Change Your Name in Windows or Mac Settings
To change the name that appears on your computer, you need to edit your user account name in your operating system's settings. On Windows, this means going to Settings > Accounts > Your Info, where you can change the display name that shows on your login screen and in the Start menu. On Mac, you go to System Settings > General > About, then click Edit next to the computer name at the top.
The display name and the account name are two different things. Your display name is what other people see when they look at your computer or when you share files. Your account name is the folder where your files are stored on the hard drive. You can change the display name easily, but changing the account name itself requires more steps and can cause problems if you do it wrong.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, change your display name in Settings > Accounts > Your Info without affecting your files or programs.
- On Mac, change your computer name in System Settings > General > About by clicking the Edit button.
- Your display name and your account folder name are separate — changing one does not automatically change the other.
- If you need to rename your account folder itself, back up your files first and consider using a new account instead to avoid losing access to programs or settings.
How to Change Your Display Name on Windows 10 or 11
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the app that appears. Once Settings opens, click Accounts on the left side, then click Your Info at the top. You will see your current display name under "Your Info." Click the Edit button next to your name.
Type your new name in the box that appears. Windows allows you to use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks. Click Next, then Finish to save the change. Your new name will appear on your login screen and in the Start menu the next time you restart your computer, though it may show when ready in some programs.
If you cannot find the Edit button, you may be using a Microsoft account instead of a local account. For a Microsoft account, click the link that says "Manage your Microsoft account" and make the change through your online account settings instead. Changes to your Microsoft account name may take a few hours to show up on your computer.
How to Change Your Computer Name on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. In System Settings, click General in the sidebar on the left. At the top of the window, you will see your computer name. Click the Edit button next to it to change the name.
Type your new computer name and click Rename. Your Mac will update the name when ready. This name appears in Finder, in network settings, and when other people try to connect to your computer over a network. Unlike Windows, Mac does not separate your display name from your computer name in the same way.
What Happens When You Change Your Name
When you change your display name on Windows or your computer name on Mac, the change is mostly cosmetic. Your files stay in the same place, your programs continue to work, and you do not lose any settings or passwords. The change affects only what you see on the screen and what other people see when they look at your computer.
One thing to watch: if you change your name and then try to access shared folders or network drives that were set up under your old name, you may see permission errors. This is rare for home users, but if you share files with other computers on your network, let them know about the name change so they can update their connections if needed.
Changing Your Account Folder Name (Advanced)
If you want to change the actual account folder name on your hard drive — the folder that holds your Documents, Downloads, and Desktop — the process is much more complicated and carries real risk. Windows stores this folder in C:\Users\[YourAccountName], and changing it can break programs that look for files in that specific location.
The safest approach is to create a new user account with the name you want, then copy your files from the old account to the new one. This takes longer but avoids the risk of losing access to programs or settings. If you must rename the account folder itself, back up all your files first, then search for "Rename user account folder Windows" and follow a detailed guide step-by-step. Do not attempt this if you are not comfortable with file management.
Troubleshooting Name Changes That Did Not Work
If you changed your name but it still shows the old name in some places, restart your computer. Windows and Mac both cache the name in memory, and a restart forces them to reload it everywhere. After restarting, check Settings again to confirm the change took.
If the name changed in Settings but not on your login screen, you may have a Microsoft account (Windows) or iCloud account (Mac) that is overriding your local settings. Sign out of that account, make the change to your local account name, then sign back in. If you are still seeing the old name after a restart, open Settings again and verify that your change was actually saved — sometimes the Edit button closes without saving if you click outside the box.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my name affect my passwords or login?
No. Your password stays the same, and you log in the same way. Changing your display name does not change how you access your computer. If you changed your account folder name (the advanced step), you would still use the same password to log in.
Can I change my name back to what it was before?
Yes. Follow the same steps and type your old name. There is no limit to how many times you can change it. The change takes effect when ready or after a restart, depending on your operating system.
What if I share my computer with other people?
Each person has their own account with their own name. Changing your display name changes only what appears when you are logged in. Other users will still see their own names when they log in. If you want to change someone else's name, you need their password or administrator access to their account.
Does changing my name on my computer change my name on the internet?
No. Your computer name is local only — it does not affect your email, social media, or any online accounts. Those are separate and must be changed through each service's own settings.