The fastest way: Settings

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click Accounts in the left menu. At the top of the window under "Your info", you will see your username displayed next to "Email address" or "Local account". This is the name Windows uses to identify you on this computer.

If you see an email address instead of a username, that means you signed in with a Microsoft account. Your username is the part before the @ symbol — so if your email is jane.smith@outlook.com, your username is jane.smith. Windows treats this as your username for most purposes, though some older programs may still refer to your local account name instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Windows 10 username appears in Settings under Accounts > Your info, next to "Email address".
  • If you signed in with a Microsoft account, your username is the part of your email before the @ symbol.
  • The Command Prompt method using "whoami" shows your username when ready if Settings is not working.
  • File Explorer displays your username in the address bar when you open "This PC" or any folder.
  • Your username is different from your password and is visible to other people on the same network.

Using Command Prompt to see your username

Press the Windows key and type "cmd", then press Enter to open Command Prompt. Type whoami and press Enter. The window will display your username in the format COMPUTERNAME\username. The part after the backslash is your actual username on this computer.

This method works even if you cannot access Settings or if Windows is behaving strangely. Command Prompt is a built-in tool that has been part of Windows for decades, so it runs reliably on almost every system. If you see an error message, close Command Prompt and try one of the other methods instead.

Finding your username in File Explorer

Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key and E together. Look at the address bar at the top — it usually shows "This PC" or a folder name. Click on "This PC" in the left sidebar. In the main window, you will see a section labeled "Devices and drives". Your username appears in the path shown in the address bar as C:\Users\[your username].

You can also navigate to the Users folder directly. In the address bar, type C:\Users and press Enter. The folder names you see are the usernames of everyone who has an account on this computer. Your own username is the folder that opens when you double-click it.

Checking the System Properties window

Right-click on "This PC" in File Explorer and select Properties. A window will open showing information about your computer. Look for the section labeled "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings". Below "Full computer name", you will see text that includes your username — it appears in the format COMPUTERNAME\username.

This window also shows other useful information like your Windows version and system type. If you need to share your username with someone else — such as a technical support person — you can copy it directly from this window and paste it into an email or chat.

What to do if you see a different username than expected

Windows allows multiple people to have accounts on the same computer, and each person has their own username. If you see a username that does not match what you expected, you may be looking at another person's account. Check that you are logged in as yourself by looking at the top right corner of your screen — your username or profile picture appears there.

If you signed in with a Microsoft account but want to know your local account name (the name Windows uses internally), open Settings and go to Accounts > Your info. Scroll down and click Local account sign-in options. Your local account name appears at the top of that page. This is useful if an older program asks for your "local username" instead of your email address.

Why you might need your username

Your username is required when you share files with other people on your network, when you set up certain programs, or when you contact technical support. It is not the same as your password — your username is visible to others and is meant to be shared, while your password should stay private. Knowing your username makes it easier to troubleshoot problems and to understand error messages that mention your account.

Some programs display your username in their menus or settings, and some error messages refer to you by your username rather than your full name. Having this information on hand saves time when you need to look up instructions or describe a problem to someone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my username the same as my email address?

Only if you signed in with a Microsoft account. In that case, your username is the part before the @ symbol. If you have a local account (one created just for this computer), your username is whatever name you chose when you set up Windows, and it is not an email address.

Can I change my username?

You can change the display name that appears on the sign-in screen and in Settings, but the underlying local account name is harder to change and requires more steps. For most purposes, changing the display name is enough. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click "Rename your account".

What if I forgot my username?

Use the Command Prompt method — type "whoami" and press Enter. This works even if you cannot remember anything else. If Command Prompt does not work, restart your computer and try File Explorer instead, which shows usernames in the C:\Users folder.

Is my username private information?

Your username is not private in the same way your password is. Other people on your network can see your username, and it appears in file properties and system information. Treat it like your name rather than like your password — it is meant to be known, but your password should stay secret.

Why does my username have a backslash in it?

The backslash separates your computer name from your username. When Command Prompt shows DESKTOP-ABC123\jane, it means your computer is named DESKTOP-ABC123 and your username is jane. The backslash is just formatting — your actual username is only the part after it.