The Two Ways to Change Your Username

Windows 10 gives you two paths to change your username, and which one you use depends on what kind of account you have. If you sign in with a Microsoft account (the kind tied to an email address and a password you use across Microsoft services), you change the name through your Microsoft account settings online. If you sign in with a local account (a username and password stored only on your computer), you change it directly on your laptop through Settings.

The Microsoft account route takes a few minutes and the change shows up on your computer within an hour or so. The local account route is faster — the change happens when ready — but only works if you set up your account without linking it to an email address. If you are not sure which type you have, open Settings, go to Accounts, and look at the top of the page. It will say either your email address or just a username.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft accounts change their display name through account.microsoft.com, while local accounts change through Windows Settings on your laptop.
  • For a Microsoft account, you sign in at account.microsoft.com, click "Your info", then edit the name field and save — the change takes up to an hour to show on your computer.
  • For a local account, you open Settings, go to Accounts, click "Your info", then click "Rename your PC" and restart your computer.
  • Changing your username does not affect your files, programs, or passwords — everything stays where it is.
  • If you cannot remember whether you have a Microsoft or local account, Settings will tell you at the top of the Accounts page.

Changing a Microsoft Account Username

Open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with the email address and password you use to log into your laptop. Once you are signed in, look for a section called "Your info" or "Account info" — it is usually on the left side of the page or near the top.

Click on "Your info". You will see a field with your current name. Click the pencil icon or "Edit" button next to it. Type in the new name you want, then click "Save" or "Next". The system may ask you to confirm your identity by sending a code to your email or phone — follow those steps if they appear.

After you save, the change takes effect on your Microsoft account right away, but it can take up to an hour for the new name to show up on your Windows 10 laptop. If you want to see it sooner, sign out of your laptop completely and sign back in. Your files, programs, and passwords do not change — only the display name does.

Changing a Local Account Username

If you have a local account, the change happens on your computer itself. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click on "Accounts" in the left menu.

Click on "Your info" at the top of the Accounts page. You will see a button that says "Rename your PC" — click it. Type the new username you want in the box that appears, then click "Next". Windows will ask you to restart your computer to explore the change. Save any open work, then click "Restart now".

When your laptop restarts and you log back in, your new username will be active. The change is when ready and does not affect anything else on your computer.

What Stays the Same After You Change Your Username

Your files remain in the same place and open the same way. Your installed programs continue to work without any extra steps. Your passwords for websites and apps do not change. Your email account, if you use one on your laptop, keeps working with the same settings.

The only thing that changes is the name that appears when you log in and the name shown in the top-right corner of your screen. If other people share your computer, they will see the new name, but their accounts and files are not affected.

Troubleshooting If the Change Does Not Show Up

For Microsoft accounts, wait at least an hour and then restart your laptop. Sometimes the system needs time to sync the change across Microsoft's servers. If it still has not appeared after an hour, sign out completely (do not just lock the screen — actually sign out), wait a minute, and sign back in.

For local accounts, the change should appear when ready after restart. If it does not, restart your computer again. If you see an error message during the rename process, make sure you are not using any special characters like asterisks, question marks, or forward slashes in the new name — Windows does not allow those.

If You Forgot Which Type of Account You Have

Open Settings and click Accounts. At the very top of the page, under your current name, you will see either an email address (which means you have a Microsoft account) or just a username (which means you have a local account). This tells you which method to use.

If you see an email address but want to use the local account method instead, you can convert your account, but that is a separate process. For now, use the Microsoft account method — it is the correct one for your setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username log me out of everything?

No. For Microsoft accounts, you stay signed in and the change happens in the background. For local accounts, you will need to restart your computer, but you log back in with the same password as before — nothing is disconnected.

Can I change my username back if I do not like the new one?

Yes. Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. You can change your username as many times as you want, and each change works the same way.

What if I see my username in a folder path and it does not change?

The folder where your files are stored keeps its original name even after you change your username. This is normal and does not cause any problems. Windows still knows where your files are, and you can access them the same way.

Does changing my username affect my Wi-Fi password or saved networks?

No. Your Wi-Fi connections and saved network passwords stay exactly as they were. You will not need to re-enter them after you change your username.

Can I change my username if I do not know my password?

For a Microsoft account, you need to sign in at account.microsoft.com, which requires your password. If you forgot it, you can reset it through the Microsoft account recovery page. For a local account, you need to be signed in to your laptop to make the change, so you would need to reset your local password first through the Windows login screen.