Change your username through Settings

The fastest way to change your Windows 10 login username is through the Settings app. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to Accounts in the left sidebar. Click Your info at the top. You will see your current username displayed under your profile picture. Click the Rename your account button.

A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the new name you want. Type your new username — it can include spaces and most special characters, though Windows will not accept symbols like / \ : * ? " < > |. After you type the new name, click Next, then Finish. You do not need to restart your computer; the change takes effect when ready.

This method changes only the display name on your account, not the folder name Windows created for your files. Your user profile folder (usually located at C:\Users\) keeps its original name. This separation means your programs and files continue to work without interruption.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings app method (Accounts > Your info > Rename your account) is the simplest way and requires no restart.
  • Changing your display name does not change your user profile folder name, so your files and programs remain unaffected.
  • If you need to change the actual folder name, you must use the Local Users and Groups tool or create a new account and transfer files.
  • You cannot change the username for a Microsoft account through Settings; you must change it through your Microsoft account online instead.

What happens to your files and programs

When you rename your account through Settings, Windows keeps all your files exactly where they are. Your Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and Pictures folders stay in the original user profile folder. Programs that store settings in your user folder continue to find those settings because the folder path does not change.

The only visible change is what appears on the Windows login screen and in the top-right corner of the Start menu. If you share your computer with others, they will see your new name instead of the old one. Shortcuts and file paths you created before the change still work.

Changing the username for a Microsoft account

If you log in with a Microsoft account (an email address) rather than a local account, the Settings method does not work. Instead, you must change your display name through your Microsoft account online. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and click Your info. Look for the option to edit your name, make your change, and save it.

The change syncs to your Windows 10 computer within a few minutes. You may need to sign out and sign back in to see the new name on your login screen. This method changes only how your name appears; your email address (which is your actual login username) stays the same.

Renaming the user profile folder itself

If you want to change the actual folder name in C:\Users\, the process is more involved. You cannot rename the folder while Windows is using it. The most reliable way is to create a new local account, log in as that account, then use the old account's folder to transfer your files.

Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Family & other people, and click Add someone else to this PC. Create a new local account with the username you want. Log out of your current account, log in as the new account, then copy your files from the old user folder to the new one. Once you have moved everything, you can delete the old account through Settings.

This method takes longer but gives you a fresh start with the folder name you prefer. It is useful if you inherited a computer with a username you do not want to keep.

Using Local Users and Groups for advanced changes

Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions include a tool called Local Users and Groups that offers more control. Press Windows key + R, type lusrmgr.msc, and press Enter. Find your account in the list, right-click it, and select Rename. Type your new username and press Enter.

This method changes the actual account name, not just the display name. It also changes the user profile folder name, but only if you rename the account before you log in for the first time. If you have already logged in and created files, renaming through this tool can cause programs to lose track of your settings. Use this method only if you are setting up a new account or if you are comfortable troubleshooting program paths afterward.

Windows 10 Home does not include Local Users and Groups, so Home users should stick with the Settings method or the new-account transfer method described above.

Troubleshooting username changes that did not work

If you renamed your account but the old name still appears on the login screen, sign out completely and wait a few seconds before signing back in. Windows sometimes takes a moment to refresh the display. If the old name persists after a full restart, the change may not have saved properly.

Try the Settings method again: go to Accounts > Your info and check whether the Rename your account button is still there. If it is, click it and enter your new name again. If the button is missing or grayed out, you may be using a Microsoft account, in which case you must change the name through account.microsoft.com instead.

If you used Local Users and Groups and programs stopped finding your files, you may need to update the file paths in those programs' settings, or reinstall them under the new account name. This is why the Settings method is safer for most people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username log me out of Windows?

No. The change takes effect when ready without logging you out. You will see the new name the next time you look at the Start menu or lock screen, but you stay logged in the whole time.

Can I change my username back to the old one?

Yes. Go back to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click Rename your account again. Type the old name and click Finish. There is no limit to how many times you can rename your account.

What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to change the username?

You will need to reset your password first. On the login screen, click I forgot my password and follow the recovery steps. Once you are logged in, you can rename your account through Settings.

Does renaming my account affect my email or Microsoft account?

If you use a local account, renaming it does not affect anything outside your computer. If you use a Microsoft account, renaming the display name through Settings does not change your email address — that stays the same and is still your login username.

Can I have spaces or special characters in my username?

The display name (changed through Settings) can include spaces and most characters. The actual account name (changed through Local Users and Groups) cannot include / \ : * ? " < > | or leading or trailing spaces. Stick with letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores for the account name.