The quickest way: Settings > Accounts

Open Settings (press Windows key + I), then go to Accounts on the left sidebar. Click Your info at the top. You'll see your current username displayed with your profile picture. Click the Rename button next to your name.

Type your new username — it can be up to 20 characters and can include letters, numbers, spaces, and some symbols (hyphens, underscores, periods). Windows will not let you use certain characters like asterisks, question marks, or forward slashes. Click Next, then Finish. You'll need to sign out and back in for the change to take effect.

This method changes only the display name that appears on your lock screen and Start menu. It does not change your actual user account folder name (the one that shows in C:\Users\). If you need that folder name changed too, you'll need the second method below.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings method changes only your display name and takes effect after you sign out and back in.
  • Changing the C:\Users\ folder name requires a local administrator account and several steps in System Properties and Registry Editor.
  • If you use a Microsoft account instead of a local account, you cannot change the folder name through Windows — it stays tied to your Microsoft account email.
  • Back up your files before attempting to rename the user folder, since mistakes in Registry Editor can prevent Windows from starting.

When you need to change the folder name too

The display name (what you see on the lock screen) and the folder name (what appears in C:\Users\) are separate. Most people only need to change the display name. But if you want the folder name to match, or if you inherited a computer with a folder name you want to change, you'll need to do more work.

First, check what kind of account you have. If you sign in with a Microsoft account (one that uses an email address), Windows ties the folder name to that account and you cannot change it through the operating system. You would need to create a new local account, move your files over, and delete the old account — a longer process.

If you have a local account (one that uses just a username, no email), you can change the folder name. You'll need administrator rights to do this.

Steps to rename the user folder (local accounts only)

Before you start, create a backup of your Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and Pictures folders. Save them to an external drive or cloud storage. Mistakes in the next steps can lock you out of your account.

Sign out of the account you want to rename. Sign in with a different administrator account (if you only have one account, you'll need to create a temporary one first). Once you're signed in as a different user, right-click the folder you want to rename in C:\Users\ and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter.

Now you need to update the Registry so Windows knows where to find your files. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. The Registry Editor will open. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion > ProfileList. Look for the folder that contains your old username in its path. Right-click it and select Rename. Change the old username to the new one in the path shown.

Close Registry Editor and restart your computer. Sign in with your renamed account. If Windows starts normally and you can see all your files, the rename worked. If you get an error or cannot sign in, sign back in as the other administrator account and undo the Registry change by renaming the key back to the original path.

What happens to your files and programs

When you change the display name only (through Settings), nothing moves. Your files stay in the original folder, your programs keep working, and your desktop stays exactly as it was. This is the safest change to make.

When you rename the folder itself, Windows needs to know where to look for your profile. That's why the Registry update is necessary. If you skip the Registry step, Windows may create a new temporary profile and you'll lose access to your files, even though they're still on the disk. This is why the backup matters — if something goes wrong, you can copy your files back from the backup.

Changing username on a Microsoft account

If you sign in with a Microsoft account, the Settings method still works for the display name. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click Rename. This changes what appears on your lock screen.

The folder in C:\Users\ will keep its original name (usually based on your email address or a shortened version of it). Windows does this because your Microsoft account is tied to that folder across all your devices. You cannot change it without creating a new local account and moving everything over manually.

If the folder name bothers you but you want to keep your Microsoft account, the only real solution is to create a new local account, copy your files to it, and then delete the old account. This is more work than it's worth for most people — the folder name is only visible if you open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\.

Troubleshooting if something goes wrong

If you renamed the folder but cannot sign in afterward, restart your computer and sign in as a different administrator. Open File Explorer and check that the folder in C:\Users\ has the new name. If it does, the problem is in the Registry. Open Registry Editor again, go back to the ProfileList location, and make sure the path matches the new folder name exactly — including capital letters.

If you see a message that says "The user profile service failed the logon" or "The system cannot find the path specified," the Registry path is wrong. Undo the Registry change by renaming the key back to the original path, then try again more carefully. Take a screenshot of the original path before you change it, so you have something to reference.

If you cannot undo the change and cannot sign in at all, you may need to use a Windows recovery drive or boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt to fix the Registry from there. This is why the backup is important — if you cannot fix it, you can at least recover your files.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your password stays the same whether you change the display name or the folder name. You sign in the same way you always have. The username change is cosmetic — it only affects what you see on the lock screen and in File Explorer.

Can I change my username if I'm not an administrator?

You can change the display name through Settings without administrator rights. To change the folder name, you need administrator access. If you don't have it, ask whoever set up the computer to make the change for you, or create a new administrator account.

What if I have files in my old folder and I'm worried about losing them?

Back them up first — copy your Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and Pictures to an external drive or cloud storage. Then, even if the rename goes wrong, your files are safe. After the rename is complete and you've confirmed everything works, you can delete the backup.

Does renaming my user folder affect my Microsoft account or email?

If you have a Microsoft account, you cannot rename the folder through Windows — it's locked to your account. Your email address and account stay the same no matter what. The folder name is just a label on your computer.

Can I rename my user folder while I'm signed into that account?

No. Windows locks the folder while you're using it. You must sign out, sign in as a different administrator, and then rename the folder. This is a safety feature to prevent Windows from losing track of your files.