The fastest way: Settings

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click Your info. At the top of the page, you will see your account name displayed under a profile picture or icon. This is your Windows username.

If you see an email address instead of a name, that is your Microsoft account email — it functions as your username for signing in, but your local account name may be different. The Settings method shows you what Windows calls your account internally.

This approach works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The layout is the same on both versions, and the information appears when ready without needing to navigate additional menus or use command-line tools.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Windows username appears in Settings under Accounts > Your info, usually at the top of the page.
  • If you sign in with an email address, that email is your username for logging in, even if your account has a different display name.
  • Command Prompt and File Explorer both show your username if Settings is not available or you need to verify it another way.
  • Your username is different from your computer name — one identifies you, the other identifies the machine on a network.

Using Command Prompt

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type cmd and press Enter. In the Command Prompt window, type whoami and press Enter. The result will show your username in the format COMPUTERNAME\username. The part after the backslash is your Windows username.

This method works on any Windows version and does not require navigating menus. It is useful if Settings is not responding or if you need to confirm your username in a script or batch file.

Command Prompt is also faster if you are already working at the command line or if you need to document your username for troubleshooting purposes. The whoami command is built into Windows and requires no additional software.

Checking File Explorer

Open File Explorer and look at the left sidebar. Click This PC. Your username appears in the address bar and in folder paths — you will see it listed as part of the path to your user folder, usually shown as C:\Users\[your username].

You can also right-click on your user folder in C:\Users and select Properties. The folder name itself is your Windows username. This method is helpful if you are already browsing files and want to confirm your account name without opening a separate tool.

The user folder in File Explorer is always named after your local account username, so this method is reliable even if your display name or Microsoft account email differs from your actual account name.

Finding it in System Information

Press Windows key + Pause/Break, or right-click This PC and select Properties. In the System window, look for the line that says Full computer name. Below that, you may see User name listed. Some Windows versions display this clearly; others require you to scroll or look under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings.

This method is less direct than the others but works if you have the System Properties window open for other reasons, such as checking your Windows version or computer name.

On Windows 11, the System Properties window may look different than on Windows 10, but the username information is still present in the same general location. If you do not see it when ready, scroll down to find it.

The difference between username and computer name

Your Windows username identifies you — the person using the account. Your computer name identifies the machine — useful if your computer is on a network or if you are sharing files with others. They are separate things and often look different. You might be "james" on a computer named "DESKTOP-ABC123".

If you are looking for your computer name instead, use the same methods above but look for the line labeled Computer name or Device name rather than username. Settings shows it under System > About.

The computer name is what other people see when you appear on a shared network or when they try to connect to your machine remotely. Your username is what you use to sign in and what appears in file ownership and permissions.

What to do if you cannot find your username

If none of these methods show a username, you may be signed in with a Microsoft account that has no local username set. In that case, your email address is your username for signing in. You can create a local username by going to Settings > Accounts > Your info and selecting Sign in with a local account instead, though this requires your current password.

If you are locked out of your account or cannot access Settings, restart your computer in Safe Mode by holding Shift while clicking Restart, then try Command Prompt again. If that does not work, you may need to contact your IT department or the person who set up the computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my Windows username the same as my email address?

Only if you signed in with a Microsoft account. If you use an email to sign in, that email is your username. If you created a local account with a name like "james" or "home-user", that name is your username instead, and it is not tied to an email address.

Can I change my Windows username?

Yes, but the process depends on your account type. For a local account, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and look for Rename your account. For a Microsoft account, you change your display name in the same place, but the underlying email username stays the same for sign-in purposes.

Why do I see my username in the Command Prompt result but it looks different?

The whoami command shows your username in the format COMPUTERNAME\username. The part before the backslash is your computer name, and the part after is your actual username. Ignore the computer name if you only need your account name.

Is my username the same as my Microsoft account name?

Not always. If you sign in with a Microsoft account, your email is your username for signing in. Your display name (what appears in Settings) can be different. Your local account username, if you have one, is separate from both.