Change Your Username and Password From Settings

The fastest way to change both your username and password is through the Settings app, which takes about five minutes. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then click the Settings app. Go to Accounts in the left menu, then select Your info at the top.

To change your username, click Rename your device under "Rename your PC". Type the new name you want — it can be up to 15 characters and cannot contain certain symbols like asterisks or question marks. Click Next, then Finish. Windows will ask you to restart your computer for the change to take effect. Save any open work before you restart.

To change your password from the same Accounts screen, click Password in the left menu. Click Change, then enter your current password to confirm it is you. Type your new password twice — once in the "New password" field and once in the "Confirm password" field. Click Next, then Finish. You do not need to restart for a password change.

Key Takeaways

  • Changing your username requires a restart, but changing your password does not.
  • Both changes happen in Settings under Accounts — your username is under "Your info" and your password is under "Password".
  • Your new password should be at least 8 characters long and include uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols to stay find.
  • If you forget your new password after changing it, you can reset it using a password reset disk or a Microsoft account recovery option.
  • Changing your username does not affect your files or programs — they stay in the same place with the same permissions.

What Happens to Your Files When You Change Your Username

When you change your username, Windows keeps all your files and programs exactly where they are. Your Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop folders stay accessible. The folder path on your hard drive changes — if your old username was "Sarah" and you change it to "Sarah.Chen", the path becomes C:\Users\Sarah.Chen instead of C:\Users\Sarah — but Windows handles this automatically behind the scenes.

Programs you have installed continue to work normally. Email accounts, browser bookmarks, and saved passwords in Microsoft Edge stay in place. If you use OneDrive, it reconnects automatically after the restart. The only time you might notice a change is if you have a program that stores files in a folder with your old username in the path — this is rare, and Windows usually fixes it on its own.

Change Your Password Without Changing Your Username

If you only want to change your password and keep your username the same, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Password in the left menu. Click Change. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice. Click Next, then Finish. This takes about two minutes and does not require a restart.

Make your new password something you can remember but that others cannot guess. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and mixes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — for example, "BlueSky!2024Home" is stronger than "password123". Write it down somewhere safe if you need to, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to store it securely.

Change Your Username Without Changing Your Password

To change only your username, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Your info. Click Rename your device. Type your new username and click Next, then Finish. Windows will restart. Your password stays the same — you will log in with your new username and your old password after the restart.

Keep in mind that the username you type here is the name that appears on the Windows login screen and in the top-right corner of the Start menu. It is different from your Microsoft account email address, which you can change separately if you need to. If you use a local account instead of a Microsoft account, this is the only name associated with your account.

Reset Your Password If You Forget It

If you change your password and then forget it, you have two main options. If you set up a password reset disk before you forgot your password, plug it in at the login screen, click Reset password, and follow the prompts. If you do not have a reset disk, click I forgot my password on the login screen and answer the security questions you set up when you created your account.

If you use a Microsoft account and cannot answer your security questions, go to account.microsoft.com on another device and click Can't access your account. Microsoft will walk you through verifying your identity using a phone number or backup email address. This can take a few hours to a few days. For this reason, writing down your new password somewhere safe — like a locked drawer or a password manager — is worth the time.

Change Your Username on a Work or School Computer

If your computer is connected to a workplace or school network, you may not be able to change your username or password through Settings. Your IT department controls these accounts. Instead, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete on the login screen and click Change a password. Type your old password, then your new password twice, and press Enter.

If you do not see a "Change a password" option, or if you need to change your username, contact your IT support team or help desk. They have the tools to make these changes on a network account. Do not try to change a network account through Settings — it will not work and may cause login problems.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

If you changed your username but Windows will not restart, save all your work and restart manually. Press the Windows key, click the power icon, and select Restart. If Windows restarts but you cannot log in with your new username, try logging in with your old username — the change may not have completed. Go back to Settings and try renaming again.

If you changed your password and now get an error message when you try to log in, make sure Caps Lock is off — passwords are case-sensitive, so "Password" is different from "password". If you are certain you typed it correctly and still cannot log in, use your password reset disk or the security questions method described above. If you are on a Microsoft account and still stuck, visit account.microsoft.com from another device to reset your password there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to restart my computer to change my password?

No. Changing your password takes effect when ready and does not require a restart. Changing your username does require a restart, but you can choose when to restart — Windows will remind you, but you can wait until the end of the day if you prefer.

What is the difference between my username and my Microsoft account email?

Your username is the name that appears on the Windows login screen and in your Start menu. Your Microsoft account email is the address you use to sign into Microsoft services like Outlook, OneDrive, and Xbox. They are separate, and you can change one without changing the other.

If I change my username, will my email still work?

Yes. Changing your Windows username does not affect your email account. If you use Outlook or another email client on your computer, it will continue to work with the same email address and password. Your email is tied to your Microsoft account, not your Windows username.

Can I use special characters in my new username?

No. Windows usernames cannot contain asterisks, question marks, quotation marks, less-than or greater-than symbols, forward slashes, or backslashes. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and underscores. Keep it straightforward — something like "Sarah Chen" or "SarahChen2024" works well.

What if I change my password and then forget it right away?

If you have not restarted your computer yet, go back to Settings, Accounts, Password, and click Change again. You can enter your new password as the "current password" and create a different one. If you have already restarted and logged out, you will need to use your password reset disk or security questions to get back in.