The Two Ways to Change Your Username

Windows 11 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 that uses an email address), you change the name through the Settings app on your computer. If you use a local account (a username and password stored only on your device), you also use Settings, but the steps are slightly different. Both take about five minutes.

The reason this matters: a Microsoft account syncs your username across devices and services like OneDrive and Outlook. A local account only exists on this one computer. Most people have a Microsoft account without realizing it — if you sign in with an email address, that is what you have. If you see just a username with no @ symbol on your sign-in screen, you have a local account.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Your info, and you can change your display name in about two minutes without restarting.
  • If you have a Microsoft account, the change takes effect when ready on this device and syncs to other devices you own.
  • For a local account, you need to go to Accounts, then Other users, select your account, and click Change account name.
  • Your username and password stay the same — you are only changing the display name that appears on the sign-in screen and in menus.
  • If you cannot find the option you need, your account may be restricted by an administrator, and you will need to ask them for permission.

Changing Your Display Name on a Microsoft Account

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click Accounts on the left side, then click Your info at the top of the list.

You will see your current display name under your profile picture. Click the pencil icon next to your name, type the new name you want, then click Next. Windows will ask you to confirm — click Finish. The change takes effect when ready. You do not need to restart your computer or sign out.

This change only affects the display name — the name that shows on your sign-in screen, in the Start menu, and in your user folder. Your actual Microsoft account email address and password do not change. If you sign in to other devices with the same Microsoft account, the new display name will appear there too within a few hours.

Changing Your Username on a Local Account

Open Settings and click Accounts, then click Other users on the left side. You will see a list of all accounts on this computer. Find your own account in the list and click it.

Click Rename (or Change account name depending on your Windows version). Type your new username and click Next, then Finish. The change takes effect when ready, though you may need to sign out and back in to see it everywhere on your computer.

Unlike a Microsoft account, a local account username only exists on this one device. Changing it does not affect anything on other computers. Your password stays the same — you will still sign in with the same password you used before.

What Happens to Your Files and Folders

When you change your username, Windows does not move or rename your existing files. Your Documents, Downloads, Desktop, and Pictures folders stay in the same place with the same contents. The folder path on your hard drive (like C:\Users\OldName\Documents) does not change either.

This is actually a safety feature — if Windows renamed every folder and file path when you changed your username, programs that look for files in specific locations would break. Your old username is still tied to your files behind the scenes, even though the display name has changed.

If you ever need to find your user folder, open File Explorer and click This PC, then Local Disk (C:), then Users. You will see a folder with your old username — that is where all your personal files live, and it does not change when you update your display name.

When You Cannot Change Your Username

If the rename option is grayed out or missing, your account is likely restricted by an administrator. This happens on work computers, school devices, or shared home computers where someone else has set permissions. You will need to ask the administrator (your IT department, teacher, or the person who set up the computer) to give you permission or make the change for you.

If you are the administrator and still cannot change your username, restart your computer and try again. Sometimes Settings needs a fresh start to show all options. If the problem persists, your account may be corrupted — in that case, you can create a new local account and transfer your files to it, though that is a longer process.

Changing Your Microsoft Account Email Address

If you want to change the email address you use to sign in (not just the display name), that is a different process and happens on Microsoft's website, not in Windows Settings. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and look for Your info or Account settings. You can add a new email address and set it as your primary sign-in email, though you cannot remove the original email entirely.

Changing your sign-in email is more complicated than changing your display name because it affects how you sign in to Windows, OneDrive, Outlook, and other Microsoft services. If you are thinking about doing this, make sure you have access to both the old and new email addresses before you start, because Microsoft will send confirmation codes to both.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your password stays exactly the same. You sign in the same way you always have — the only thing that changes is the display name that appears on your screen and in menus. If you have a Microsoft account, you still sign in with your email address and password.

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Yes, anytime. Go back to Settings, Accounts, Your info (or Other users for a local account) and rename it again. There is no limit to how many times you can change it, and no waiting period between changes.

What if I have multiple user accounts on my computer?

Each account can have its own username. Go to Settings, Accounts, Other users, and you will see all accounts on the computer. Click the one you want to change and follow the rename steps. You can only change your own account from your own sign-in — you cannot change another person's username unless you are an administrator.

Does changing my username affect my Microsoft account on other devices?

If you have a Microsoft account, the display name change syncs to other devices you own within a few hours. If you have a local account, the change only affects this computer — other devices are not connected to it.

What if I see "You don't have permission to change this" when I try to rename?

Your account does not have administrator rights. Ask the person who set up the computer or your IT department to either give you administrator permission or make the change for you. On a personal computer, you can create a new administrator account and use it to change the restricted account's name.