The quickest way to change your username
The fastest way to change your Windows username depends on which version of Windows you have and whether you use a Microsoft account or a local account. If you use a Microsoft account (the kind that syncs across devices), you change your display name through Microsoft's website, not through your computer. If you use a local account (one that exists only on your machine), you change it directly on your computer through Settings.
The display name is what appears on your login screen and in the Start menu. The actual account name — the folder name in C:\Users\ — is harder to change and usually not necessary. Most people only need to change the display name, which takes about two minutes.
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft account users change their display name at account.microsoft.com, not on the computer itself.
- Local account users go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click "Rename your device" to change their username.
- The display name (what shows on your login screen) is different from the account folder name (in C:\Users\), and you only need to change the display name in most cases.
- Changes to a Microsoft account display name can take a few minutes to show up on your computer after you sign out and back in.
- If you forget your password, you cannot change your username until you regain access to your account.
Changing a Microsoft account username
Go to account.microsoft.com in any web browser and sign in with the email address and password you use on your Windows computer. Click your name or profile picture in the top right corner, then select "View account" or "Manage your Microsoft account".
Look for a section called "Your info" or "Account info". You should see your current display name listed there. Click "Edit name" or the pencil icon next to your name. Type your new name in the fields provided — some versions ask for first name and last name separately, others ask for a single display name. Click "Save" when you are done.
Sign out of your Windows computer completely (or restart it), then sign back in. The new name should appear on your login screen and in the Start menu within a few minutes. If it does not show up right away, wait a few minutes and restart again.
Changing a local account username
Open the Start menu and type "Settings", then click the Settings app. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click Your info at the top of the right panel. You should see your current username displayed under "Your info".
Click the button that says "Rename your device" or "Rename your PC" (the exact wording varies by Windows version). Type your new username in the box that appears. Click Next, then Finish. Windows will ask you to restart your computer — click Restart now or restart manually when you are ready.
When your computer restarts, your new username will appear on the login screen and in the Start menu. The folder in C:\Users\ will still have your old name, but that does not affect how Windows displays your username in everyday use.
What happens to your files and programs
Changing your display name does not move, delete, or affect any of your files, folders, or installed programs. Everything stays exactly where it is. Your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and all other folders remain accessible and unchanged.
If you have programs that reference your username in their settings or file paths, they usually continue to work without any problem. Some older programs might briefly show your old username in a dialog box or menu until you restart them, but this is temporary and does not indicate a problem.
If you want to change the account folder name
The folder name in C:\Users\ is separate from your display name. If you want to change that folder name as well — for example, if your folder is called "User" and you want it to say "Sarah" — the process is more involved and requires creating a new administrator account first.
In most cases, you do not need to change the folder name. Windows uses it internally, but you rarely see it unless you open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\. If you do want to change it, the safest approach is to create a new local account with the name you want, transfer your files to that account, and then delete the old account. This is a multi-step process that takes 30 minutes to an hour, and it carries a small risk of losing access to files if something goes wrong. Consider whether the folder name actually matters to you before attempting this.
Troubleshooting: your username did not change
If you followed the steps above and your username still shows the old name, try signing out completely and signing back in. Do not just lock your computer — actually sign out by clicking the Start menu, clicking your name, and selecting "Sign out". Wait 30 seconds, then sign back in.
If you are using a Microsoft account and the change still has not appeared after 10 minutes, restart your computer. Microsoft account changes sometimes take a few minutes to sync to your device, and a restart forces Windows to check for updates to your account information.
If you are using a local account and the change did not take effect after restart, open Settings > Accounts > Your info again and verify that you clicked "Finish" on the rename dialog. Some users accidentally close the dialog without confirming the change. If the rename button is still there, try the process again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my username affect my password?
No. Your password stays the same no matter what you name your account. You will still use the same password to sign in after you change your username.
Can I change my username if I forgot my password?
No. You must be signed in to your account to change the username. If you forgot your password, you will need to reset it first using another device or a password reset disk before you can make any changes to your account.
What if I share my computer with other people?
Each person on the computer has their own account and their own username. Changing your username only affects your account and does not change anyone else's username or access to their files.
Does changing my username affect my email address?
No. If you use a Microsoft account, your email address stays the same. The username you see on your computer is just the display name — your actual Microsoft account email address does not change.
Can I use special characters or spaces in my new username?
For a display name, yes — you can use spaces, numbers, and most punctuation. For a local account folder name, Windows restricts certain characters like asterisks, question marks, and forward slashes, but you will get an error message if you try to use one, so you can straightforward choose a different character.