The quickest way: Settings menu

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then click the app. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar, then select Your info at the top. You'll see your current username displayed under "Who's using this PC right now?" Click the Rename your account button below it.

Type your new username in the box that appears. Windows will accept up to 20 characters, including letters, numbers, and some symbols (hyphens and underscores work; most special characters do not). Click Next, then Finish. Your computer will ask you to sign out and back in for the change to take effect.

This method changes only the display name — the name that appears on your sign-in screen and in Settings. It does not change your user folder name on the hard drive, which stays the same. For most people, this is all you need.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings menu method (Accounts > Your info > Rename your account) is the fastest and safest way to change how your username appears on Windows 10.
  • Windows accepts usernames up to 20 characters long, including letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
  • Changing your display name in Settings does not affect your user folder or file paths, so programs and files continue to work normally.
  • If you need to change the actual folder name on your hard drive, you must use the Local Users and Groups tool or create a new account and transfer files.

When you need to change the folder name too

The Settings method changes only the display name. Your actual user folder — the one that holds your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and other personal files — keeps its original name. In most cases, you won't notice or care about this difference.

However, if you're moving to a new computer and want everything to match, or if a program is looking for files in a specific folder path, you may need to change the folder name itself. This is more complex and carries more risk of breaking things.

The safest approach is to create a new user account with the name you want, then copy your files from the old account to the new one. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, click Add someone else to this PC, and follow the prompts. Once the new account exists, sign into it, then go back to your old account and copy your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and Pictures folders to the new account's matching folders.

Using Local Users and Groups (advanced)

If you want to change the actual folder name without creating a new account, you can use the Local Users and Groups tool. Press Windows key + R, type "lusrmgr.msc", and press Enter. Find your account in the list, right-click it, and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter.

This method changes the display name only, not the folder. To change the folder itself, you must rename it manually in File Explorer while logged into a different administrator account. Right-click the folder (usually at C:\Users\oldname), select Rename, and type the new name. This step can cause problems if any programs are still looking for the old folder path, so only do this if you understand the risk.

Most people should stick with the Settings method. The Local Users and Groups tool is for situations where you need precise control and understand how Windows file paths work.

What happens to your files and programs

Changing your display name in Settings does not move, delete, or break access to any of your files. Your Documents folder, Desktop, Downloads, and all other personal files remain exactly where they are. Programs continue to run normally because they don't depend on your display name — they depend on your user folder, which doesn't change.

If you do change the actual folder name using Local Users and Groups, some older programs may have trouble finding files if they were hardcoded to look in the old path. Modern programs are usually flexible enough to handle this, but it's worth testing your most important applications after making that kind of change.

Changing your Microsoft account name versus your local account

Windows 10 lets you sign in with either a Microsoft account (your @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or @live.com email) or a local account (a username and password stored only on your computer). The method above works for both, but the results are slightly different.

If you sign in with a Microsoft account, changing your username in Settings changes only the display name on that computer. Your actual Microsoft account email stays the same, and you'll still use your email to sign in on other devices. If you sign in with a local account, the name you change is the one you use to sign in on that computer.

To check which type of account you have, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info. If you see an email address under your name, you're using a Microsoft account. If you see only a username, you're using a local account.

Troubleshooting if the rename button doesn't appear

If you don't see the Rename your account button in Settings > Accounts > Your info, your account may not have administrator rights. Only administrator accounts can change their own username. If you're not an administrator, you'll need to ask someone who is to make the change for you, or to give your account administrator rights first.

To check your account type, look at the same Settings page. It should say "Administrator" or "Standard user" below your name. If you're a standard user and need to change your username, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, find your account in the list, click it, and select Change account type. You'll need an administrator password to do this.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. If you sign in with a Microsoft account, your email and password stay the same — only the display name changes. If you sign in with a local account, your password stays the same; you'll just use the new username to sign in next time.

Can I change my username back if I don't like the new one?

Yes. Go back to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click Rename your account again. You can change it as many times as you want with no penalty.

What if I forgot my password and can't sign in to change my username?

You'll need to reset your password first. On the sign-in screen, click "I forgot my password" and follow the recovery steps. If you're using a Microsoft account, you can reset it from another device at account.microsoft.com. If you're using a local account, you'll need another administrator account on the computer to help you.

Does changing my username on one computer affect my other devices?

Only if you're using a Microsoft account. If you change your display name on one Windows 10 computer, that name will appear on all your other Windows devices signed into the same Microsoft account. The actual username stays the same across all devices.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my new username?

Windows allows letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces and most special characters (like @, #, $, %) are not allowed. If you try to use them, Windows will reject the name and ask you to try again.