The two ways to change your Windows 10 username

Windows 10 gives you two separate places to change your username, and which one you use depends on what you're trying to do. The Settings app changes the display name that appears on your login screen and in the Start menu — this is the quickest route and works for most people. The Local Users and Groups tool changes the actual account name that Windows uses internally, which affects folder paths and file permissions; this requires more steps and only works if you're using Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education (not Home).

Most people only need the Settings method. Use the Local Users and Groups method only if you need the internal account name to match a specific naming scheme, or if you're managing multiple accounts on a work computer.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings app method takes two minutes and changes the name shown on your login screen and Start menu.
  • Windows 10 Home edition can only use the Settings method; Pro and Enterprise editions can also use Local Users and Groups.
  • Changing your username in Settings does not move or rename your existing user folder — files stay where they are.
  • If you forget your password, you cannot change your username without first resetting the password or creating a new account.

Changing your username through Settings (all Windows 10 editions)

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click Accounts in the left sidebar. On the right side, you'll see "Your info" at the top — this shows your current username and profile picture. Click the Rename your device button.

A dialog box will appear with a text field containing your current username. Delete the old name and type the new one. Windows usernames can contain letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or special characters like @, #, or $. Click Next, then Finish. Windows will ask you to restart your computer — you can restart now or wait until later, but the change won't take effect until you do.

After you restart, your new username will appear on the login screen and in the Start menu. Any files or folders you created before the change will still be in your old user folder (usually C:\Users\[old username]), and Windows will still recognize them as yours.

Changing your account name in Local Users and Groups (Pro and Enterprise only)

This method changes the actual account name that Windows uses internally. Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R, type "lusrmgr.msc", and press Enter. If you're prompted by User Account Control, click Yes. The Local Users and Groups window will open.

In the left sidebar, click Users. You'll see a list of accounts on your computer. Right-click your account name and select Rename. Type your new username and press Enter. Windows will ask you to restart — do this before you log out or shut down.

This method changes the folder name in C:\Users\ and updates all the internal references Windows uses. However, some programs may still look for your old username in their settings, so you may need to update those manually. This is why most people use the Settings method instead.

What happens to your files and folders when you change your username

If you use the Settings method, your user folder stays named after your old username. Windows knows it's yours because it tracks accounts by a hidden identifier, not by the folder name. You can still access all your files normally — nothing moves or disappears.

If you use the Local Users and Groups method, Windows renames your user folder to match your new username. This is more thorough but can cause problems if programs have hardcoded your old username into their settings or shortcuts. For example, a program that looks for "C:\Users\oldname\Documents" will fail if the folder is now "C:\Users\newname\Documents".

Changing your username if you're using a Microsoft account

If you sign into Windows with a Microsoft account (the kind you use for Outlook, OneDrive, or Xbox), the Settings method still works, but it only changes your local display name. Your Microsoft account email address stays the same and remains your sign-in method.

To change the email address associated with your Microsoft account itself, you need to go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and change it there. That change will take effect the next time you sign in to Windows. The Local Users and Groups method does not work with Microsoft accounts.

Troubleshooting username changes that don't stick

If you changed your username but it reverted back after restart, the most common cause is that you didn't actually restart the computer — you only put it to sleep. Press the Windows key, click the power icon, and select Restart (not Sleep or Shut down). Wait for the computer to fully boot before logging in.

If you're using a Microsoft account and the change isn't showing up, sign out completely, then sign back in. Sometimes the display name takes a few minutes to refresh. If it still hasn't changed after signing out and back in, try restarting again.

If you used Local Users and Groups and programs are now looking for your old username, you have two options: change the username back and use Settings instead, or manually update each program's settings to point to your new username. There's no automatic way to redirect all programs at once.

When you cannot change your username

You cannot change your username if you don't have administrator rights on the computer. If you're using a work or school computer, your IT department may have locked this setting. Contact them to request a username change.

If you've forgotten your password, you cannot change your username without first resetting the password. Use another administrator account to reset it, or use the password reset disk if you created one. If you have no other way to access the account, you'll need to create a new administrator account and transfer your files manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your password stays the same, and you sign in the same way. If you use a Microsoft account, you sign in with your email address, which doesn't change. If you use a local account, you sign in with your username, so you'll use the new username at the login screen going forward.

Can I change my username without restarting?

No. Both methods require a restart before the change takes effect. Windows needs to restart to update all the internal references and make sure no programs are using your old username.

What's the difference between renaming my device and changing my username?

Your device name is the computer's name on the network (what appears in File Explorer under "This PC"). Your username is your personal account name. They're separate things. The Settings method changes your username; if you want to change your device name, that's a different setting in the same Accounts section.

If I change my username, do I need to reinstall my programs?

No. Programs stay installed and work normally. If you used the Settings method, programs don't even notice the change. If you used Local Users and Groups, some programs may need their settings updated if they hardcoded your old username, but reinstalling is not necessary.

Can I have two usernames on the same account?

No. Each account has one username (or one email address if it's a Microsoft account). You can create multiple accounts on the same computer if you need different usernames for different people.