The two ways to change your Windows 10 username

Windows 10 gives you two separate places to change your name, and they do different things. The account name is what appears on the sign-in screen and in File Explorer — this is what most people mean when they say "username". The display name is what shows in the Start menu and Settings. You can change one, both, or neither depending on what you want to see.

Most people only need to change the account name. That is the folder name Windows created when you first set up your account, and it is the hardest one to change because Windows locks it down. The display name is easier — you can change it in Settings in under a minute. This guide covers both, starting with the simpler one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name (what shows in the Start menu) can be changed in Settings in about one minute without restarting.
  • Your account name (what appears on the sign-in screen) requires either a local account password reset or creating a new account, because Windows does not allow direct renaming.
  • If you use a Microsoft account to sign in, changing your display name in Settings changes it across all your Microsoft services.
  • Changing your account name does not move or rename your user folder — you will still see the old folder name in File Explorer.
  • If you forget your password before attempting a change, you cannot reset your account name without external help or creating a new account.

Changing your display name in Settings (the fast way)

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, or click the Start button, then the gear icon. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click Your info at the top.

You will see your current name displayed under your profile picture. Click the Rename your account button. Type your new name in the box that appears, then click Next. Windows will ask you to confirm — click Finish. You do not need to restart your computer. The new name appears in the Start menu when ready.

If you use a Microsoft account (one that ends in @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or @live.com), this change syncs to your Microsoft profile and shows up on other devices where you sign in with that account. If you use a local account (one with no email address), the change only affects this computer.

Changing your account name (the harder way)

Your account name is the folder name in C:\Users\ that Windows created when you first set up. Changing it requires you to either reset your password or create a new account and transfer your files. Windows does not let you rename it directly through Settings.

The easiest route is to create a new local account with the name you want, then move your files and settings to it. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then click Family & other users on the left. Scroll down and click Add someone else to this PC. Choose I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Type the new username you want and a password, then click Next.

Once the new account exists, sign out of your current account and sign into the new one. You will see an empty desktop. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\. You will see both your old folder (with the old account name) and your new folder (with the new account name). Copy the contents of your old folder — Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Downloads — into the new folder. This can take several minutes if you have a lot of files.

After your files are moved, you can delete the old account. Go back to Settings, Accounts, Family & other users, click your old account name, then click Delete. Windows will ask whether to keep or delete the files in that account's folder — choose Delete files only after you have confirmed your important files are in the new account.

Why Windows makes this so difficult

The account name is baked into Windows at a deep level. It is the name of your user folder, the owner of your files and registry settings, and the name Windows uses internally to track permissions. Renaming it after the fact means updating hundreds of references across your system, which is why Microsoft chose not to build a rename tool.

The display name, by contrast, is just a label — it is stored separately and can change without affecting anything else. That is why Settings lets you change it when ready.

What happens to your files and programs after a name change

If you change only your display name in Settings, nothing happens to your files or programs. They work exactly as before.

If you create a new account and move your files, your programs may need to be reinstalled. Some programs store settings tied to your old account name, and they may not find those settings in your new account. Reinstalling them usually fixes this. Your files themselves — documents, photos, videos — move without any problem.

Your user folder in C:\Users\ keeps its original name even after you change your account name in Settings. If you see C:\Users\OldName\ in File Explorer, that is normal. The folder name and the display name are separate things.

Changing your username if you use a Microsoft account

If you sign in with a Microsoft account (an email address), changing your display name in Settings changes the name associated with that email across Microsoft services — Outlook, OneDrive, Office, and others. The change takes effect on all devices where you use that account.

If you want to change the email address itself (not just the display name), you need to do that through your Microsoft account settings online, not through Windows. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and look for Your info or Account settings. That is a separate process from changing your Windows username.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username without creating a new account?

Not directly. Windows does not have a built-in rename tool for account names. You can change your display name when ready in Settings, but changing the actual account name requires creating a new account and moving your files, or using third-party tools (which carry their own risks). For most people, changing the display name is enough.

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

No. Your password stays the same. If you change your display name in Settings, you sign in exactly as before. If you create a new account, you set a new password for that account, but your old password does not transfer — you create a fresh one.

What if I forgot my password before trying to change my username?

You will need to reset your password first. On the sign-in screen, click I forgot my password and follow the recovery steps (usually a code sent to your email or phone). Once you can sign in again, you can change your display name or create a new account. If you cannot recover your account, you may need to create a new local account from scratch.

Does changing my username change my Microsoft account email?

No. Your Microsoft account email (your sign-in address) stays the same. Changing your display name in Settings only changes the name that shows in Windows and other Microsoft services — not the email address itself. To change your email, you must do that on account.microsoft.com.

Will my programs still work after I change my username?

If you change only your display name in Settings, yes — everything works as before. If you create a new account and move your files, some programs may need to be reinstalled because they store settings tied to your old account name. Reinstalling them usually solves the problem.