Where your name appears on your computer and how to change it

Your computer stores your name in several places, and which one you need to change depends on what you're trying to do. The most common place is your user account name — the name that appears on your login screen and in the top-right corner of your screen. You can change this without affecting your files, passwords, or installed programs. On Windows, this lives in Settings under Accounts. On Mac, it's in System Settings under General. Both let you change the display name (what people see) separately from the account name (what the system uses behind the scenes).

Your computer also stores your name in the system information that appears on documents, emails, and file properties. This is a different setting from your user account name, and changing one does not automatically change the other. If you want your name to appear correctly on Word documents or in your email signature, you may need to update both places.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name (what shows on the login screen) and your account name (what the system uses) are separate settings and can be changed independently.
  • On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info to change your display name, or Settings > Accounts > Other people to change another user's name.
  • On Mac, open System Settings > General > About and click Edit next to the computer name, or go to System Settings > General to change your account display name.
  • Changing your name does not affect your files, passwords, or programs — only how your name appears to you and others.
  • If you want your name to appear correctly on documents and emails, you may need to update your name in both your user account settings and in individual programs like Microsoft Office or your email client.

Changing your name on Windows

On Windows 10 and Windows 11, the quickest way to change your display name is through Settings. Click the Start button, type "Settings" into the search box, and open the Settings app. Go to Accounts on the left side, then click Your info. You'll see your current display name at the top. Click the pencil icon next to it, type your new name, and click Next. Windows will ask you to confirm the change.

This changes only the name that appears on your login screen and in the top-right corner of your screen. Your actual account folder name (the one Windows uses to store your files) stays the same. If you need to change the account folder name itself — which is rarely necessary — you'll need to create a new account and transfer your files, or use the command line. For most people, changing the display name is all you need.

If you're an administrator and need to change another user's name on the same computer, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, click the account you want to change, and select Rename. You'll need your administrator password to confirm.

Changing your name on Mac

On macOS, you can change how your name appears in two places. To change the name that appears in the top-left corner of your screen and in system menus, open System Settings, click General on the left, and look for the computer name at the top of the window. Click the Edit button next to it, type your new name, and press Return.

To change the name associated with your user account (the one that appears in documents and file properties), stay in System Settings, click General, scroll down to About, and look for the computer name there as well. You can also change your account display name by going to System Settings > General and looking for your account information. If you don't see an obvious place to edit it, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Settings, then General, and look for your account name in the sidebar.

On older versions of macOS (before Monterey), the process is slightly different. Open System Preferences instead of System Settings, click Users & Groups, unlock the padlock at the bottom-left if needed, right-click your account name, and select Advanced Options. You can change your full name there.

Updating your name in Microsoft Office and email

Changing your computer's user name does not automatically update the name that appears in Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, or Outlook emails. You need to change this separately in each program. In Microsoft Office, open any Office app, go to File > Account (or Options on some versions), and look for your user information. You should see a field for your name — click it and type your new name.

In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, find your email account in the list, click it, and then click Change. You can edit your display name in the window that opens. In Gmail or other web-based email, click your profile picture in the top-right corner, select Manage your Google Account, go to the Personal info tab, and click Name to edit it.

What happens to your files and passwords when you change your name

Changing your display name does not affect your files, folders, or passwords. All your documents, photos, and programs stay exactly where they are and work the same way. Your login password remains unchanged — you still use the same password to sign in. Shortcuts, file associations, and program settings all continue to work because Windows and Mac track your account by an internal ID number, not by the name you see on screen.

The only thing that changes is what appears in menus, on documents, and in file properties. If you had a folder called "Documents" before, it's still called "Documents" after. If you had a shortcut to a program, it still works. Your email history, browser bookmarks, and saved passwords all stay in place.

When you need to change your account folder name

In rare cases, you might need to change the actual account folder name — the one Windows or Mac uses to store your files. This is not the same as changing your display name, and it's more complicated. On Windows, the account folder is usually something like "C:\Users\YourName". Changing this requires creating a new account, copying your files over, and deleting the old account. On Mac, it's similar — you'd need to create a new account and migrate your data.

You should only do this if you have a specific reason, like your account folder name contains characters that cause problems with certain programs. For most people, changing your display name is all you need. If you're unsure whether you need to change your account folder name, contact your computer manufacturer's support line or a local computer technician — they can tell you whether it's necessary for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my name on my computer affect my Microsoft or Apple account?

No. Changing your name on your computer only changes what appears on that specific device. Your Microsoft account (for Windows) or Apple ID (for Mac) remains separate. If you want to change the name associated with your Microsoft or Apple account itself, you'll need to sign into your account on their website and change it there. That change will then sync to your computer.

Can I change my name on my computer if I'm not the administrator?

You can change your own display name without administrator permission on most versions of Windows and Mac. However, if you need to change another user's name or change your account folder name, you'll need administrator access. Ask whoever set up your computer to make the change, or provide them with your new name.

What if I forgot what my original name was set to?

On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and you'll see your current display name at the top. On Mac, open System Settings > General and look at the computer name. If you need to know your account folder name on Windows, open File Explorer, click "This PC" on the left, and look at the folder path — your account name appears after "Users\". On Mac, open Finder, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, and look at the computer name.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing my name?

No. Changes to your display name take effect when ready on Windows and Mac. You don't need to restart, log out, or do anything else. The new name will appear the next time you look at your screen or open a program that displays it.