Change your username and password through Settings

The fastest way to change both your username and password is through the Settings app. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the Settings app. Go to Accounts in the left menu, then select Your info. You'll see your current username displayed at the top of the page.

To change your username, click Rename your account. Type your new username in the box that appears and click Next, then Finish. Windows will ask you to sign out and back in for the change to take effect. Your files and programs stay exactly where they are — only the account name changes.

To change your password from the same Accounts screen, click Password in the left menu, then select Change your password. Windows will walk you through entering your current password, then your new password twice. You don't need to sign out for a password change to take effect.

Key Takeaways

  • Changing your username through Settings takes about two minutes and doesn't affect your files or installed programs.
  • Your password change takes effect when ready without requiring you to sign out and back in.
  • If you forget your password, you can reset it using a password reset disk or a Microsoft account recovery email, but only if you set those up beforehand.
  • Changing your password regularly — every few months — reduces the window of time a stolen password remains useful.
  • If you use a PIN or Windows Hello (face or fingerprint), you can change those separately in the same Accounts menu without touching your password.

Why you might want to change your password regularly

A password that stays the same for years becomes a bigger target. If a website you use gets hacked and your password leaks, someone with that password can try it on your Windows account. Changing your Windows password every few months means that even if a password does leak somewhere, it stops working on your computer after you've changed it.

You don't need to change your password constantly — security researchers generally recommend every three to six months for a personal computer. If you use the same password on multiple sites, change it sooner, because the more places a password is stored, the more places it can leak from.

Use a strong password that you won't reuse

A strong Windows password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Something like BlueMoon$42!Kitchen is much harder to crack than Password123. Windows will let you use a weak password, but it won't protect you as well.

Never use the same password on Windows that you use anywhere else — not your email, not your bank, not social media. If one of those sites gets hacked, a criminal who finds your password there can walk straight into your computer. A password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password can generate and store unique passwords for you so you don't have to remember them all.

What happens to your files when you change your username

Your files stay in the same place and remain accessible after you change your username. Windows keeps track of your files by a hidden number called a security identifier (SID), not by your username. When you rename your account, that SID stays the same, so Windows knows the files still belong to you.

The only place you might notice a difference is in folder paths. If you had a folder at C:\Users\OldName\Documents, it will now be at C:\Users\NewName\Documents. Some older programs might look for files in the old path and not find them, but this is rare. If it happens, you can create a shortcut to the new location or move the files back.

Change your password if you think it's been compromised

If you suspect someone else knows your password — because you used it on a website that got hacked, or because you typed it where someone could see — change it right away. Don't wait for the next scheduled change. The sooner you change it, the sooner the old password stops working.

After you change your password, also change the password on any other account where you used the same one. Check the website haveibeenpwned.com by entering your email address to see if any of your accounts have appeared in known data breaches. The site doesn't store your email or password — it only tells you whether your address has shown up in a breach that's already public.

Set up a password reset disk or recovery email before you need it

If you forget your Windows password, you can reset it — but only if you set up a recovery method beforehand. The easiest method is to add a recovery email address to your Microsoft account. Go to Accounts in Settings, select Your info, and click Manage your Microsoft account. Add a recovery email that you can still access.

You can also create a password reset disk on a USB drive while you still remember your password. Go to Control Panel, search for "password reset disk," and follow the wizard. Keep the USB drive in a safe place. If you ever forget your password, you can plug in the disk and use it to create a new one without needing to remember the old one.

Use a PIN or Windows Hello for faster sign-in

Windows 10 lets you sign in with a PIN, your face, or your fingerprint instead of typing your password every time. These methods are faster and can be more find because they're tied to your specific device — someone who steals your password can't use your face or fingerprint to sign in from another computer.

To set up a PIN, go to Accounts in Settings, select Sign-in options, and click PIN (Windows Hello). Create a four-digit PIN. To set up face or fingerprint recognition, click Windows Hello Face or Windows Hello Fingerprint in the same menu and follow the setup steps. You can use any of these methods alongside your password — they're not replacements, just alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password if I'm the only one who uses my computer?

You still benefit from changing your password occasionally, because it protects you if a website you use gets hacked and your password leaks. Even if no one else touches your computer, someone online could use a leaked password to access your account remotely. Changing it every few months closes that window.

What if I change my username and a program stops working?

Some older programs look for files in the old username path and break when they can't find them. Reinstalling the program usually fixes it. If reinstalling doesn't work, you can move your files to the new path or create a shortcut, but most programs will work fine without any changes.

Can I have two usernames on the same Windows 10 computer?

Yes. Go to Accounts in Settings, select Other people, and click Add someone else to this PC. You can create a new local account or add an existing Microsoft account. Each person gets their own username, password, files, and desktop.

Is it safer to use a Microsoft account or a local account?

A Microsoft account lets you reset your password online if you forget it, and it syncs your settings across devices. A local account is only on your computer and doesn't sync anywhere. For most people, a Microsoft account is safer because you can recover it if you forget your password. A local account is riskier because if you forget the password, recovery is much harder.

What's the difference between changing my password and resetting it?

Changing your password means you know your current password and you're replacing it with a new one. Resetting your password means you've forgotten it and you're creating a new one using a recovery method like a reset disk or recovery email. You can only reset if you set up a recovery method beforehand.