The folder name and the display name are separate things

When you change your username in Windows 10 settings, the display name changes — that is what appears on the sign-in screen and in the Start menu. The folder at C:\Users\Username does not change automatically. You will still see the old folder name in File Explorer, in file paths, and in command prompts, even though your display name is now different.

Changing the folder itself requires a different process than changing the display name. You cannot straightforward rename the folder while Windows is using it. The folder contains your Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and all your user profile data, so Windows locks it during normal operation.

Key Takeaways

  • The display name you see on the sign-in screen is separate from the C:\Users folder name, and changing one does not change the other.
  • You cannot rename the user folder while Windows is running because the system locks it — you must create a new account, transfer files, and delete the old one.
  • The safest method is to create a new local account with the name you want, copy your files to it, then remove the old account.
  • If you use a Microsoft account, you will need to switch to a local account first, rename the folder, then switch back if you want to.

Create a new local account with the name you want

Open Settings and go to Accounts > Other people. Click "Add someone else to this PC". Choose "I don't have this person's sign-in information" and then "Add a user without a Microsoft account". Type the username you want — this will become your new C:\Users folder name. Set a password or leave it blank, then click Next.

Windows will create a new account and a new folder at C:\Users\NewUsername. Do not sign into this account yet. You will use it as your destination for files.

Copy your files to the new account

Sign in to your original account. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\OldUsername. Select your Desktop folder, Documents folder, Downloads folder, Pictures folder, and Music folder. Right-click and choose Copy.

Navigate to C:\Users\NewUsername and paste the folders there. Windows will ask whether to replace or skip if folders with the same name already exist — choose "Replace the files in the destination". This copies your actual files, not shortcuts or links.

Check that your files are now in the new account's folders. You may also want to copy any other folders you created in the root of your user directory — for example, if you have a Projects folder or a Work folder at C:\Users\OldUsername, copy those too.

Transfer your user profile settings

Some settings live in hidden folders that do not copy with the basic file transfer. Open File Explorer, click View, and check "Hidden items" to see them. In C:\Users\OldUsername, you will see folders like AppData, which contains settings for most programs.

Copy the AppData folder to C:\Users\NewUsername as well. If a folder already exists, choose "Replace the files in the destination". This transfers browser bookmarks, email account settings, program preferences, and other configuration data.

Be aware that some programs store settings in the registry or in cloud accounts, so you may need to sign into those programs again in the new account. Most modern programs (Chrome, Firefox, Outlook, Teams) sync settings automatically once you sign in.

Make the new account an administrator if needed

If your old account was an administrator account and you need the new one to be as well, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people. Click on the new account and choose "Change account type". Select "Administrator" and click OK.

You only need administrator rights if you install software, change system settings, or manage other user accounts. If you mostly use the computer for browsing and documents, a standard account works fine.

Sign out of the old account and delete it

Sign in to the new account and verify that all your files and settings are there. Open a program or two to make sure your preferences came across. Once you are confident everything is in place, sign out.

Go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, click on the old account, and choose "Delete". Windows will ask whether to keep or delete the files in C:\Users\OldUsername. Choose "Delete files" — the files you need are already in the new account folder.

Windows will remove the old account and the old folder. You now have a single account with the username and folder name you wanted.

If you use a Microsoft account

If your original account is a Microsoft account (you sign in with an email address), the process is slightly different. You cannot change the C:\Users folder name while the account is a Microsoft account — you must first switch it to a local account.

Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info. Scroll down and click "Sign in with a local account instead". Enter your current password, then create a new local username. This converts your account to local without losing any files or settings. The C:\Users folder name will not change yet, but now you can proceed with the rename process above.

After you have renamed the folder and confirmed everything works, you can switch back to a Microsoft account if you want. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click "Sign in with a Microsoft account instead".

What if you cannot delete the old account

If you see an error when trying to delete the old account, it may still be in use. Make sure you are signed into the new account, not the old one. Restart the computer and try again.

If the account is still locked, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look for any programs running under the old username. Close them and try the deletion again. If the old folder still will not delete, restart in Safe Mode, sign in with a different administrator account, and delete it from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the folder name break my programs?

Programs that are already installed will usually work fine because they look for your files by user ID, not by folder name. However, some older programs or batch scripts that reference the full path C:\Users\OldUsername may break. Test your most important programs in the new account before deleting the old one.

Can I just rename the folder directly?

No. Windows locks the user folder while the account is active, so you cannot rename it in File Explorer. Even if you could, it would break your profile because Windows stores the folder name in the registry. The create-and-copy method is the only reliable way.

What if I forgot my password and cannot sign in?

You will need to reset your password first. On the sign-in screen, click "I forgot my password" and follow the recovery steps. If you use a Microsoft account, you can reset it online. If it is a local account, you will need to use a password reset disk or another administrator account.

Do I need to reinstall Windows to change the folder name?

No. The create-and-copy method takes 20 to 30 minutes and does not require reinstalling anything. You keep all your programs, files, and settings.

Will my email and cloud accounts still work in the new account?

Yes, as long as you sign in again. Most programs like Outlook, Gmail, OneDrive, and Dropbox sync your account information automatically. You may need to enter your password once, but your data will be there.