The Two Ways to Change Your Windows 11 Username
Windows 11 gives you two separate places to change your name, and they do different things. The account name is what appears on your sign-in screen and in File Explorer — this is what most people want to change. The display name is what shows in Settings and on your lock screen. You can change one, both, or neither depending on what you need.
The account name change is the one that affects how your username appears everywhere on your computer. This is the folder name in C:\Users\ and the name that appears when you open File Explorer. If you want to change how you see yourself on your own computer, start here.
Key Takeaways
- Your account name (what shows on the sign-in screen) and your display name (what shows in Settings) are separate and can be changed independently.
- Changing your account name requires you to create a new local account, copy your files over, and delete the old one — it takes 10 to 15 minutes.
- Changing your display name in Settings is when ready and does not affect your files or folders.
- If you use a Microsoft account instead of a local account, your display name comes from your Microsoft account and must be changed there, not in Windows Settings.
- After you change your account name, your old user folder stays on your hard drive until you manually delete it from Settings.
Changing Your Display Name (The Fast Way)
If you only want to change what appears in Settings and on your lock screen, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click Your info. You will see your current name at the top. Click on it and type your new name, then press Enter. This takes 30 seconds and does not touch your files or folders.
This change only affects how your name displays in Windows menus and on your lock screen. Your actual account folder in C:\Users\ stays the same, and your sign-in screen still shows your old name. If you need to change what appears when you log in, you need the longer method below.
If you have a Microsoft account (you sign in with an email address), your display name is controlled by your Microsoft account itself. Changing it in Windows Settings will not stick. Instead, go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and look for Your info or Edit profile. Change your name there, and it will update on all your devices.
Changing Your Account Name (The Full Method)
To change the name that appears on your sign-in screen and in File Explorer, you need to create a new local account, move your files, and remove the old one. This takes about 15 minutes. Start by opening Settings (Windows key + I) and going to Accounts > Other users. Click Add account.
Windows will ask you to sign in with a Microsoft account or create a local account. Click I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Type your new username and a password (or leave the password blank if you do not want one). Click Next, then Finish. You now have a second account on your computer.
Sign out of your current account and sign in to the new one you just created. This new account is empty — your files are still in the old account. You need to copy them over. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Users\. You will see a folder with your old username. Open it and copy the folders you need: Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads, and Music. Paste them into your new account's folder (C:\Users\[your new username]\).
Once your files are copied, sign back into your old account one more time. Open Settings > Accounts > Other users. Find your old account in the list and click it, then click Remove. Windows will ask if you want to delete the account data. Click Delete account and data. This removes the old account from your sign-in screen and deletes most of its files, though the folder itself may remain in C:\Users\ until you manually delete it.
What Happens to Your Files and Folders
When you change your account name using the method above, your old user folder stays on your hard drive. Windows will not automatically delete it because it contains your old files. You can delete it yourself once you are certain all your important data has been copied to your new account.
To delete the old folder, open File Explorer and go to C:\Users\. Right-click the old folder and select Delete. Windows may ask for permission because the folder is protected. Click Continue to confirm. This frees up the space the old folder was using, though the amount is usually small unless you had a lot of files.
If you only changed your display name (the fast way), nothing happens to your files at all. Your user folder keeps its original name, and all your files stay exactly where they are.
If You Use a Microsoft Account
If you sign in with an email address and password (a Microsoft account), you cannot change your account name in Windows. Your username is tied to your Microsoft account, and it can only be changed through Microsoft's website.
Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in. Click Your info or Edit profile (the exact wording varies). Look for your name or username field and change it there. The change will take effect on your Windows 11 computer within a few minutes, though you may need to sign out and back in to see it everywhere.
If you want to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account with a completely different name, you can do that in Settings > Accounts > Your info. Look for Sign in with a local account instead. Windows will walk you through creating a new local account. Your files will stay with your current account, but you will need to decide whether to keep using the Microsoft account or switch to the new local one.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If you cannot find the Other users option in Settings, you may not have administrator rights on your computer. Ask whoever set up the computer to make you an administrator, or sign in as an administrator account and try again.
If you created a new account but cannot see it on the sign-in screen, restart your computer. New accounts sometimes do not appear until after a restart. If it still does not show, go back to Settings > Accounts > Other users and check that the account is listed there.
If you deleted your old account but the folder is still in C:\Users\, you may not have permission to delete it. Right-click the folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab, and click Edit. Select your username in the list, click Full Control, and click explore. Then try deleting the folder again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my username affect my programs or files?
Changing your display name does not affect anything — programs and files stay exactly where they are. Changing your account name requires you to manually copy your files to the new account, but once they are copied, programs will work normally. Some programs that store settings in your user folder may need to be reconfigured, but this is rare.
Can I change my username without creating a new account?
No. Windows 11 does not have a built-in way to rename your account folder directly. Creating a new account and copying your files is the only method that actually changes your sign-in name and user folder.
What if I forgot the password to my old account?
If you have administrator rights on another account, you can still access your old account's files through File Explorer by going to C:\Users\ and opening the old folder. You may need to give yourself permission first. If you do not have another administrator account, you will need to reset your password through your Microsoft account or contact your computer's administrator.
Do I need to change my password when I change my username?
No. Your password and username are separate. If you want to keep the same password on your new account, you can use it. If you want a different password, you can set one when you create the new account.
Will my email or Microsoft account change if I change my Windows username?
No. If you use a Microsoft account to sign in, your email address stays the same. Changing your display name in Windows does not change your Microsoft account email. If you want to change your Microsoft account email, you must do that on the Microsoft website, not in Windows.