The fastest way to find your username

Your PC username appears in the bottom left corner of the Windows login screen, or you can see it when ready after you log in by opening Settings. On a Mac, go to System Settings, click General, then About — your username is listed as "Computer Name". If you are already logged in to Windows, the quickest route is to right-click the Start button, select System, and look for "User name" under "Device specifications".

You can also open Command Prompt or PowerShell and type whoami, then press Enter. The username will print on the next line. This works on both Windows and Mac (using Terminal instead of Command Prompt).

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, your username shows on the login screen or in Settings under Device specifications.
  • On Mac, your username appears in System Settings under General, then About.
  • Typing whoami in Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) displays your username when ready.
  • Your username is different from your display name — the username is what your computer uses internally to identify your account.
  • If you have forgotten your password but remember your username, you can still log in by using password recovery options on the login screen.

Finding your username in Windows Settings

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click System in the left sidebar, then scroll down and click About. Under "Device specifications", you will see "User name" listed with your username next to it. This is the name your computer uses to identify your account, separate from any display name you may have chosen.

If you do not see it in Settings, you can also check File Explorer. Open File Explorer, right-click This PC on the left side, select Properties, and look for your username in the window that opens. Some older Windows versions may show it slightly differently, but it will be labeled clearly as the user account name.

Using Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows

Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Windows 11) or Command Prompt (Windows 10 and earlier). Type whoami and press Enter. Your username will appear on the next line in the format COMPUTERNAME\username. The part after the backslash is your actual username.

You can also type echo %username% and press Enter for the same result. Both commands work when ready and do not require administrator rights. Close the window when you are done.

Finding your username on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click About. Your username is listed as "Computer Name" at the top of the window. This is the name your Mac uses to identify your account on the network and locally.

You can also open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command + Space, typing "Terminal", and pressing Enter) and type whoami, then press Enter. Your username will print on the next line. Terminal is useful if you need to verify your username quickly or if you are troubleshooting a connection issue.

The difference between username and display name

Your username is the internal account name your computer uses — it cannot have spaces and is usually all lowercase. Your display name is what appears on your user profile and in emails, and it can include spaces and capital letters. When you log in, you use your username (or email address on some systems), not your display name.

If you see a name on your desktop or in your email client that looks different from what you found in Settings, that is your display name. Your actual username is what you need if you are setting up a network connection, troubleshooting file permissions, or connecting to a shared drive. The methods above will show you your true username, not your display name.

What to do if you cannot find your username

If you are locked out of your account, you can still see the username on the Windows login screen — it appears above the password field. If the screen shows only a picture and no text, click on the picture or press any key to reveal the username field. On Mac, if you cannot log in, restart the computer and hold Command + S to enter Single-User Mode, where you can see account information.

If you have physical access to the computer but cannot remember anything about your account, you may need to use password recovery. On Windows, click "I forgot my password" on the login screen and follow the recovery steps. On Mac, restart and hold Command + Q to access the login window, then click the question mark icon for recovery options. Both systems can help you regain access if you have set up recovery information beforehand.

Why you might need your username

Your username is required when you set up a network connection, share files with others on your network, troubleshoot file permission issues, or connect to a shared drive at work. Some software installations also ask for your username to set file permissions correctly. If you are helping someone else troubleshoot their computer, knowing their username helps you understand which user account is having the problem.

Your username also appears in system logs and error messages, so knowing it helps you read technical documentation or support articles that reference your account. It is different from your email address, even if your email is based on your name — your username is what the computer itself uses internally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username after I create my account?

On Windows, you can change your display name easily in Settings, but changing your actual username (the folder name and system account name) is more complex and requires administrative tools or a fresh Windows installation. On Mac, you can change your display name in System Settings, but the actual short username is harder to change without using Terminal commands. For most people, it is simpler to keep the original username and change only the display name.

Is my username the same as my Microsoft or Apple ID?

No. Your username is your local computer account name. Your Microsoft Account (on Windows) or Apple ID (on Mac) is a separate online account that you may have linked to your computer. You can see both by going to Settings and looking at Account information — your local username and your online account will be listed separately.

What if the whoami command shows a different name than Settings?

The command output shows your username in the format COMPUTERNAME\username. The part before the backslash is your computer's name, and the part after is your actual username. If Settings shows something different, check that you are reading the correct field — Settings should show only the username without the computer name prefix.

Do I need my username to log in every time?

On Windows, if you are the only user or if you have set up automatic login, you may not see the username field at all. On Mac, the login screen usually shows your account picture instead of a username field. You only need to type your username if you are logging in as a different user or if automatic login is disabled.

Can someone else see my username?

Yes. Your username is visible to anyone who can see your computer's login screen, and it appears in network settings if your computer is on a shared network. Your username is not secret — it is your password that protects your account. Do not share your password, but your username can be known without security risk.