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 select Your info at the top. You'll see your current username displayed under your profile picture. Click the Rename your account button.

Type your new username in the box that appears. Windows will accept letters, numbers, spaces, and some symbols (hyphens, underscores, periods). Avoid special characters like @ or #. Click Next, then Finish. You'll need to sign out and sign back in for the change to take effect.

This method works for local accounts — the kind you create and manage on your own computer. If you're signed in with a Microsoft account (the kind linked to Outlook or Hotmail), this same path will let you change the display name that appears on your computer, though the underlying email address stays the same.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings menu route (Accounts > Your info > Rename your account) is the standard way to change your username and takes about two minutes.
  • You must sign out completely and sign back in before the new username appears on your login screen and in File Explorer.
  • Changing your username does not affect your files, passwords, or installed programs — they all stay where they are.
  • If you're using a Microsoft account, you can change the display name but not the email address itself through this method.
  • Local accounts and Microsoft accounts follow the same steps, but the scope of what changes is slightly different for each type.

What happens to your files and folders after you change your username

Your user folder — the one that contains your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and other personal folders — keeps its old name. Windows does this intentionally to avoid breaking programs and shortcuts that point to the old path. So if your old username was "Sarah" and you change it to "Sarah Chen," your files still live in C:\Users\Sarah, not C:\Users\Sarah Chen.

You can see this yourself by opening File Explorer and typing %userprofile% in the address bar. The path will still show your old username even though your account name has changed. This is normal and does not cause problems. Your programs, email, and documents all work exactly as before.

Renaming your account through the Control Panel (older method)

If Settings does not work or you prefer the older interface, you can reach the same function through Control Panel. Press the Windows key, type "Control Panel," and press Enter. Click User Accounts, then click User Accounts

You'll see a list of accounts on your computer. Click on your own account, then look for the link that says Change your account name on the left side. Type your new username and click Rename. Like the Settings method, you'll need to sign out and back in for the change to show up everywhere.

Why your username might not change (and what to do)

The most common reason the rename button does not appear or does not work is that you're signed in with a Microsoft account rather than a local account. Microsoft accounts are tied to an email address, and the rename option in Settings only changes your display name — the name that shows on your computer — not your account itself. If you want to change the email address linked to your Microsoft account, you'll need to do that through the Microsoft account website, not through Windows.

Another reason the button might be missing: you do not have administrator rights on your computer. If someone else set up the account, you may not have permission to rename it. Ask whoever has the administrator account to make the change, or have them grant you administrator rights first.

If you're trying to rename a different user's account (not your own), you'll need to be signed in as an administrator. Go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, select the account you want to rename, click Rename, and follow the same steps.

Local accounts versus Microsoft accounts: which one do you have

A local account is one you created and manage only on your computer. It has no connection to email or the internet. A Microsoft account is linked to an email address (usually Outlook, Hotmail, or Gmail) and syncs your settings across devices if you sign in to multiple computers.

To check which type you have, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info. If you see an email address under your name, you have a Microsoft account. If you see only a username with no email, you have a local account. The rename process is the same for both, but the results differ slightly: local accounts change your actual username everywhere, while Microsoft accounts change only the display name on your computer.

What to do if you want to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account

If you have a Microsoft account and want to convert it to a local account so you can change the actual username (not just the display name), you can do that through Settings. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info, scroll down, and click Sign in with a local account instead. Windows will ask you to confirm your Microsoft password, then let you create a new local username.

Before you do this, know that you'll lose the ability to sync settings across devices, and some features like Windows Hello sign-in may stop working. Your files stay on your computer, but cloud sync features will turn off. This is a one-way trip — you can always switch back to a Microsoft account later if you change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username affect my passwords or login?

No. Your password stays exactly the same. You'll sign in with your new username and your old password. Nothing changes about how you log in — only the name that displays on the login screen and in Windows changes.

Can I change my username to something that's already in use on another computer?

Yes. Usernames are local to your computer only. You can name your account anything you want, even if someone else on a different computer has the same name. Windows does not check against other computers or the internet.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing my username?

You do not need to restart, but you do need to sign out completely and sign back in. After you click Finish in the rename dialog, Windows will prompt you to sign out. Do that, then sign back in with your password. The new username will appear on your login screen and throughout Windows.

What if I change my mind and want my old username back?

You can change it again using the same method. Go back to Settings > Accounts > Your info > Rename your account, type your old username, and follow the same steps. There's no limit to how many times you can rename your account.

Does changing my username affect my Microsoft account or email?

If you're using a Microsoft account, changing your display name in Windows does not change your email address or anything in your Microsoft account. The email address stays the same. If you want to change your actual Microsoft account email, you'll need to do that on the Microsoft account website, not in Windows.