Where to find your Remote Desktop username on Windows

Your Remote Desktop username is the same one you use to log into your computer every day. On Windows, the fastest way to find it is to open Settings, select Accounts, then look at the top of the page under "Your info" — your username appears right there next to your profile picture.

If you are already logged in and want to see it without opening Settings, press the Windows key and type cmd, then open Command Prompt. Type whoami and press Enter. The result shows your username in the format COMPUTERNAME\username — the part after the backslash is what you need for Remote Desktop.

Another option is to right-click This PC or My Computer on your desktop, select Properties, and scroll down to "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings." Your username does not appear here, but this page confirms your computer name, which you will also need for the connection.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Remote Desktop username is the account name you use to log into Windows, found in Settings under Accounts > Your info.
  • The Command Prompt command whoami displays your username when ready in the format COMPUTERNAME\username.
  • If you use a Microsoft account to log in, your username may appear as an email address — use exactly what Windows shows you.
  • Write down both your username and your computer name before attempting a Remote Desktop connection from another device.

Understanding local accounts versus Microsoft accounts

Windows lets you log in with two different account types, and each one shows a different username. A local account is one you created directly on your computer — it appears as a straightforward name like "Sarah" or "JohnDoe". A Microsoft account is tied to your Outlook, Hotmail, or other Microsoft email address, and it shows as your full email when you log in.

For Remote Desktop, use the username exactly as it appears when you log in. If you log in with your email address, that is your Remote Desktop username. If you log in with a straightforward name, use that name. The system does not care which type you have — it just needs the exact text you type into your password box every morning.

To check which type you have, open Settings, go to Accounts, and look at the top under "Your info." If it shows an email address, you have a Microsoft account. If it shows a straightforward name, you have a local account.

Finding the username when you cannot log in

If you have lost access to the computer or cannot log in, you can still find the username from another Windows computer on the same network. Open File Explorer, click Network on the left side, and look for your computer by name. Right-click it and select Properties — this shows the computer name but not the username.

The more direct route is to ask someone who has used that computer, or to check any paperwork or email from when the computer was set up. Many people write their username on a sticky note or store it in a password manager. If the computer is yours and you set it up, check your email for the Windows setup confirmation — Microsoft sends this to the email address associated with your account.

If you are locked out and cannot recover the username, you may need to reset Windows using a password reset disk (if you created one) or by using another administrator account on the same computer. This is a separate process from finding the username and usually requires physical access to the machine.

What to do if you have multiple user accounts

Many computers have more than one user account — one for you, one for a family member, one for work. Each account has its own username. When you set up Remote Desktop, you must specify which account you want to connect to, so you need the exact username for that specific account.

To see all accounts on your computer, open Settings, go to Accounts, and select Other people on the left. This shows every account that can log into this computer. The account you use every day is listed under "Your info" at the top. If you want to connect remotely using a different account, note that username from this list.

When you connect via Remote Desktop, you will enter the username and password for the account you want to use. The system will only let you in if that account exists on the target computer and the password is correct. If you enter the wrong username, Remote Desktop will reject the connection even if the password is right.

Preparing your username for Remote Desktop setup

Once you have found your username, write it down exactly as it appears — capitalization matters in some cases, though Windows is usually forgiving. If your username is "Sarah.Johnson" or "sarah_johnson", write it that way. If it is an email like "sarah@outlook.com", include the full email address.

You will also need your computer name, which is different from your username. To find it, open Settings, go to System, then About. Look for "Device name" — that is your computer name. Write both down together: for example, "Computer: DESKTOP-ABC123, Username: Sarah.Johnson".

Before you attempt to connect from another device, make sure Remote Desktop is turned on for your computer. Open Settings, go to System, select Remote Desktop on the left, and toggle it to On. You will see a message saying "Remote Desktop is now enabled" — this means other computers can connect to yours using your username and password.

Testing your username and connection details

The best way to confirm you have the right username is to test it on another computer. On the second computer, open Remote Desktop Connection (search for "Remote Desktop" in the Start menu). Type your computer name in the "Computer" field and your username in the "User name" field, then click Connect.

If you see a login screen asking for your password, you have the right username — enter your password and you should connect. If you get an error saying the username is not recognized, go back to the first computer and double-check the username using the methods above. The most common mistake is using a nickname or shortened version instead of the exact username Windows shows.

If the connection works but you cannot access certain files or folders, the problem is not your username — it is file permissions on those folders. Your username is correct if Remote Desktop lets you in and you can see your desktop and files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my Remote Desktop username the same as my email address?

Only if you log into Windows with your email address. If you use a Microsoft account tied to an email, your username is that full email. If you use a local account with a straightforward name like "John", your username is just "John". Check Settings > Accounts > Your info to see which one you have.

What if I see COMPUTERNAME\username when I type whoami?

That is normal. The part before the backslash is your computer name, and the part after is your username. For Remote Desktop, use only the part after the backslash — in this case, just "username". Some Remote Desktop programs ask for both parts, but most just need the username alone.

Can I use a different username to connect remotely than the one I use to log in locally?

No. Remote Desktop connects you to a specific user account on the target computer. You must use the exact username of an account that exists on that computer, and you must know that account's password. You cannot create a new username just for Remote Desktop.

Does my username change if I reset my password?

No. Your username stays the same forever — only the password changes. If you reset your Windows password, your username for Remote Desktop remains exactly what it was before.

What if my username has special characters or spaces?

Use it exactly as Windows displays it. If your username is "Sarah Johnson" with a space, type it with the space. If it is "john.doe@company.com", include the period and @ symbol. Remote Desktop accepts whatever characters your Windows username contains.