The Two Ways to Change Your Username

Windows 10 Pro gives you two separate 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 username through your Microsoft account settings online. If you sign in with a local account (a username and password that exist only on your computer), you change it directly in Windows settings on your machine.

The reason for this split matters: a Microsoft account username is actually your email address, and changing it means changing how you sign in everywhere Microsoft services work. A local account username is just what appears on your Windows login screen and in File Explorer. Most people with Windows 10 Pro use a Microsoft account, but if you set up your computer offline or deliberately chose a local account, you will follow the local account path instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft account usernames are your email address and change through account.microsoft.com, not through Windows settings.
  • Local account usernames change through Settings > Accounts > Your info, and the change takes effect when ready on your computer.
  • Changing your username does not affect your files, installed programs, or user folder — Windows keeps those tied to your account regardless of the name you display.
  • If you cannot remember whether you have a Microsoft or local account, look at your login screen: if it shows an email address, you have a Microsoft account.

Changing a Microsoft Account Username

If you sign in with an email address, you are using a Microsoft account. To change the name that displays in Windows (your display name), go to account.microsoft.com in a web browser on any device, sign in with your current email and password, and select Your info from the left menu. Look for the section labeled Manage your Microsoft account name or Name, depending on your account age. Click Edit name and type the new display name you want to appear in Windows.

The display name change takes effect the next time you sign out and back in, or after you restart your computer. Your email address itself — the part you actually type to sign in — does not change through this process. If you want to change the email address you use to sign in, that is a separate, more involved process that requires verifying a new email address and updating it across all your Microsoft services. For most people, changing the display name is what they need.

Changing a Local Account Username

If you have a local account, the username change happens entirely in Windows. Press the Windows key and type Settings, then open the Settings app. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar, then select Your info. At the top of the window, you will see your current username. Click Rename your account (or Change account name depending on your Windows version), type the new username, and click Next.

Windows will ask you to confirm the change. Click Finish, and the new username takes effect when ready. You do not need to restart, though you may see the change reflected more completely after you do. Your user folder (the one at C:\Users\YourUsername) keeps its old name — Windows does not rename the folder itself, which prevents problems with programs that reference the old path. The new username appears on your login screen, in the Start menu, and in File Explorer.

What Does Not Change When You Rename Your Account

Renaming your account does not touch your files, your installed programs, or your settings. Everything in your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and Pictures folders stays exactly where it is. Programs you have installed continue to work because Windows ties them to your account by a hidden identifier, not by the display name. Your email accounts, browser bookmarks, saved passwords, and Windows settings all remain intact.

The only things that might need attention after a rename are shortcuts or batch files you created that reference your old username in the path. For example, if you wrote a shortcut that points to C:\Users\OldName\Documents\MyFile.txt, that path no longer works after you rename your account to NewName. You would need to update the path to C:\Users\NewName\Documents\MyFile.txt. Most people never create these kinds of shortcuts, so this is rarely a practical issue.

Troubleshooting: You Cannot Find the Rename Option

If you open Settings > Accounts > Your info and do not see a Rename your account button, you likely have a Microsoft account, not a local account. The rename option only appears for local accounts in Windows 10 Pro. Check your login screen: if it shows an email address instead of a username, you have a Microsoft account and need to follow the Microsoft account path described earlier in this article.

Another reason the button might not appear is if you do not have administrator rights on your account. If someone else set up your computer and created your account as a standard user rather than an administrator, you cannot rename it yourself. You would need to ask the administrator to rename it for you, or to promote your account to administrator status first.

Changing Your Account Type at the Same Time

If you want to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account (or vice versa) while you are in Settings, you can do that in the same Accounts section. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and look for Sign in with a local account instead or Sign in with a Microsoft account instead, depending on what you currently have. Windows will walk you through the process, which involves creating or linking an account and then signing out and back in.

Switching account types is separate from renaming, and you can do either one independently. Many people switch to a local account if they do not use Microsoft services and want a simpler login process, or switch to a Microsoft account if they want to sync settings across multiple Windows devices or use OneDrive backup. The choice is yours, and changing your account type does not affect your files or installed programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username affect my password?

No. Your password stays the same whether you have a Microsoft or local account. Changing the display name or username does not reset or change the password you use to sign in. If you want to change your password at the same time, that is a separate step in the same Settings menu.

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

For local accounts, Windows allows spaces and most characters, but it is simpler to stick with letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. For Microsoft account display names, you can use spaces and most punctuation. Avoid symbols that Windows reserves for file paths, like forward slashes or colons, as these can cause confusion.

What happens to my user folder when I rename my account?

Your user folder at C:\Users\ keeps its original name. If you rename your account from "Alice" to "Bob", the folder stays as C:\Users\Alice. This prevents programs from breaking. If you need the folder name to match your new username, you would need to manually rename it through File Explorer, though this is rarely necessary.

Do I need to restart Windows after changing my username?

For local accounts, the change takes effect when ready, though restarting can help may support all programs and services recognize the new name. For Microsoft accounts, the display name change appears after you sign out and back in or restart. You do not have to restart right away, but doing so ensures the change is complete.

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

Yes. You can follow the same steps as many times as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can rename a local account, and you can change your Microsoft account display name whenever you want through account.microsoft.com. Each change takes effect the same way as the first one.