must use the Command Prompt or Local Users and Groups.

Changing a Microsoft account display name

If you signed into Windows with a Microsoft account (you can tell because your sign-in uses an email address), your username is tied to that account. To change how your name appears, go to account.microsoft.com in a web browser, sign in, and click Your info in the left menu. Click Manage your Microsoft account, then look for the option to edit your name. Type your new name and save the change.

The change will show up on your Windows 10 computer within a few minutes, though you may need to sign out and back in to see it everywhere. This method changes your display name across all devices connected to that Microsoft account — your phone, your other computers, and your Outlook inbox all see the same name.

Using Command Prompt for local accounts

If the Settings method does not work or you need to rename the Administrator account, open Command Prompt as an administrator. Right-click the Windows menu button, select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), and click Yes when asked for permission. Type this command exactly: net user oldusername newusername, replacing "oldusername" with your current username and "newusername" with what you want it to be. Press Enter, and you will see a message saying "The command completed successfully."

This method works for any local account, including the built-in Administrator account. You do not need to restart your computer, though signing out and back in will make the change visible everywhere on the screen.

Why your user folder still has the old name

After you rename your account, you might notice that your user folder — the one at C:\Users\ — still has your old username. Windows does this on purpose to avoid breaking programs that store files in that folder. Renaming the folder itself can cause those programs to stop working, so Windows leaves it alone.

This does not cause problems in daily use. Your desktop, Documents, Downloads, and Pictures folders all work normally. If you want the folder name to match your new username, you can rename it manually, but this is not necessary and carries a small risk if a program is running when you do it.

What happens to your files and permissions

Renaming your account does not change any of your files, passwords, or permissions. Everything you had access to before the rename, you still have access to. Programs continue to work. Your email, documents, photos, and settings all stay exactly where they were.

If you are on a work network and your account is managed by your IT department, do not try to rename it yourself — contact IT first. Changing the name on a domain account can cause you to lose access to shared folders and network resources.

Renaming a different user account on the same computer

If you want to rename someone else's account on your computer, you need administrator rights. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then click Other people in the left sidebar. Click the account you want to rename, then click Rename. Type the new name and click Next, then Finish.

You can also do this from Command Prompt using the same net user command above, as long as you are running it as an administrator. The person who owns that account does not need to be signed in for you to rename it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username without signing out?

Yes, the Settings method works while you are signed in. The change takes effect when ready, though some programs may not show the new name until you restart them or sign out and back in.

What if I forgot my username?

Open Settings, go to Accounts, and click Your info. Your current username appears under "Who's using this PC right now?" You can also open Command Prompt and type whoami, which displays your username when ready.

Does changing my username change my password?

No. Your password stays the same. You sign in with your new username and your old password. If you want to change your password at the same time, go to Settings, Accounts, Sign-in options, and click Change under Password.

Can I use special characters in my new username?

Windows allows most characters, but some cause problems: the forward slash (/), backslash (\), quotation mark ("), asterisk (*), question mark (?), less-than (<), greater-than (>), and pipe (|) are not permitted. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and underscores to avoid issues.

What if the rename button is grayed out?

You are likely using a Microsoft account. Go to account.microsoft.com instead and change your display name there. If you are using a local account and the button is still grayed out, restart your computer and try again.