Change your account name through Settings on Windows 11 or Windows 10

The fastest way to change your account name on Windows is through Settings. Open Settings, select Accounts on the left side, then click Your info at the top. You will see your current account name displayed. Click the Rename your account button, type the new name you want, and click Next. Windows will ask you to confirm — click Finish and your account name changes when ready.

This method works whether you use a Microsoft account or a local account. The name you enter here is what appears on the Windows login screen and in the Start menu. You do not need to restart your computer for the change to take effect, though some programs may not show the new name until you sign out and back in.

If you cannot find the Rename your account button, your account may be a Microsoft account linked to an email address. In that case, the process is slightly different — you will need to change the name associated with your Microsoft account online rather than in Settings. Sign into your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com, go to Your info, select Manage your Microsoft account, and update the name field there.

Change your account name on Mac through System Settings

On Mac, open System Settings and click General in the sidebar. Select About, then look for the computer name at the top of the window. Click the Edit button next to it and type the new name. Press Return to save the change.

This changes the name that appears in Finder, on the network, and in system menus. If you want to change the name of your user account itself (the name that appears on the login screen), go back to System Settings, click General, then select Users & Groups in the sidebar. Click the lock icon to unlock it, select your account, right-click it, and choose Advanced Options. Change the full name field and click OK.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and click Rename your account to change the name that appears on your login screen.
  • If you use a Microsoft account tied to an email address, you must change the name through your Microsoft account online at account.microsoft.com instead.
  • On Mac, change the computer name in System Settings > General > About, or change your user account name in System Settings > General > Users & Groups.
  • Account name changes take effect when ready on Windows and Mac without requiring a restart, though some programs may not reflect the change until you sign out and back in.

What happens to your files and folders when you change your account name

On Windows, changing your account name does not move or rename your user folder. Your files stay in the same location — usually C:\Users\[OldName] — even though your account name has changed. This can be confusing, but it does not affect how your computer works. Programs will still find your files and settings in the correct place.

If you want your user folder name to match your new account name, you will need to rename the folder manually. Right-click the folder in File Explorer, select Rename, and type the new name. Windows may ask you to confirm that you want to rename it — click Yes. After renaming, you may need to sign out and back in for all programs to recognize the change.

On Mac, changing your user account name does not affect your home folder name either. Your files remain in /Users/[OldName] and continue to work normally. If you want to rename your home folder to match your new account name, you will need to do that through System Preferences by creating a new account with the desired name and migrating your files, which is more involved than on Windows.

Changing your account name on a work or school computer

If your computer is managed by an employer or school, you may not be able to change your account name yourself. Work and school networks often lock down account settings to keep systems consistent across many machines. If you try to rename your account and the option is grayed out or missing, contact your IT department or help desk — they control account names on managed devices.

Some organizations use your email address or employee ID as your account name for security and tracking reasons. Even if you could change it, doing so might break your access to shared files, email, or network resources. Always check with your IT team before attempting to change anything on a managed computer.

Troubleshooting if the rename option does not appear

On Windows, if you do not see a Rename your account button, you are likely using a Microsoft account. Microsoft accounts are tied to an email address and must be renamed through the online Microsoft account portal, not through Settings. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, click Your info, and look for the name field to edit.

Another reason the rename option might be missing is if your account does not have administrator rights. Only administrator accounts can change their own names. If you are using a standard account, you will need to ask an administrator on the computer to change it for you, or to promote your account to administrator status first.

On Mac, if you cannot edit the account name, the account may be a managed account controlled by your organization. You can also check whether you have administrator rights by going to System Settings > General > Users & Groups and looking at your account type. If it says "Standard" instead of "Administrator", you will need admin permission to make changes.

Renaming a local account versus a Microsoft account on Windows

Windows lets you sign in with either a local account (stored only on your computer) or a Microsoft account (linked to an email address and synced across devices). The way you rename each one is different. A local account name is changed in Settings under Accounts > Your info > Rename your account. A Microsoft account name is changed at account.microsoft.com under Your info.

If you are not sure which type of account you have, open Settings and go to Accounts > Your info. Look at the top of the page — if it shows an email address, you have a Microsoft account. If it shows only a name without an email, you have a local account. The type of account you use affects how your settings and files sync across other Windows devices, but changing the name works the same way either way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my account name log me out of programs or websites?

No. Changing your account name does not affect your login credentials for websites, email, or programs. You will stay signed into everything. The name change only affects how your account appears on your computer and in your system menus.

Can I change my account name back to the old one later?

Yes. Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info > Rename your account. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > About or Users & Groups. You can change your account name as many times as you want.

Does changing my account name affect my Microsoft or Apple ID?

No. Your Microsoft account or Apple ID is separate from your local account name on your computer. Changing one does not change the other. If you want to change the name associated with your Microsoft or Apple account, you must do that on their websites, not in your computer settings.

What if I forgot my password and cannot sign in to change my account name?

On Windows, you can reset your password from the login screen by clicking I forgot my password and following the recovery steps. On Mac, you can use another administrator account to change the password, or use your Apple ID to reset it. Once you can sign in again, you can change your account name.