The fastest way: Settings menu

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then select the Settings app. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar, then click Your info at the top. You will 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 allows up to 20 characters, including letters, numbers, and some symbols (hyphens and underscores work; spaces do not). Click Next, then Finish. Your computer will ask you to sign out; do that, then sign back in with your new username.

This method changes only the display name on your account. If you want to change the actual folder name on your hard drive (the one that appears in C:\Users\), you will need the second method instead.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings app method takes two minutes and works for most people who just want their account to display a different name.
  • If you want to change the folder name in C:\Users\ as well, you must create a new administrator account first, then rename the old folder from that account.
  • Windows will not let you rename the folder while you are logged into that account, so switching to a different admin account is required.
  • After renaming the folder, you may need to update file paths in some programs, though most will find the account automatically.

When you need to change the folder name too

The Settings method only changes what appears on your screen. Your actual user folder — the one at C:\Users\YourOldName\ — stays the same. Most people never notice this, but some programs store settings in that folder path, and changing it can cause those programs to lose their configuration.

To change both the display name and the folder name, you first need a second administrator account. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Other people (or Family & other people on some versions). Click Add someone else to this PC, then I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Give it a temporary name like "Temp Admin" and make sure to check the box that says Make this person an administrator. Click Next and Finish.

Sign out of your current account and sign into the new temporary admin account. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\. Right-click the folder with your old username and select Rename. Type your new username and press Enter. Windows may ask for permission; click Continue. Sign back into your original account — it will now use the renamed folder.

Fixing programs after a folder rename

After you rename the user folder, most programs will work normally because Windows keeps track of the change internally. However, some older programs or custom scripts may have the old path hard-coded into their settings.

If a program stops finding your files or loses its settings after the rename, open that program's settings or preferences and look for any field that shows a file path. Update it to point to your new username folder instead. For example, if a backup program was set to save to C:\Users\OldName\Backups\, change it to C:\Users\NewName\Backups\. Most programs have a "Browse" button that lets you pick the folder instead of typing the path.

What happens to your files and passwords

Changing your username does not affect your files, photos, documents, or anything stored in your user folder. Everything stays exactly where it is. Your Windows password remains the same — you are only changing the name that appears on the login screen and in the Start menu.

If you use a Microsoft account to sign in (rather than a local account), your Microsoft password stays the same. The username change only affects how Windows displays your account locally on that computer.

Removing the temporary admin account

After you have successfully renamed your folder and verified that your main account works, you can delete the temporary admin account you created. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Other people. Click the temporary account, then click Remove. Windows will ask if you want to delete the account data; select Delete account and data. This removes the temporary account and frees up space on your drive.

Do not delete the temporary account until you have fully tested your renamed main account and confirmed that all your programs still work correctly.

Troubleshooting a stuck rename

If Windows will not let you rename the folder because it says the folder is in use, make sure you are signed into a different administrator account. You cannot rename a folder while Windows is actively using it. If you are already in a different admin account and it still will not work, restart your computer and try again when ready after signing into the temporary account, before opening any other programs.

If you see a message saying "Access Denied", right-click the folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab, and click Edit. Select your username in the list, then check the box next to Full Control under "Allow". Click explore and OK. Try renaming again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username affect my Microsoft account or email?

No. Your Microsoft account email and password stay the same. The username change only affects how your account appears on this specific computer. If you sign into another Windows device with the same Microsoft account, that device will still show your old username until you change it there too.

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Yes. Follow the same steps in Settings or the folder rename method, but type your old username instead. There is no limit to how many times you can change it.

What if I forgot my password and cannot sign in to rename the account?

You will need to reset your password first. On the login screen, click I forgot my password and follow the recovery steps. Once you can sign in again, you can change your username.

Do I need to change my username on other computers I own?

No. Each computer has its own separate username. If you want the same username on multiple Windows devices, you will need to change each one individually.

Will renaming my folder break my Windows installation?

No, as long as you follow the steps correctly and rename it from a different administrator account. Windows is designed to handle this change. The only risk is if a program has hard-coded the old path, which is why testing after the rename is important.