The quickest way to change your Windows 10 username

You can change the username you use to log into Windows 10 through Settings, and it takes about two minutes. Open Settings, go to Accounts, select Your info, and click the "Rename your account" button. Type your new username and click Next, then restart your computer. The change takes effect the next time you log in.

This method works if you remember your current password and have administrator rights on the computer. If you are locked out or do not have admin access, you will need to use a different approach — either creating a new admin account or resetting your password first.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings > Accounts > Your info menu is the standard way to rename your Windows 10 login account in under five minutes.
  • You must have administrator rights and know your current password to rename your account through Settings.
  • If you cannot remember your password, you can reset it using a password reset disk or a Microsoft account recovery option before renaming.
  • Renaming your account does not change your files, folders, or installed programs — they stay in the same place with the same permissions.
  • If you are locked out of your account entirely, creating a new administrator account and transferring files is often faster than trying to recover the old one.

Step-by-step: renaming through Settings

Start by opening Settings. Press the Windows key and type "Settings," then click the Settings app, or press Windows key + I. Once Settings is open, click Accounts on the left side of the window.

In the Accounts menu, click "Your info" at the top of the left panel. You will see your current username displayed under "Create your account." Below that is a button labeled "Rename your account" — click it. A text box will appear with your current username highlighted. Delete it and type your new username, then click Next. Windows will ask you to confirm the change. Click Finish, and you will see a message saying the rename was successful.

Restart your computer. You do not have to restart when ready, but the new username will not take effect until you do. When you log back in, you will see your new username on the login screen.

What happens to your files and folders when you rename

Your files, documents, downloads, and desktop stay exactly where they are. Windows does not move or delete anything when you change your username. Your user profile folder — the one that contains your Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and Desktop folders — keeps its original name on the hard drive, even though you log in with the new username.

This means shortcuts and file paths that point to your old username may break if programs are looking for the exact old path. This is rare with modern software, but if you use batch files, scripts, or older programs that reference your username directly in file paths, you may need to update those references manually after the rename.

If you do not remember your password

You cannot rename your account through Settings if you do not know your password. Instead, you will need to reset it first. If you set up Windows with a Microsoft account, go to the Windows login screen, click "I forgot my password," and follow the recovery steps — you can reset it using your phone number, email, or security questions.

If you set up Windows with a local account (not a Microsoft account) and forgot the password, you have fewer built-in options. If you created a password reset disk before you forgot the password, you can use it now. Insert the disk at the login screen, click "Reset password," and follow the prompts. If you never made a reset disk, you will need to create a new administrator account on the computer to regain access, then transfer your files to that account.

Creating a new account if you are locked out

If you cannot remember your password and did not create a reset disk, the fastest path forward is usually to create a new administrator account. You can do this from the login screen without logging in. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then click "Sign in options." Look for "Add account" or a similar option, and follow the steps to create a new local account with a password you will remember.

Once you have logged in with the new account, you can access your old user profile folder through File Explorer. Navigate to C:\Users\ and you will see a folder with your old username. You can copy files from that folder to your new account. After you have moved everything you need, you can delete the old account through Settings > Accounts > Other people if you want to free up space.

Using a Microsoft account instead of a local username

If you use a Microsoft account to log in, you cannot rename it the same way. Your login name is tied to your Microsoft email address, and changing it requires changing your Microsoft account itself through account.microsoft.com. However, you can set a display name — the name that appears on your Windows login screen and in the Start menu — separately from your login username.

To change your display name without changing your Microsoft account, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and look for "Manage your Microsoft account." Click it, then go to the "Your info" section of your Microsoft account online. You can change your display name there, and it will update on your Windows login screen within a few minutes.

What to do if the rename fails or does not take effect

If you click Finish and see an error message, the most common cause is that another program is using your account or accessing your user profile folder. Close all open programs, including web browsers and background applications, then try again. If the error persists, restart your computer and try the rename when ready after logging back in, before opening other programs.

If the rename appears to succeed but your old username still shows on the login screen after restart, wait a few minutes and restart again. Windows sometimes takes two restarts to fully update the login screen display. If it still does not change after a second restart, check Settings > Accounts > Your info again to confirm the change was actually saved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username affect my email or Microsoft account?

No. Your Windows login username is separate from your email address and Microsoft account. Changing your Windows username does not change your email, your Microsoft account, or anything tied to those accounts. If you log in with a Microsoft account, your email address remains your login credential — only the display name changes.

Can I change my username without restarting?

The rename takes effect when ready in Settings, but you will not see it on the login screen or in File Explorer until you restart. Some programs may also continue showing your old username until you restart. A restart is required for the change to fully propagate through Windows.

What if I want to change my username back to the old one?

You can rename your account as many times as you want using the same Settings menu. Go back to Settings > Accounts > Your info, click "Rename your account," and type your old username. The process is identical, and you can do it whenever you want.

Does renaming my account affect my passwords for websites and apps?

No. Your Windows login password is separate from passwords you use for websites, email, apps, and other services. Changing your Windows username does not change any of those passwords. Saved passwords in your browser and apps will continue to work normally.

Can I have two usernames on the same computer?

Yes. You can create multiple user accounts on one Windows 10 computer, and each can have its own username and password. Each account has its own Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders. Go to Settings > Accounts > Other people and click "Add account" to create a new one.